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schen (Sina Weibo: @schen's bib)
considers herself a watch lover, especially likes to chat about watches online, and also writes for some famous watch columns in the Chinese circle The draft, known as the "big drug lord" by Jianghu people, now lives in the United States, and is keen to communicate with various watch collection circles, media critics, and independent watchmakers at home and abroad. In addition to clocks, other hobbies are mostly leisure, music is the first, and loves all kinds of music from classical jazz to pop rock.
█ Explorer (Explorer) is Rolex's oldest sports watch series. If we start from the beginning, there are too many stories and too long, and to be honest, looking at the top 100 brands in the world in terms of watch production or sales, which one does not have a long history and endless stories?
Exploring the first (left) and exploring the second (middle, right)
In recent years, more and more watch-related hard and soft articles are keen to tell stories, nothing more than the glorious history of the brand and the legendary allusions of the themed watches. From the past Speaking of it now, in the final analysis, it is to prove how good this watch and that watch are. This kind of text is interesting to read at first, but it is a little annoying to read too much. Perhaps this is also a fashionable writing routine at the moment. On the other hand, readers such as me also show some impetuous mentality in reading. After hitting a big board on both sides, quickly find a step for myself and the readers- - Considering the age of information fast food today, I feel excusable.
This being the case, this article will dispense with such narratives and lyricism, and just focus on the table and go straight to the topic—that is, the table itself.In addition, this article will strive to be brief and comprehensive, to be as comprehensive as possible while talking less nonsense, and not to avoid real issues. Under the grand theme of explorers, it will cater for readers of all price levels. Does the opening remarks of
imply that the series of Explorers does not need any halo blessing, it is too good and too powerful in itself?
Ref.114270
Explorer I (Explorer I)
At the beginning, it said that the Explorer is the oldest sports watch series of Rolex . Specifically, the Explorer 1 is the oldest sports watch series of Rolex. Okay, this has been repeated three times, so stop here. Since
has a long history, there are naturally many models. For the sake of simplicity and less trouble, the following is a concise list of explorer models, omitting the early Pre-Explorers such as 6098/6298, and the 6150 that is parallel to the 6350 but launched earlier. Some of the disks have Explorer but are actually Air King empty. Pa's 34mm caliber 5500/5501/5506/6552 and other models are actually Air King Date, but a few disks are printed with Explorer Date 5700, and alias "Big Size Air King" (Big Size Air King, watch diameter 36mm) Explorer disk 5504.
Ref.6098
Here the so-called Explorer disk, that is, the disk with Explorer printed and 369 marked with Arabic numerals. For the sake of distinction, the 369 hour is marked with Arabic numerals but the dial is not printed with Explorer, which is called the 369 dial in this article. (Note: In different contexts, for example, when it comes to the Submariner series, 369 disks and Explorer disks are often synonyms.) As the name suggests, the Explorer is a tool table/professional table, and the scene is adventure. The origin of Explorer 1 is polar exploration, which was officially launched in 953 .Tanyi is Rolex's first professional watch series, which has been in production since Ref 6350. A watch that can stand the test of polar expeditions and is naturally suitable for everyday wear. The appearance and functions of Tanyi are very simple: 12 o'clock inverted triangle and 369 Arabic numerals, automatic big three needles, waterproof not more than 100 meters, except diving, suitable for various living and working environments in spring, summer, autumn and winter, sports and leisure Formal wear is suitable.
Table 1: Probe Model
Remarks:
. All Probes in the above list are equipped with Explorer disk. Not listed 6150, 6098 and some 6298 with 369 trays.
. One classification in the market is to classify 6098 and 6298 as Pre-Explorer, and 6350 and 6150 as the official first-generation models. Another classification assigns 6298 and 6350 to the earliest exploration models. After 6350 was launched in 1953, 6298 and 6350 were produced at the same time. Since then, the appearance of 6298 and 6350 equipped with the Explorer panel is basically the same, while 6150 is not equipped with Explorer disk, more like a different kind. But no matter what kind of division, it is indisputable that 6350 should be the first generation of exploration.
.6298 and 6350 are Officially Certified Chronometers, all equipped with OCC disks. 6098 and 6150 are not, the dial is printed with Precision.
. Since 1016, all Tanyi models are waterproof to 100 meters. The previous 6350 and 6610 were water resistant to 50 meters.
. The radium luminous light has radiation, if the disk surface luminous light is still original, it will be fluorescent green after lighting. Tritium noctilucent has a short half-life, so today most of it has lost its color and will not emit light. LumiNova and Super-LumiNova can be made in different colors, most manufacturers including Rolex are bright green. Chromalight is a long-lasting blue.
