Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1992 Reference No: 14270 Movement No: 4’550’470 Case No: N327’990 Model Name: Explorer Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. 3000, 27 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet stamped “78360”, endlinks stamped “558B”, max length 180mm Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster deployant clasp stamped “K6” Dimensions: 36mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed Accessories: Further accompanied by Rolex Japan international service guarantee, Tiffany & Co. outer packaging and fitted presentation box.
Catalogue Essay
Regarded by many as one of the most wearable and versatile wristwatches ever produced by Rolex, the Explorer’s most valuable asset is its pure simplicity. With excellent legibility achieved by its iconic “3-6-9” deemed as the “Explorer” dial, the ref. 14270 retains its original feature first witnessed in the 1950’s. The ref. 14270 was launched in 1989 replacing its popular former ref. 1016, which enjoyed a long production spanning 27 years.
The present example presented in excellent overall condition is retailed by Tiffany & Co., adding a heightened rarity and collectability for this present piece.
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.