Rolex Explorer

When it comes to design language, the Reference 14270 may be the most important 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. 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 a matching handset, and a matching solid link oyster bracelet with a blade clasp. These early Tritium 14270s with 'holey-lug' cases - while not rare are certainly becoming more difficult to find. Dont miss out on this excellent honest example of one of the greatest field watches around!