The Oyster Perpetual

EXPLORER

Oyster, 39 mm, Oystersteel

EXPLORERThe Explorer is inspired by Rolex’s decades of experience in theHimalayas, and pays tribute to the first successful ascent ofMount Everest in 1953 by an expedition equipped with RolexOyster Perpetual chronometers. It was first launched that veryyear as the ultimate expedition and mountaineering watch.

Reference214270

MODEL CASE

MODEL CASE

Oyster, 39 mm, Oystersteel

OYSTER ARCHITECTURE

Monobloc middle case, screw-down caseback and winding crown

DIAMETER

39 mm

MATERIAL

Oystersteel

BEZEL

Smooth

WINDING CROWN

Screw-down, Twinlock double waterproofnesssystem

CRYSTAL

Scratch-resistant sapphire

WATER-RESISTANCE

Waterproof to 100 metres / 330 feet

MOVEMENT

MOVEMENT

Perpetual, mechanical, self-winding

CALIBRE

3132, Manufacture Rolex

FUNCTIONS

Centre hour, minute and seconds hands.Stop-seconds for precise time setting

OSCILLATOR

Paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring.High-performance Paraflex shock absorbers

WINDING

Bidirectional self-winding via Perpetual rotor

POWER RESERVE

Approximately 48 hours

PRECISION

-2/+2 sec/day, after casing

BRACELET

BRACELET

Oyster, flat three-piece links

BRACELET MATERIAL

Oystersteel

CLASP

Folding Oysterlock safety clasp with Easylink5 mm comfort extension link

DIAL

DIAL

Black

DETAILS

Highly legible Chromalight display with long-lasting blue luminescence

CERTIFICATION

CERTIFICATION

Superlative Chronometer (COSC + Rolexcertification after casing)

History of the Explorer

THE OYSTER PERPETUALCHRONOMETERWhen climbers reach altitudes usually attained by cruising commercialjets and brave temperatures as low as -50°C (-58°F), confronting icyprecipices and deadly winds, with 70 per cent less oxygen than at sealevel, they need the right gear. This is why several of the pioneeringexpeditions that scaled the Himalayan peaks from the 1930s onwardsrelied on the Rolex Oyster as their indispensable timepieces.

On 29 May 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first toreach Everest’s 8,848-metre summit. This remarkable human adventurealso served to reinforce the reputation of the Oyster watches thataccompanied the expedition. The Oyster Perpetual Explorer, launched in1953 in the wake of the successful ascent of the world’s highest mountain,soon achieved iconic status.

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History of the Explorer

THE EXPLORERThe epic feat was so emblematic of the qualities of precision and reliabilityassociated with the Oyster watch that the brand marked the occasion in1953 with the launch of a dedicated model: the Rolex Explorer. Itbenefited from all the technical know-how gained during the Himalayanexpeditions over the decades to make it one of the most rugged of allOysters: it featured a robust, all-steel bracelet and a new Twinlock windingcrown with a double waterproofness system.

The Explorer was among the first in a series of watches designedspecifically by Rolex for professional users. The Explorer has had iconicstatus ever since.

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The new Oyster Perpetual

EXPLORERRolex is introducing the new Oyster Perpetual Explorer with an entirelyluminescent display for enhanced legibility. The model’s characteristic 3,6 and 9 numerals are now filled with a luminescent material emitting along-lasting blue glow, like the hour markers and hands. This exclusiveChromalight display offers exceptional legibility in any conditions. Thehands are also broader and longer for enhanced visual comfort. The newExplorer carries the Superlative Chronometer certification redefined byRolex in 2015, which ensures singular performance on the wrist.

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Style of the Explorer

SMOOTH BEZELThe new Oyster Perpetual Explorer imparts a fresh elan to the sober, cleanlines that have long established it as an icon. The smooth bezel in 904Lsteel is robust yet elegant, and in perfect harmony with the Explorer’siconic heritage.

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Features

TWINLOCK WINDING CROWNThe Twinlock system guarantees that the screw-down winding crown isperfectly water-resistant, thanks to two sealed zones, one inside the tube,the other inside the crown. This principle is used on all the watches in theOyster collection that are guaranteed waterproof to 100 meters (330 feet).

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Features

THE OYSTER CASE, SYMBOLOF WATERPROOFNESSThe Explorer’s Oyster case, guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 100metres (330 feet), is a paragon of robustness. Its characteristically shapedmiddle case is crafted from a solid block of particularly corrosion-resistant904L steel. The fluted case back is hermetically screwed down with aspecial tool that allows only Rolex watchmakers to access the movement.Fitted with the Twinlock double waterproofness system, the winding crownscrews down securely against the case. The crystal is made of virtuallyscratchproof sapphire. The waterproof Oyster case provides optimumprotection for the Explorer’s high-precision movement.

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Features

SOLID-LINK BRACELET ANDSAFETY CLASPThe Explorer is fitted on a solid-link Oyster bracelet in 904L steel with anOysterlock safety clasp that prevents accidental opening. It features theingenious Rolex-patented Easylink rapid extension system that allows thewearer to easily increase the bracelet length by approximately 5 mm, foradditional comfort in any circumstance.

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Features

PARAFLEX

To increase the resistance of its movements to shocks –especially if the watch is dropped – Rolex developedParaflex, a highly efficient shock absorber designed toprotect sensitive components of the movement, notablythe staff of the balance wheel. Paraflex shockabsorbers increase shock resistance by up to 50 percent.

