Vintage Rolex Explorer

There is something about a watch with some history that to my mind really ads to its wearabilty.

The Explorer is quite often seen as less important that its bigger brothers ie the Daytona , Submariner and GMTs ( more of mine in another blog ) . True these watches are the money grabbers at auction or in the Burlington Arcade but in actual fact the Explorer is probably the more historically significant of these watches . If however as I am starting to learn , quite often with watches less is more and if you like wearing a timepiece that has some pedigree and history rather than one that shouts look at me I have money then you will really want to look further into this watch which is the master of understatement. Sure we all like wearing a “significant watch but this one is more of a watch collectors watch.There was one instance where a unique example with a white dial sold for $182,000 !! Unfortunately collectors are pushing the prices of these watches up almost every day so I would start looking now .

I have been buying watches for about a year now and this vintage Rolex Explorer was one of my most interesting finds.

 

I was contacted via the web site by a youngish guy who had “inherited” it from his uncle. This is often a sign of a dodgy watch . He had however done some research on it and knew its model year and that it had a Jubilee bracelet ( I never fancied the Jubilee bracelet but yet again was proved wrong ! ).

 

We agreed a price via email and when I got to his house all seemed ok . I checked the reference numbers and all seemed correct. I now carry my timegrapher machine with me plus a battery pack and the line was good. Until however the back is off your never in the clear !

 

On the way back that evening I stopped off at my watchmakers ( Kosta ) and he could not get the back of with the tools he had ( even the Rolex hand held one ). Oddly enough this is a good sign. If you can get the back off with a rubber ball , it has even been off recently ( possible failed sale for some reason ) or its a fake. I then ordered the special tool from Cousins and a couple of days later the back was off and all was good !

 

The watch was serviced and cleaned and has come out really well running perfectly for a 1968 watch

 

 

I have put the watch up for sale but have a hankering to buy it myself so don’t be surprised if I remove it soon !

For some strange reason the watch is just a pleasure to wear , the Jubilee bracelet just works and is so comfortable , every time the pips come on the radio I love checking the watch even though / because it will be spot on.

 

 

Simon Whitelock June 14th, 2016

Posted In: Second Hand Watches