Rolex Explorer 1016 1974 Matte Dial 36mm TRITIUM All Original Hacking Cal. 1570

Perhaps one of the Hottest Vintage Watches on the market right now, 

The Watch that went to everest and did not change for over 25 years

 

In many a collectors view perhaps the single most beautiful 3 hand time only wrist watch ever made and one of the most iconic sports watches of all time, 

 

The Rolex Explorer 

Ref. 1016 

 

This example 40xx.. serial dating to 1974

ALL ORIGINAL tritium dial & handset. 

 

Hacking 25 Jewel Calibre Rolex. 1570 

 

The Case 

What is it that makes the Rolex Explorer Ref. 1016 just so... Perfect?! 

Its hard to say, i mean the watch is stooped in history and is simply Iconic but if you seriously dissect it its genuinely hard to pinpoint.. the Watch shares a case reference with the rolex 1603 with few but quite poignant changes. Its 100m water resistance was created primarily by swapping out the old flat topped beveled edge crystals with a more rounded and much MUCH thicker acrylic domed top crystal (Original crystal on this watch) and that does give the watch an impressive ALL "too edge"  DIAL appearance... But its not just that.. The size? A contemporary 36mm in diameter excluding crown 38.6mm inclusive 43.2mm lug tip to lug tip and 20mm lug spacing. (ideal for those that like to chop and swap straps for that "Perfect" look.

 

 

 

The Dial

Well i dare say its the dial. the classic "Explorer" layout from which all other explorer dials take their name sake. 

The Explorer is most famous for its inclusion on the first summiting of Mount Everest in 1953 and bar very slight variations from "gilt" dials to matte black dials has not changed in all of its 26 year production. 

 

An Advert from the national geographic June 1958 for $165

 

Large tritium "Corners" 3, 6, 9. With inverted tritium triangle at 13 tritium stick indexes and simplistic 1/1 scale track seconds. 

Its simple super simple with a very military styled appearance. All other detail in Crisp white lettering: 

 

ROLEX 

OYSTER PERPETUAL 

EXPLORER 

 

SUPERLATIVE CHRONOMETER

OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED 

 

SWISS T < 25 

 

Its  design that is just so simple but yet so intrinsically perfect, Style perfect style is when nothing more should be added but nothing can be taken away. and the explorer dial has this down to a tee 

 

The Dial here has the Full Corona and not the "frogs foot" demi stature corona a lot of this will be down to personal preference but I just prefer a tall corona =)

 

 

 

The Band 

Because no Rolex explorer is complete without an oyster strap this watch is sold with oyster strap ref 78360 / 580 endlinks  

Clasp Ref  VE dates the strap 1980. 

 

Additionally just because this is a match that looks so damn cool we just could not go without adding it. A heavy vintage "raw" leather look HIRSCH Watch strap a quality watch strap befitting of the age and style of the watch and giving it that second split personality "Weekend warrior" look 

 

The Movement 

 

Chronometer 

COSC is Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres, the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute, which is the institute responsible for certifying the accuracy and precision of wristwatches in Switzerland.

Less than 3% of the Watches produced in Switzerland are COSC certified chronometers

 

Rolex 1570

 

Features

 

1965-1974

free Breguet hairspring

balance with regulating screws

automatic

sweep second

hack feature

25 jewels

f = 19800 A/h

power reserve 48h

 

 

as Always specs courtesy of Dr. Ranfft