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Features

PERPETUAL CALIBRE 3132The Explorer is equipped with calibre 3132, a self-winding mechanicalmovement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. Itsarchitecture, manufacturing quality and innovative features make itsingularly precise and reliable. The oscillator, the true heart of the watch,has a blue Parachrom hairspring patented and manufactured by Rolex inan exclusive alloy. Insensitive to magnetic fields, the Parachrom hairspringoffers great stability in the face of temperature variations and remains upto 10 times more precise than a traditional hairspring in case of shocks.

It is equipped with a Rolex overcoil, ensuring its regularity in any position.The oscillator is held firmly in place by a height-adjustable traversingbridge and is fitted between high performance Paraflex shock absorbers,developed and patented by Rolex, that provide 50 per cent greaterresistance to shocks. Calibre 3132 is equipped with a self-winding modulevia a Perpetual rotor and offers a power reserve of approximately 48hours.

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Features

SUPERLATIVECHRONOMETERCERTIFICATIONThe Explorer is covered by the Superlative Chronometer certificationredefined by Rolex in 2015. This exclusive designation testifies that thewatch has successfully undergone a series of tests conducted by Rolex inits own laboratories according to its own criteria, which exceedwatchmaking norms and standards. The certification applies to the fullyassembled watch, after casing the movement, guaranteeing superlativeperformance on the wrist in terms of precision, power reserve,waterproofness and self-winding. The precision of a Rolex SuperlativeChronometer after casing is of the order of −2/+2 seconds per day, ormore than twice that required of an official chronometer. The SuperlativeChronometer status is symbolized by the green seal that comes with everyRolex watch and is coupled with an international five-year guarantee.

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Spirit of the Explorer

THE WORLDAS A LABORATORYThe Explorer symbolises the privileged relationship that has always bound Rolex andexploration. Since the late 1920s, Rolex has been using the world as a laboratory to prove itswatches under real-life conditions. This pioneering spirit prompted the company to equipnumerous Himalayan expeditions, whose observations in the harshest environments have had adirect impact on the development of Oyster watches and the quest for greater precision,robustness and reliability.

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Spirit of the Explorer

BECAUSE IT'S THEREMountaineer George Mallory was asked:"Why do you climb Mount Everest?"He replied simply: "BECAUSE IT'S THERE"

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Expedition Watches

CONQUERINGEVEREST

On 29 May 1953, two men fired with extraordinarydetermination were the first to reach Mount Everest’s8,848-metre summit. Sir Edmund Hillary and TenzingNorgay, members of a British expedition led by Sir JohnHunt, achieved the goal that dozens of other earlierexpeditions had tried to reach: to stand on the top ofthe world.

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Ed Viesturs

Reaching the summit is optional. Gettingdown is mandatory.

Ed Viesturs

14 X 8000

Ed Viesturs is the USA’s leading high altitudemountaineer, and has climbed many of the world’smost challenging summits, including ascending MountEverest seven times. In 2005, he completed an 18-yearproject christened Endeavor 8000 to reach the summitsof the 14 highest mountains in the world – all thosewhose summits exceed 8,000 metres or 26,240 feet.

And Viesturs climbed all 14 without using supplementaloxygen. For Ed Viesturs, the key to keeping going is tobreak up the climb into tiny stages.

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Jean Troillet

ALPINE STYLESwiss-Canadian climber and sailor Jean Troillet obtained his qualificationsas a mountain guide in 1969. He has climbed 10 8,000-metre peaks, all inalpine style and without oxygen. He embodies that common characteristicof all explorers: perseverance. Troillet can no longer keep track of theexpeditions in which he had to turn back in the face of danger andabandon a challenge. “At least 10 times,” he says, “maybe a dozen.” Buthe has always gone back: the mountain will still be there.

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Erling Kagge

THE THREE POLESBefore the age of 32, Norwegian adventurer Erling Kagge had sailedacross the Atlantic alone twice, sailed to Antarctica and back, becomeone of the first two men to travel to the North Pole (with Børge Ousland)without outside assistance, reached the South Pole alone andunsupported (also a first), and climbed Mount Everest.

He became the first person in history to reach the “Three Extremes” – thetwo poles and the highest mountaintop.

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Rune Gjeldnes

THE LONGEST MARCHNorwegian adventurer Rune Gjeldnes became in 2006 the first and onlyperson in the world to succeed in crossing the three big ice sheets –Greenland, the Arctic Ocean and Antarctica – unsupported. In November2005, Gjeldnes started on “The Longest March”, a three-month, 4,800 kmsolo ski trek across the South Pole which he completed in February 2006.He now holds the records of the longest ski journey without resupply andthe longest ski journey generally.

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Features

SUPERLATIVECHRONOMETERThe green seal accompanying every Rolex watch is a symbol of its statusas a Superlative Chronometer. This exclusive designation attests that ithas successfully undergone a series of specific final controls by Rolex inits own laboratories according to its own criteria, in addition to the officialCOSC certification of its movement. This unique testing of thechronometric precision of the cased-up movement, as well as of thewatch’s waterproofness, self-winding and power reserve, pushes backthe boundaries of performance and makes Rolex the benchmark forexcellence in mechanical watches. The green seal is coupled with afive‑year guarantee which applies to all Rolex models.

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Where to buy a Rolex

THE OFFICIALROLEX RETAILEROnly official Rolex retailers, distinguishable by thisofficial green plaque, are allowed to sell and maintain aRolex. With the necessary skills, technical know-howand special equipment, they guarantee the authenticityof each and every part of your Rolex, not to mention itsreliability over time, helping you make the choice thatwill last a lifetime.

Find your retailer on rolex.com

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