Rolex is one of the few firms in the world that has the distinct advantage of having a library full of classic items. It is a firm that is adored and despised in equal measure. It is a corporation that has achieved global brand awareness. Rolex is known by everyone, and I mean everyone. Many things might be stated, but one unmistakable fact is that Rolex constantly creates great timepieces that are industry benchmarks. From the DateJust and Day-Date to the professional watches developed to be used as tools for a specific job, such as the early Explorers and the Turn-o-graph, which led to the archetypal Submariner, the GMT Master and the Milgauss, and later the Cosmograph (Daytona), and finally the Sea-Dweller and the Explorer II, each one a legend among other models from competitive brands.
The true issue is – for practically everyone actively looking for a Rolex watch – is deciding which one to buy. What model should I purchase? Aside from the cost, we believe it comes down to your aesthetic preferences and, of course, each model’s individual appeal. With all of these factors in mind, as well as many more, we picked the Rolex Explorer Ref. 214270, the classic Oyster professional watch. Rolex recently redesigned the model, preserving the same reference number but making minor but significant adjustments — resulting in a new watch version known as the Mk2.
So, buckle up and let’s take a look at this magnificent Rolex Explorer watch. But first, let’s journey back in time for a little history lesson…
The Rolex Explorer History
The Oyster automatic watch was born in the 1920s, when Rolex creator Hans Wilsdorf realized that users might easily forget to screw down the crown of their manual winding watches, allowing water to enter the case. To be finalized, the oyster casing and crown need a new component. The Harwood manufacturer had the patent for the automatic watch in the 1920s, thus Rolex had to create the automatic watch from scratch. This happened at the same time as the Harwood Company went out of business due to poor management. Rolex took advantage of the ideal timing by adopting the basic 360-degree automated winding rotor, which made the movement heavier than usual.
When Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first persons to climb Mount Everest in 1953, the Rolex Explorer earned its now-legendary reputation. Rolex produced the Explorer to commemorate their incredible achievement: a watch designed exclusively for adventurers. It’s worth noting that Rolex provided Oyster Perpetual watches to the 1953 British Mount Everest Expedition; Hans Wilsdorf, the company’s founder, believed in field testing Rolex watches.
The Explorer is currently the oldest still-in-production Rolex sports watch. Despite the fact that the business has introduced various Explorer models over the previous six decades, the design of the watch has remained fairly similar. The Rolex Explorer 214270, on the other hand, differed slightly from its forerunners and successors. Not only is the now-discontinued Explorer 214270 the biggest Explorer model ever built, but it also has two dial options to consider. Check out our comprehensive guide to the Rolex Explorer 214270 for all the details.
Explorer 214270 design
From a design aspect, the Rolex Explorer has always followed a minimalist concept of the minimum essentials – flawlessly done – with no unnecessary features on the watch. The Explorer has no dial colors, bracelet styles, or date complications. The Explorer is distinguished by its water-resistant case, three-link Oyster bracelet, and black time-only dial with three large numbers.
The Explorer 214270, on the other hand, was unveiled at Baselworld 2010 and sported a 39mm casing. The Explorer had always measured 36mm up until that moment, therefore the 3mm increase widened the appeal of the watch to accommodate individuals who wanted somewhat bigger watches.
The 214270, like all previous Explorer references, is only available in steel – specifically, 90L stainless steel, which Rolex now refers to as “Oystersteel.” The watch’s 39mm steel casing is scratch-resistant and water-resistant to 100 meters (330 feet). It has a Twinlock screw-down winding crown, a screw-down caseback, and a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal.
The Rolex Explorer 214270 is also equipped with a steel Oyster band, much like its predecessors. In comparison to prior Oyster bracelets with hollow center links and stamped Rolex clasps, the Explorer 214270’s Oyster bracelet had entirely solid links (including solid end-links) and a new Oysterlock clasp, which provided extra heaviness and security on the wrist. The bracelet was also updated with the brand’s revolutionary Easylink extension system, which allows wearers to micro-adjust the bracelet by 5mm with ease.
