At Baselworld 2016, Rolex didn’t just introduce the ceramic-rimmed Steel Di Toner, it also unveiled the new Rolex Explorer EXPLORER without moving a muscle, with a more harmonious plate, 369 finally fully luminous, and an upgraded movement, but the model is still 214270!
In the eyes of many Rolex fans, the Rolex Explorer is one of the purest Rolex sports watches. It is simple in appearance, with no rotating bezel, magnifying glass or other eye-catching Rolex elements. There is no date window on the clean dial with Arabic numerals at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock.
A brief history of the EXPLORER
In 1953, the first Rolex Explorer watch, accompanying the world’s first ascent of Mount Everest, Ref. 6350.
In 1963, to commemorate Edmund Hillary and Sir Tenzing Norgay’s ascent of Mount Everest ten years earlier, Rolex launched the Explorer I, Ref. 1016, the longest-running record holder in the brand’s history.
In 1989, Rolex launched an improved version of the Explorer I, the Ref. 14270, featuring the high-frequency Cal. 3000 movement; from that year onwards, the Explorer I was even more luxurious, with white gold hour markers and numerals.
In 2001, Rolex introduced the Explorer I watch 114270 in the same style, but with a new Cal.3130 movement.
In 2010, the new Explorer 214270 was launched, with a larger case, 39mm, compared to its predecessor’s 36mm. 3132 calibre also features a new shock absorber, as well as an in-house Parachrom hairspring and a new Oysterlock folding clasp.
The ‘old’ Rolex 39mm Explorer, despite being up to date in size, has been criticized for having a short hour and minute hand, not keeping up with the trend of larger cases, and for the 3, 6 and 9 numerals no longer being hollow, but solid and, of course, not yet luminescent. Now, it seems that Rolex probably saw and took note of everyone’s complaints.
The new 2016 Replica Rolex Explorer is still the same model, the 214270, with the same 39mm 904 stainless steel case, but the dial as a whole is more similar to the earlier 1016, now, first of all, the hour and minute hands are correspondingly longer, the tip of the minute hand can now point to the minute scale, the hands are wider, and the perception that the hands and the disc are not compatible in size immediately disappears.
Secondly, the Arabic numerals at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock are filled with Chromalight for the first time, and the entire dial is now luminous blue instead of the usual light green luminescence, which is claimed to be brighter and longer lasting, for the first time on a Sea-Dweller Deepsea.
The new Rolex Explorer 214270 still houses the 3132 movement, with a blue niobium Parachrom hairspring and Paraflex shock absorbers, and the power reserve is still 48 hours. But replica rolex watches the 3132 caliber has raised the bar on accuracy, being certified by Rolex’s Superlative Observatory to achieve an accuracy range of -2/2 seconds/day, and as opposed to COSC certification, which only detects movement errors, Rolex will re-test the watch fitted with the movement to meet its own high standards, and it comes with a five-year warranty!
The case and strap are made from Rolex’s exclusive 904L grade stainless steel, and the Oyster comes with an Easylink function that conveniently extends the 5 mm extension link.