. The latest 124273 is the only non-all-steel Explorer model so far.
and above are all models of (except for the models that are omitted in the non-strict sense) . There are also different styles in each model, some of which are officially defined. For example, 214270 has 214270-0001 and 214270-0003, which are also known as 214270 Mark 1 and Mark 2. The latter is the second generation 214270 launched in 2016. A big difference from the first generation is that the 369 hour mark has a luminous light. More style distinctions come from folk enthusiasts and collectors, based on various nuances. Due to space limitations, detailed descriptions are not provided here.
Ref.214270 Mark 1 and Mark 2
Looking at the chart, it is obvious that there are two styles of exploration: classical style and modern style, corresponding to antique exploration and modern exploration. According to my personal simple division method, Rolex models with four digits are antiques, and those with more than five digits are modern. Therefore, the antique Tanyi is 6350, 6610, 1016, and the modern Tanyi is 14270, 114270, 214270, 124270.
Antiques Explore a
Ref.6350 Honeycomb Honeycomb Noodles (Image source: Christie's 2017.11.27 auction final price of 300,000 Hong Kong dollars)
Ref.6610 (Photo source: Phillips 2018.11 final price 65,000html.5html) : Phillips 2017.10.26 final transaction price of 40,000 US dollars)
Modern style exploration
Ref.14270 (Photo source: Christie's 2008.12.03 final transaction price of 22,500 Hong Kong dollars)
Ref.114200.11 (Photo source: 148Bonhams final transaction price 22,500 Hong Kong dollars) Euro)
Ref.214270 (Image source: Sotheby’s)
Ref.124273 (left) 124270 (right)
A first choice for getting started, if you prefer classical style, I recommend 1016. The first generation of classic 1016, is the longest model in production. 1016 has a lot of production and inventory. Although the price of the second-hand market has risen significantly in recent years, it is still much more amiable than many other antique sports, and the risk of counterfeiting and assembly is relatively low. The Matt matte tritium luminous 1016 can be given priority in the later period, and the price is relatively low. There are usually few problems with the original degree of the disk surface, including luminous, and there is no radiation concern for daily wear. The last issue of 1016 can also be said to be a succession of antiques and modern exploration. It is elegant in appearance but not old, and has a high market acceptance. It can be worn and hidden, and it is easy to change hands.
Ref.1016
If you prefer a full modern style of exploration, then I first recommend 14270, for specific style selection, please refer to the in-depth long article published by Hodinkee In-Depth: Everything You Need To Know About The Rolex Explorer Ref. 14270
Ref. 14270
There is another technical analysis article. If you are interested, it is worth reading carefully. This is about 20 years ago (the exact time is September 2002). At that time, the old mage in the circle, Walt Odets, famously used 14270 as the entry point. Criticism The Rolex Explorer Ref. 14270 (Part 1 link) (Part 2 link) By reading these two positive and negative reference-level essays, you will not only have an in-depth and rational understanding of 14270, but also a series of explorations. Perception will also be more comprehensive.
Ref.14270
A modern exploration, the latest model 124270 is of course the best choice in front of you. Buy a new watch from a regular first-hand store, as long as you can buy it, you can rest assured and worry-free. If you prefer a large watch diameter, then act quickly, search everywhere, and take the 214270 licensed before it completely disappears. For a stable brand like Rolex, Tanyi has just returned to the 36mm watch diameter. You and I should rather believe that it will not be reversed to 39mm again in at least a few years, so if you want 39mm, buy it quickly.
Ref.214270(left) Ref.124270(right)
When it comes to the choice of two watch diameters for Probe, first of all, it mainly depends on the individual wrist, 36mm and 39mm have their own advantages. Secondly, if you have to rank them objectively and fairly, then it can be said that unless there is a human variant in the future, or the human wrist is so big, the watch must have a reasonable range of wearable watch diameters. Each watch in this range, based on its design style and equipped movement, naturally has the best diameter and thickness.At this point of balance, the proportions of the various parts of the watch are the most perfect and good-looking, and the size is suitable to wear on the wrist of most people. For such a watch, this DNA and design, in my opinion, 36mm is the best watch diameter.
Ref.124270
Rolex's latest model is back to 36mm diameter, will it be 39mm in the future? No one can know for sure. Assuming not, then the only 39mm probe 214270 will have a relatively high collection value?
Ref.214270
My thoughts are as follows: To evaluate the collection value of a style, we should not only consider its own uniqueness in all aspects, but also compare it with other related styles. For example, for the same modern exploration, is it possible that the value of 214270 is higher than that of black 14270? If only a few or hundreds of 214270 were made, the answer should be yes. However, with the number of 214,270 spanning a ten-year production period, it is nothing more than one of many common styles in Tanyi. Is the 39mm probe or the Blackout probe more valuable? Please observe and think for yourself. I have only one suggestion for this: on the specific issue of choosing 36mm or 39mm for probing, please only consider which one is more eye-catching and fits in your hand, not which one is more valuable.