MK1 & MK2 Explorer 214270 Dials
The dial design of the Rolex Explorer is without a doubt its most identifiable feature. The dial has had a combination of baton hour markers, an inverted triangle at 12, and, most notably, big Arabic numerals at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock since the Explorer’s inception. In fact, any Rolex watch with 3-6-9 numerals, regardless of model, is referred to as an Explorer-style dial among fans. With the exception of a few extremely rare vintage specimens, the Rolex Explorer dial is always black, always with Mercedes-style hands, and it has never featured a date window.
Rolex produced two dial versions for the Explorer 214270 throughout the course of its 11-year manufacturing life, which collectors now refer to as MK1 and MK2 dials.
When Rolex released the 39mm Explorer 214270 in 2010, many people were eager to see a bigger Explorer watch with a matte (rather than glossy) black dial. Others, on the other hand, noted that the timekeeping hands appeared to be somewhat too short, since the minute hand did not fully reach the minute track. Non-luminous solid 18k white gold 3, 6, and 9 numerals were also seen on this early dial variation, now known as MK1. The remaining indexes, as well as the hands, were covered with Rolex’s new Chromalight lume (first seen on the Sea-Dweller two years ago), which emanates blue light in the dark rather than the green-glowing SuperLuminova.
Rolex introduced an improved version of the Explorer 214270 (note the same reference number) with a new dial at Baselworld 2016. The MK2 dial variation had a bigger handset and a proportionate minute hand that reached the minute track. Rolex also added Chromalight luminescence to the white gold 3, 6, and 9 numerals. The MK2 dial was used on the Explorer 214270 for the balance of the reference’s production cycle until it was ultimately retired in 2021.
Explorer 214270 movement
Aside from the bigger case, the Explorer 214270 had a new movement: the Caliber 3132, which included all of Rolex’s cutting-edge technology at the time.
The innovative blue parachrom hairspring in the COSC-certified Caliber 3132 self-winding movement is not only resistant to magnetic fields and temperature changes, but also up to ten times more shock resistant than a regular hairspring. In addition to the blue parachrom hairspring, Rolex equipped the Caliber 3132 with paraflex shock absorbers to increase resistance to damaging knocks and impacts. The Explorer 214270 has a power reserve of about 48 hours thanks to the Caliber 3132 movement.
Rolex secretly revised its Superlative Chronometer certification in late 2015 to give an accuracy rating of -2/+2 seconds per day across all of its watches, a significantly more strict level than the COSC standards’ maximum average variation of -4/+6 seconds per day.
Price and Value for Explorer 214270
Due to Rolex’s decision to withdraw the Explorer 214270 in 2021, this reference is currently only accessible on the secondary market. The Rolex Explorer 214270’s most recent retail price was $6,550, making it one of Rolex’s more affordable sports models.
The open market value of the Explorer 214270, like that of practically other stainless steel Rolex sports watches, is substantially greater, especially since the watch is no longer in production and is only available on the secondary market. Watches with Mark 1 dials start at $9,000, while those with Mark 2 dials start around $10,500. With this in mind, well-preserved specimens with factory labels, original boxes, and warranty cards can fetch up to $15,000 in good condition.
In 2020, the average price paid for a pre-owned Explorer 214270 was around $7,200, which is still more than the new retail price but much lower than the current production model’s open market pricing. This significant price increase demonstrates how much the value of this specific Rolex sports reference has risen in only one year.
Rolex’s Biggest Explorer Watch
Rolex debuted its latest models in Spring 2021, featuring a completely new Explorer watch generation. There were two shocks when Rolex revealed the new Explorer generation: the size and the addition of a two-tone variation.
That’s true, the Explorer’s original 36mm diameter has been restored. As a result, the reference 214270 is the only Explorer model in history to offer a 39mm case size, which is frequently regarded as a “sweet spot” case size for many collectors and is gradually vanishing from Rolex’s current inventory (the 39mm Oyster Perpetual was replaced by a 41mm model the previous year).
If you like the famous Rolex Explorer design but prefer watches with a bigger case size than 36mm, the 39mm Explorer 214270 is the watch for you. We doubt we’ll ever see another Explorer with the same proportions as the 214270, and if current pricing trends are any indication, these iconic Rolex sports watches will only grow more costly in the coming years.
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