You wanted a new Explorer, You got one! For Watches & Wonders 2021, Rolex is presenting a new-generation Oyster Perpetual Explorer in 36mm – the same size of the original model launched in 1953 following the first ascent to the summit of Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay on 29 May that year. The Explorer is a watch that embodies the spirit of exploration and its the feedback that Rolex receives from the members of different expeditions that directly influences the evolution of its watches, making them more precise and robust.
The new-generation Oyster Perpetual Explorer is presented in a 36mm yellow Rolesor case (combining Oystersteel and 18 ct yellow gold). It works perfectly on men and women’s wrists and the combination of yellow gold and steel has a very different kind of presence. The middle case is made from a solid block of corrosion-resistant Oystersteel ensuring its 100-metre water-resistance, while the crown is fitted with the Twinlock double locking system. Other details include the Domed Bezel and the Oyster Bracelet. The case back, edged with fine fluting, is hermetically screwed down with a special tool that allows only Rolex watchmakers to access the movement. The Twinlock winding crown, fitted with a double waterproofness system, screws down securely against the case.
Coming to the dial – No there’s no Cyclops Lens which means No Date Window. The lacquered black dial bears index hour markers and emblematic 3, 6 and 9 numerals that are the cornerstones of the model’s personality. The hour markers and hands are treated with Rolex’ in-house luminescent material Chromalight which emits a long-lasting blue glow in the dark. In daylight, these display elements also have a brighter white hue.
The new Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer 36mm Yellow Rolesor is fitted with calibre 3230, a movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex that was released in 2020. Calibre 3230 incorporates the Chronergy escapement patented by Rolex, which combines high energy efficiency with great dependability. Made of nickel-phosphorus, it is also insensitive to magnetic fields. The movement is fitted with an optimized blue Parachrom hairspring, manufactured by Rolex in a paramagnetic alloy that makes it up to 10 times more precise than a traditional hairspring in case of shocks. The blue Parachrom hairspring is equipped with a Rolex overcoil, ensuring the calibre’s regularity in any position. The oscillator is fitted on the Rolex-designed and -patented high-performance Paraflex shock absorbers, increasing the movement’s shock resistance. Calibre 3230 is equipped with a self-winding module via a Perpetual rotor. Thanks to its barrel architecture and the escapement’s superior efficiency, the power reserve of calibre 3230 extends to approximately 70 hours.