ROLEX | Jumbo Oyster Precision
3-6-9 Explorer
Ref. 6427
1960s
For your collection of incredibly iconic Rolex vintage watches, there is this reference 6427 | Rolex Jumbo Oyster Precision with tropical 3-6-9 Explorer dial.
The iconic dial of the 3-6-9 Explorer is inspired by the legendary story of the first watch on the summit of Mount Everest. Sir Edmund Hillary was the first person to climb Mount Everest with his expedition partner Tenzing Norgay on 29th of May 1953. And he did so with a Rolex Oyster Perpetual produced in year 1950, as Rolex was one of the sponsors of the 1953 Everest Expedition. Hillary was accompanied by a Rolex Oyster reference 6098, with a prototype dial. A long leather strap allowed the watch to be worn over clothing, making it easy to read in the blink of an eye. The watch indicated 11:30 a.m. when they reached the summit at 8,848 meters. But, was it a Rolex that displayed this time?
All the climbers on the expedition were given a Rolex. However, the British expedition was also sponsored by the British watch brand “Smith”. And, it was a Smith that Hillary wore to the summit and left his Rolex at base camp (..at least that's what he reported in his letter to Smith).
The amusing point of this story: Norgay was wearing a Rolex, and since he was the first to reach the summit (according to Hillary), it was a Rolex after all, as the first watch on top of Mount Everest.
But even at this point the story has no end, because Norgay stated that Hillary was the first to reach the summit. Hillary claimed it was Norgay. And so this story, which collectors love to spend nights discussing, continues to this day.
Join in & do it with this fantastic Rolex Oyster Explorer Dial on your wrist!
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>> Sir Edmund Hillary's original Rolex can be experienced today in Zurich at the watch museum of BEYER, the oldest and most renowned watch store in Zurich, at Bahnhofstrasse 31 in the heart of Zurich.
>> Sir Edmund Hillary's original Smith can be experienced today in London at The Clockmakers' Museum - on the 2nd floor of The Science Museum, Exhibition Rd, South Kensington - which is considered to be the oldest collection of clocks and watches in the world.
* Epilogue: By climbing the highest mountain on earth, Rolex was once again a partner of one of the most important historical and sporting events and was able to use this skillfully for marketing purposes. The legend of the explorer's watch was born. It was only after the ascent by Sir Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay that the dials of subsequent Rolex references featured the Explorer lettering for the first time. Reference 6098 was the origin of the “Explorer” and developed via references 6298 and 6350 into the now legendary 3-6-9 Explorer dial - a striking black dial with clearly visible luminous indices as well as the luminous numerals “3”, “6” and “9”. A triangle at the top of the “12” ensures better orientation in the dark.
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What makes this Rolex Jumbo Oyster 3-6-9 Explorer timemachine so exceptional is the rarity of the Explorer dial in combination with this very thin and unpretentious hand-wound model Reference 6427. Hard to beat in terms of sophistication & elegance.
The beautiful Explorer dial has a gorgeous tropical patina with surface waves and the deep black has become beautifully matt over the years.
This precious watch was delivered in the sixties by the world-renowned Chronometrie Philippe Beguin / Geneve and will go to the new owner including the original Rolex box, original Rolex Tritium dial and original Rolex folded bracelet from that period, still in reasonably good condition. We completely overhauled this beauty in 2024 and deliver this timemachine with extraordinary technical performance values to you.
A truly desirable vintage collector's Rolex.
Manual movement
Diameter 35 mm without crown
Technical indications | Keeping time -1sec/day
Serviced 2024
Differential taxation according to § 25a UStG. No taxes included. | Differenzbesteuerung nach § 25a UStG. Kunstgegenstände und Sammlungsstücke, Sonderregelung.
