Rolex Explorer - Everest watches
What special characteristics must a watch have to endure the rigors of an Everest expedition?
I've read about the association between Rolex and Sir Edmund Hillary for so long without asking the question: how many watches of the era would have survived the trek?
Are there any mechanical sport watches today that would fail the challenge?
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klatu
Just your average humanoid who digs guitars and watches
Miami
Member since
Last active: 3 weeks ago
It seems to me that a thermocompensated movement and avoiding massive impact would do the trick, if we're talking strictly mechanical.
Your photo highlights the 1980 Messner Route. Arguably the greatest mountaineering achievement ever. Reinhold Messner often wore the Explorer 2 but on Everest he wore the Rolex Oyster-quartz.
Panerai Submersible BMG-Tech 47 mm is what Jimmy Chin is sporting in the mountains right now. Not a Fail by any means.. But worth mentioning since you said the word mountain
I'd say Fortis Stratoliner or Fortis Cosmonautis. Tested for shock, atmospheric conditions and decent water resistance too, I believe.
Good suggestions. I suspect that most sport watches produced today would serve their purpose well on their way up the mountain.
I suppose the more interesting question would be which other watches from 1953 would have had the shock and water resistance to make the trip. What other contemporary watches could have been "Everest Watches"?
Solid question. To withstand the conditions something shock resistant, decent water resistance, and can go through elevation changes.
In the case of the Explorer, you have the climber go up Everest with a Smiths first 🤣
Smiths comes to mind 🥸
One of the changes at the time was different oils that would perform better in the low temperatures. Wouldn't be such an issue today as modern synthetic oils perform better.
In the case of the Explorer, you have the climber go up Everest with a Smiths first 🤣
And Rolex are still sore about that point even today 😂
Unfortunately, I don't think we will ever know for sure, but if Mallory did make the summit in 1924 then this could have been the first watch to the top of the world.