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107

Rolex

Ref. 14270

Explorer I "Follow the Rainbow"

A rare and attractive stainless steel wristwatch with center seconds, "explorer dial", bracelet and "Follow the Rainbow" engraving on caseback engraving with all proceeds going to charity

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Introduced in 1989, the reference 14270 succeeded the legendary ref. 1016 and remained in production until 2001. It brought important upgrades, including the caliber 3000 movement and a sapphire crystal—far more durable and scratch-resistant than the earlier plexiglass. While thoroughly modernized, the watch preserved the Explorer’s essence: elegant simplicity, functionality, and the iconic 3-6-9 dial design that traces its lineage back to the very first references 6350 and 6150.

The present watch, however, is no ordinary Explorer. It was the very example featured in our promotional video “Follow the Rainbow”, which unveiled the first Rainbow Daytona offered in our "Reloaded :The Rebirth of Mechanical Watchmaking 1980-1999" auction of 8 November 2024.

The video starts by the main character reading the inscription engraved on the caseback of his watch "Follow the Rainbow, Love Dad" and then setting off to hunt for the original Rolex Daytona Rainbow ref 16599SAAEC.

With the video achieving millions of views across social media, this Explorer I has become one of the most recognizable and celebrated examples of the reference to appear on the market.

Offered at no reserve with all proceeds going to Children Action, a charity foundation based in Switzerland that comes to aid to children in need around the world providing healthcare, education or food amongst other projects.

The video can be seen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-dMpKUCW-M

Rolex

Swiss | 1905

Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.

One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.

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