Rolex Explorer

Today, the Explorer I — in all of its executions — enjoys a kind of cult status among watch enthusiasts and collectors, but for many, the story really begins and ends with the Reference 1016. For one, it enjoyed the longest production run of all the Explorer models (1963 - 1989), making it the execution widely understood to define the model. Additionally, the trim 36mm steel case and both gloss and matte dials resonate with the original form-follows-function design; the simplicity is pleasing when contrasted with the more luxurious materials and additional complications of its successors. For many years, the 36mm size of the 1016 was deemed too small for a true sport watch, keeping demand and values relatively low, but in recent years the pendulum has swung to the other side, and increased demand has made finding honest 1016s very hard today, with many suffering from over-restoration or replacement components. This particular example dates to circa 1983 and features a fantastic holey lug Oyster case with an exceptional, clean Tritium dial with a creamy, even patina across its characteristic quadrant 'Arabic' indices, a matching handset, a smooth polished bezel, and a steel Oyster bracelet with a signed blade clasp. These timepieces are incredibly usable for everyday use, and can easily be worn as a sporty everyday companion, or dressed-up for more formal occasions — and arguably, all you'd ever need in the vintage sports Rolex category! Tough to beat that.