NWA Explorer 1 - 40mm first impressions
Good morning Crunchies!
So after posting about “The Call” yesterday, I went to the AD to spend an absurd amount of money on a new watch.
But what a watch! It really is next-level compared to anything I’ve owned so far.
As I walked out and drove back with the Explorer on the wrist this thing immediately felt right at home. Its size, weight, design are just amazing and frankly, it’s hard to find any picture that will do it justice.
The light reflections on the white gold indices, hands and numerals are phenomenal.
Something I noticed about the movement: I set the time yesterday with the seconds hands at 12 and the minutes hand exactly on the correct minute marker, as you do. With other watches there will often be a lag in the way the minutes engage in rotation resulting in the minutes hands being slightly off when the seconds are at 12. Not always, but it seems there's some degree of chance involved in the process. But here, it’s just perfect. At 15 seconds, the minutes hand is right at a 1/4 of the distance between 2 markers, at 30 seconds, it’s exactly in the middle, in a much more precise and regular pace compared to my other pieces. Call me obsessive, that’d be fair, it’s just something I noticed and which I find shows the intrinsic high quality of the movement.
The retail experience was good. No champagne, red carpet or orchestra, thanks, just a coffee please.
I had the chance to check out this Tudor BB GMT with the opaline dial. I actually spent more time with the Tudor than the Explorer in the store.
I was wearing my ZuluTime and went for a "battle of the GMTs" pic:
Personal taste, I would still give the Longines a slight edge on the design (The BB is a quite chunk of steel), but the built quality, robustness and movement of the Tudor are superior. (It’s also almost 2Ks higher)
That's all for now, thanks for reading.
Many WRUW shots to come!
Airline pilot, expat, musician, and a bit of a watch nerd
Congrats, enjoy the new watch
Congratulations on that fine timepiece! I hope to have that same experience with that lovely Explorer one day ... one day
Congratulations on that fine timepiece! I hope to have that same experience with that lovely Explorer one day ... one day
Wishing you all the best in your pursuit!
Great choice. Having dreamed of an Explorer 36mm for the longest time, I have finally ruled it out in favour of the 40mm. It's fantastic on the wrist. But I love that there are options that suit different wrist sizes and styles/preferences. Hope they don't discontinue either.
Ahh yes, Rolex has very good tolerances so that minute hand has ZERO slop or play so once the second hands starts ticking the minute hands starts moving as well.
Some cheaper watches have enough play that the minute hand jumps around when you un-hack the movement.
Congratulations on a gorgeous watch! Enjoy!
Wearing mine as i type this 😃 Huge congratulations, it really is a amazing watch 🥳
Great choice. Having dreamed of an Explorer 36mm for the longest time, I have finally ruled it out in favour of the 40mm. It's fantastic on the wrist. But I love that there are options that suit different wrist sizes and styles/preferences. Hope they don't discontinue either.
100% agreed. Also the 40mm in actual size is closer to a 39mm diameter, so it's far from a large watch
Congratulations on a gorgeous watch! Enjoy!
Thanks Fred! 🥳
Wearing mine as i type this 😃 Huge congratulations, it really is a amazing watch 🥳
Thanks Brother ! 🤝
Congrats on a beautiful watch. I hope it brings you loads of joy.
There are two watches left on my shopping list, this one and a polar E2. Congratulations! Just out of curiosity, what was your most accurate watch up until this point? When you speak of the hands lining up perfectly with the secondhand what are you comparing it to?
Congrats on a beautiful watch. I hope it brings you loads of joy.
Thank you! It already does :-)
Very nice watch. 😍
Congratulations, 224270 is the way to go! Cheers!
Thank you sir.
Comparing it to any Seiko movement (ok there's a world of watchmaking between a NH36 and a Rolex 3230) but also ETA based movements.
I have an ETA 2824-2 inside of a Longines Chrono. When I pull the crown to the farthest position the minutes hand may jump a bit. When it runs, it looks as if the speed of the minute hand is somewhat irregular. I know, I'm being ultra picky here, this Longines actually keeps very good time and runs well, and I don't have an issue with a mechanical watch being, well, mechanical. I Just notice the Rolex is on another level.
(same remark about the SW-200, which I had in a few different watches)
Congrats! I have the 214270 and love that watch! It has great personal meaning to me.
As for the ETA 2824, ugh, I hate that movement. I agree with you there. I do prefer the 2892-2.
Congrats on a great watch, enjoy wearing it, don't crash the car starring at your watch
oh man! that's not completely impossible, unfortunately 🙄 but I'll remember ad do my best
Congratulations! How long were you on the wait list for? Did you have an established relationship with the AD?
Thank you!
I went to this store for the very first time on Nov 29th of last year. So no previous relationship with them and just under 3 months on the list.
It is a Jewellery store as well as a luxury watches store. They carry Longines, Cartier, Patek, IWC, Omega, Rolex, Panerai... So they seemed a lot more down to earth compared to a strictly Rolex boutique.
I hated the way these posh snob self-grandizing idiots made me feel when I visited the Rolex boutique in downtown Toronto. I'll never set foot in that place again, and I'll be happy to tell them where they can shove their watch should they ever call me.
None of this was true where I made my purchase. The lady was lovely.
I think two things played in my favour: she seemed positively inclined with my response when she asked about my occupation, and I kept showing interest during the wait period. (visited once more, called a couple of times, sent a polite email every 2 weeks or so).
Congratulations the watch is Amazing
thank you! it looks and feels great!
Thank you!
I went to this store for the very first time on Nov 29th of last year. So no previous relationship with them and just under 3 months on the list.
It is a Jewellery store as well as a luxury watches store. They carry Longines, Cartier, Patek, IWC, Omega, Rolex, Panerai... So they seemed a lot more down to earth compared to a strictly Rolex boutique.
I hated the way these posh snob self-grandizing idiots made me feel when I visited the Rolex boutique in downtown Toronto. I'll never set foot in that place again, and I'll be happy to tell them where they can shove their watch should they ever call me.
None of this was true where I made my purchase. The lady was lovely.
I think two things played in my favour: she seemed positively inclined with my response when she asked about my occupation, and I kept showing interest during the wait period. (visited once more, called a couple of times, sent a polite email every 2 weeks or so).
That's great to hear. Three months is quite reasonable. If I weren't buying a house this year I'd be on that list!
That's great to hear. Three months is quite reasonable. If I weren't buying a house this year I'd be on that list!
looks like you have your priorities straight. good for you 😉
Congrats dude!!
Congrats dude!!
Thanks brother
Congrats, and welcome to the Explorer club.
Good pick up. I love my 36mm.
Welcome to the club!! You’re going to love this watch more and more each day.
Congratulations man! Im looking to get an explorer as well! Hope this watch will bring you a lot of Joy! 🔥😊
Congratulations man! Im looking to get an explorer as well! Hope this watch will bring you a lot of Joy! 🔥😊
Thanks Linus! It is quite a piece, for sure! Let us know if you pick one up!
Thanks Linus! It is quite a piece, for sure! Let us know if you pick one up!
I definetly will, man! I can bet right now that most of the first week with it will be spent taking pictures of it and looking for different straps!🤣
I definetly will, man! I can bet right now that most of the first week with it will be spent taking pictures of it and looking for different straps!🤣
Hehe. I’ll tell you though: even though I am a mad strap swapper I for now have no intention of doing so with the Explorer. There is a flow of proportions going from the bracelet to the case and the dial that is unmatched by any other watch I own. Time will tell