42 Rolex An esteemed and rare, Explorer, automatic wristwatch in steel, with black gilt exclamation point dial, box and guarantee, reference 1016.

Estimate: € 12.000 –⁠ 24.000

Few watches are as deeply woven into the fabric of 20th-century exploration as the Rolex Explorer. Launched in 1953 and famously tied to Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s Everest ascent, the Explorer line crystallized Rolex’s vision of a tool watch built not just for function, but for history. Among the many references produced, the Explorer ref. 1016 is by far the most enduring — in both form and reputation. Produced from 1960 through 1989, it is one of the longest-running Rolex references ever made. The present example is a particularly early and desirable execution of the reference, featuring a glossy black gilt dial with warm, gold-tone text and the signature Explorer 3-6-9 Arabic configuration. Of particular note is the highly sought-after “exclamation point” just below the 6 o’clock marker — a subtle, almost whispered signature of the transitional period from radium to tritium. For collectors, the 1016 is often viewed as the purest form of the Explorer — devoid of unnecessary embellishment and designed for the wrist of a world in motion. This particular piece, accompanied by original box and warranty, captures that spirit entirely.