Please contact us if you are interested in this product.
A rare and amazing find, this fantastic 1953 Rolex Explorer is from the first year Rolex produced this historic design reference number 6350, featuring a factory original gilt printed chapter ring dial with original gilt hands in a large 36mm diameter stainless steel bubbleback style case. This example has a wonderful vintage feel on the wrist with its matte black dial and aged luminous with lightly faded gilt printing giving it a that unique tropical look collectors prize. It has been on many adventures in its 70 years of life giving it an honest used look which I think only adds to its sense of history. The black background of the dial has faded to a matte finish with the gilt printed words, Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer, Officially Certified Chronometer, Swiss still very visible. It has a wonderful presence on the wrist with its 36mm diameter case fitted with a nicely matched vintage style black leather strap. The famous caliber A296 movement has been recently serviced here at Meticulous, is keeping great time and comes with our full 1-year mechanical warranty. A truly special piece of Rolex history as one of the original sport models, released the year before other classics such as the Submariner or GMT.
Circa: 1953 IV (4th Quarter of 1953)
Style: Sport
Case: Solid stainless steel case measuring 36mm in diameter excluding the original Brevet plus screw-down crown with 20mm lug spacing. It has been polished over the years with lightly rounded lugs and now shows surface wear from gentle use with no major scratches or dents. Between the lugs at 12 o'clock is stamped Brevet + with the model number 6350 still visible although somewhat polished. The same goes for the serial number stamped at 6 o'clock in the 955XXX range also dating the watch to 1953. The high domed "bubbleback" style case also has light surface wear and is stamped inside Montre Rolex SA, Geneva Swiss, 6350 IV53, 18.
Dial: Original factory printed matte black tropic aged dial with gilt printed details and original radium luminous. Signed Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer, Officially Certified Chronometer, Swiss. The luminous has patinaed to a dark green colour, matching hands to dial with a small amount glow specling under black light. The long, extended hour hand is a signature of this early model Explorer with pencil style minute hands and large lollipop seconds.
Movement: A superb Rolex in-house automatic movement calibre A296 in excellent working condition, freshly serviced here at Meticulous with our full 1-year mechanical warranty. Fully signed Rolex Perpetual Chronometer, Swiss Made, Patented, Vis Tirette, Trigger Screw, Patented Selfwinder, 2 Ruby Jewels (which only applied to the automatic module). The main timekeeping movement underneath the module has another 15 jewels as was standard for the base calibre. Excellent cosmetic and mechanical condition throughout and ticking away strong!