Rolex Explorer 'Blackout'

When it comes to design language, the Reference 14270 may be the most important and collectable Rolex of the contemporary era.  Launched in 1990, the 14270 was the follow-up successor to the iconic 1016, and featured a truly avant-garde design language. Moving away from the matte dial 1016, the 14270 features a glossy dial with stylized applied Arabic quadrant indices and a sapphire crystal which gives the watch a thoroughly modern and luxurious visual appeal that was initially a very polarizing departure for the model. With the benefit of hindsight, we can know understand that the 14270 was essentially a test-run for a new design language that would many years later become standard for numerous timepieces across the entire Rolex catalog. Representing the earliest of the 14270s, a very low number of "E" and "X" serial examples possessed a dial in which the white gold 3, 6, and 9 were painted black, instead of what would become white for remainder of the 14270s run.  This variation is known as the "Blackout." This particular example, an X-serial dating to circa 1991, features an excellent 'holey lug' Oyster case with a sapphire crystal, a glossy black Tritium dial with applied indices and silver metallic text — found only on the early 14270 dials, a matching handset, and a matching solid link oyster bracelet with a blade clasp. These are amongst the rarest of modern Rolex models yet still incorporate vintage elements and charm such as Tritium and drilled lugs - securing these early Explorers as truly desirable for both vintage and contemporary-minded collectors.