Rolex

The 1950’s saw notable achievements for Rolex. They went from the heights of the earth, atop of Mount Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary; and to the depths of the ocean in the Mariana Trench with Jacques Piccard. The Beyer Museum has both – the original from Sir Edmund Hillary (complete with part of the packaging when he sent the watch back for repair), and a replica of the Rolex that accompanied Piccard.

If the ‘urban myths’ are true, Rolex equipped the Everest expedition with prototypes of the soon to be released Explorer. Endorsements after the expedition included the following by Col. John Hunt: “They performed splendidly, and we have indeed come to look upon Rolex Oysters as an important part of high climbing equipment." Hence, it has remained something of an assumption that Hillary and Tenzing wore the Rolex Oyster Explorers (probably in prototype form) to the summit. However, Rolex own website notes that the “…Explorer made an auspicious debut in 1953, after Sir Edmund Hillary’s successful ascent of Everest.” While Rolex was one of the watches of choice on the expedition, the Rolex worn by Tenzing at the summit was a stainless steel ‘bubbleback’ on a simple leather strap given to him by his longtime friend and fellow climber Raymond Lambert and currently on display in Geneva at Rolex headquarters.

Hillary, by some accounts wore a watch from the English company: Smiths. And while Hillary endorsed the Smith’s watch after the 1953 expedition, he also wrote endorsements for Rolex. However, it appears that Hillary did wear a Rolex on the expedition, but it was not an Explorer Oyster (prototype or not). It was an Oyster Perpetual and the watch, along with some paper from the wrapping used to send it back for repair, is now on display at the Beyer Museum. Rolex, ever a firm to capitalize on the publicity of an achievement that they helped through funding and support, probably released the Explorer in recognition of the Everest expedition’s achievement and the firm’s new association with extreme endeavours.





If Rolex was to be the watch of choice in extreme conditions, then if it had reached the top of the world, the next place was in the depths of the ocean. In the 1950’s, Rolex began development of the Deep Sea Special that was also the spur to the work behind the Rolex Submariner and the water-tight (to a specified depth) Oyster case. In some sense, this is where the research that led to the current Deep Sea Sea Dweller started.

In 1960, Jacques Piccard and Donald Walsh descended in the Trieste bathyscaph to the deepest known point on Earth: the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. The two men made the deepest dive in history at 10,915 meters (35,810 ft), with the "Deep Sea Special" fixed to the outside of the bathyscaph. The watch held up to a pressure of 1,150 atm. Think of it this way, the current Deep Sea Sea Dweller would have imploded about a third of the way down. To celebrate the world record depth of the Deep Sea Special (DSS) and ever vigilant with the publicity that would ensue, Rolex decided to manufacture several replica models of the DSS to be displayed at Major Rolex retailers and to be donated to major museums around the world. The original DSS is held by Rolex in Geneva. The replica models are still a rarity and it is one of the replicas that Beyer Museum holds.





The watch was designed along the same lines as the bathyscaph itself, and it was very much a learning process for Rolex. In the same way that the windows on the bathyscaph were constructed, Rolex modeled the crystal for the watch. From the side view photo, just look at the size of the crystal on the watch – makes the crystal on the current DeepSea look a little shallow!! Otherwise, with this model, there was no three-ring valve. Just a casing and crystal made to withstand an unbelievable amount of pressure.

So here they are, the Rolex watches that have been to the very depths of the earth, and the highest peak. A unique pair and achievements that Rolex famously contributed to and used to their gain to further advance the (deserved) Rolex reputation.



Andrew H This message has been edited by DrStrong on 2009-03-05 02:31:13 This message has been edited by 219 on 2009-03-06 06:48:29 This message has been edited by DrStrong on 2009-03-11 02:39:12

Thanks for this very informative and interesting post, Andrew.

That's the strength of this Brand, indeed.

Being able to put an History behind several watches is not shared by all the Manufactures.

I loved the History behind Sir Hillary and his explorer which was in fact an Air King...

I was sure it was, in fact, a Date Just...

So you see..Legends...



As for the Deep Sea, this is another lovely myth.

The interesting thing is that Rolex decided to choose this name for their new Sea Dweller.

some will say that it is pure marketting.

To me, I'm naive enough to see it as an Hommage.

Best!

Nicolas

.

thanks for the great post !

      Cheers

                Jeff

They were the originators of this type of publicity, even before Everest.  Hans Wilsdorf saw the potential of such when he presented Mercedes Gleitze with a Rolex 'Oyster' when she swam the English Channel in 1927.  Smart advertising and product placement.  Even before you hired specialists in such areas, Wilsdorf could see the potential.

Well deserved and earned

Andrew H

Omega too, plus the moon.

=:^D

of my collection of toolwatches, that I had taken at some point.

