OVERVIEW

Ask a thousand watch enthusiasts which vintage watch they would own if they could only own one and I bet a large majority of them would say a vintage Rolex Explorer I. Then ask those people to envision that watch in their minds and most are probably seeing a matte dial Rolex 1016. For the ultra-initiated though, those individuals might envision this Honeycomb dial Rolex 6350.

Coming off the heels of the first confirmed successful summit atop Mt Everest by Sir Edmund Hilary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953, Rolex launched the 6350 with a grandiose marketing campaign of being the first watch to survive the climb to the top due to its ability to withstand sub-zero freezing temperatures. With its now iconic 369 dial orientation, most Explorer 6350 dials had the standard glossy gilt finish, but a few watches such as this one were made with a “honeycomb” or “waffle” guilloche pattern gilt dial. One could argue that its scarcity is what makes it special. I’m going to say that its sheer perfection and beauty is the thing that can’t be ignored.

A watch this old shouldn’t look this good and yet, we’ve come across one of the most desirable watches in as excellent of condition as I’ve ever seen on one of them. Here’s the first and greatest version of the Rolex Explorer anyone can only dream of owning, and for one of these ultra-initiated individuals that dream can become a reality.

CONDITION NOTES

CASE: Sharp and thick stainless steel oyster case. Appears unpolished and only minimally worn for a 70+ year old watch.

DIAL & HANDS: Unmolested gilt honeycomb dial with original gilt Mercedes hands in excellent condition with minimal corrosion and matching Radium lume. Dial is still glossy and very little age expected of a radium watch this old.

MOVEMENT: Running accurately with solid amplitude.