Explorer
The Rolex Explorer is rooted in one of the most celebrated achievements in human history: the first confirmed ascent of Mount Everest on May 29, 1953, by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, who wore Rolex watches during the expedition. The Explorer was formally introduced that same year as a tribute to explorers and adventurers, built to function in the most demanding environments on earth. Its defining features — a clean, uncluttered black dial, Arabic numerals at 3, 6, and 9, and bold luminous hands — prioritize legibility and reliability above decoration. The ref. 1016, produced from 1963 to 1989, is one of the most beloved pre-owned Rolex references in existence, prized for its purity of design and long production run. Its successors — the 14270, 114270, and current-generation 214270 — maintained those proportions before the Explorer grew to 39 mm. The Explorer II, ref. 1655, 16550, and 216570, added a fixed 24-hour bezel and additional hand for cave exploration and polar research. DeMesy & Co. in Dallas has been a trusted source for pre-owned Rolex Explorer watches since 1987.