Like a sea - earth - sky trilogy


This message has been edited by DrStrong on 2009-03-02 13:15:59

I'm building it slowly...

Slowly...



Superb, Jeff!

Nicolas

Rumour has it that Hillary also wore a Smiths at the top.  Thanks for reading

Andrew H

g

regards Philipp

No message body

g





















Regards Philipp
www.SingleRedDeepSea.com

Best,

Nicolas

Best to you my friend!

Rgrds.Philipp

Hi Andrew,

I am a little confused and I am hoping you can clarify.

You are showing two watches in your photos and the two-tone watch with the black dial is clearly an original DEEP SEA SPECIAL demo model (Probably without a movement inside), but I don't understand what the photo of the white dialed watch is? If you would answer these simple questions, I would appreciate the clarification:

1. Are you saying the white dialed Rolex Oyster in your photos is a watch that belonged to Sir Edmund Hillary?

2. You say in paragraph 3:

"However, it appears that Hillary did wear a Rolex on the expedition, but it was not an Oyster (prototype or not). It was an Air King (appropriate I suppose) and the watch along with some paper from the wrapping used to send it back for repair, is now on display at the Beyer Museum."

I don't know why Hillary would wear a non-Oyster Rolex. This does not make sense? If you are going to climb Everest which is covered with snow, rain and water, you would have to be crazy to wear a non-waterproof watch. Also, I assume all Air-King Rolex models were Oysters?

3. You say in paragraph 2:

"If the 'urban myths' are true, Rolex equipped the Everest expedition with prototypes of the soon to be released Explorer."

Are you aware Rolex introduced the first Rolex Explorer several years before Hillary and Tenzing successfully conquered Everest? I am specifically referring to the Rolex Explorer [Reference 6098] that was made in 1950.

Thanking you in advance for you clarification.

Warmest regards,

Jake Ehrlich

1. Yes, the watch in the pictures is Hillary's - the Beyer Museum has the documentation to prove it.

2. If you go to the Rolex website, it states that the Explorer Oyster was brought out after the 1953 expedition.  Rumour has it that the expedition was supplied with the Oyster Explorer prototypes, but Tenszing definitely wore the bubbleback (it is in Rolex's own museum), and Hillary's was not the Explorer Oyster that people suppose was used.

3. You might want to take this up with Rolex, as on their website it clearly states: “…Explorer made an auspicious debut in 1953, after Sir Edmund Hillary’s successful ascent of Everest.” I was not aware of the Ref6098 - do you have any pictures.  It would be worth getting to the details on this.  However, as the documentation atests, the Air King was Hillary's and he wore it; Tenszing wore the bubbleback.

Thanks for reading and the interesting questions.

Kind regards

Andrew H

This message has been edited by 219 on 2009-03-06 06:47:17

Hi Andrew!!!

Thank you for taking the time to clarify.

I have a few more questions regarding your answers.

1. You say the watch in the photo is Hillary's which is really cool. The thing that confuses me is that you said he did not wear an Oyster, but the watch in the photo has the "Oyster" designation on the dial?

Also, you said he wore an Air King, but there is no Air King designation on the dial?

2. To specifically answer your question, you can see a photo of the Rolex Explorer Reference 6098 from 1950 here:

[external link removed by moderator a per forum rules]

The reason I am trying to separate the fact from the fiction on this is so I can update the article accordingly.

Thanks for sharing your insight and I look forward to your further clarification.

Warmest regards,

Jake

This message has been edited by DrStrong on 2009-03-06 12:40:37

First, my apologies for the speed typing earlier: I meant to state Explorer Oyster - its an Oyster as you state. 

Given the evidence in your article I am inclined to think (despite being informed that this was an earlier Air King model) that this was the Oyster Perpetual you list in your article.  No Explorer, no Explorer prototype, but just the Oyster Perpetual.  I have amended the article and my response accordingly and stand corrected.  Great research on your part.  However, as stated, with the documentation, this is Hillary's Rolex from the expedition.

Hope this helps.  I will confess that I am not a Rolex expert and hence was informed by Beyer that this was an Air King - although I now think that to be an error.

Andrew H

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for the clarification.

I think you perhaps put in the final piece of the Everest story puzzle.

I say this because when I watched the film footage of Hillary and Tenzing, I kept noticing that they and all the other team members were wearing watches with what appeared to be white dials. This seemed strange since the Rolex Explorer dials are typically black. I also noticed their watches were worn primarily on leather straps.

As soon as I get the chance to follow up I will update the story and give you credit for your contribution.

Thank you very much for writing your story and answering all my questions so thoroughly. I appreciate it very much.

Warmest regards,

Jake

Thks for sharing

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Good post. Thanks for writing.