A Few Questions:

Mar 05, 2009,07:45 AM
 


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


More posts: 6098Air KingExplorer

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A world of extremes: Rolex has been everywhere you would not think of going to!

 
 By: 219 : March 2nd, 2009-06:56
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...  

A top In Depth topic, Andrew! :)))

 
 By: amanico : March 2nd, 2009-08:07
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 wh... 

That's exactly the Rolex legend

 
 By: DrStrong : March 2nd, 2009-09:11
thanks for the great post ! Cheers Jeff

Hmm...Omega too...

 
 By: chaser579 : March 2nd, 2009-09:55
Omega too, plus the moon. =:^D

That reminds me of a picture...

 
 By: DrStrong : March 2nd, 2009-13:14
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...  

perfect trilogy

 
 By: brokenwrist : March 2nd, 2009-20:16

Excellet Post!!!

 
 By: Philipps : March 3rd, 2009-07:22
g regards Philipp...  

Your welcome! -- more....

 
 By: Philipps : March 8th, 2009-11:32
g Regards Philipp www.SingleRedDeepSea.com...  

Back to the roots, Philipps

 
 By: amanico : March 8th, 2009-11:39
Best, Nicolas...  

Cool scans Nicolas!!....

 
 By: Philipps : March 8th, 2009-12:41
...  

A Few Questions:

 
 By: passioninsf : March 5th, 2009-07:45
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 u... 

Jake - hi. A few answers!

 
 By: 219 : March 6th, 2009-01:49
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 sup... 

A few more questions...

 
 By: passioninsf : March 6th, 2009-06:18
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 ... 

Great article by the way - even with Ms Monroe making an appearence! :)

 
 By: 219 : March 6th, 2009-06:46
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 O... 

Thank You Very Much...

 
 By: passioninsf : March 6th, 2009-07:57

Great post!

 
 By: Peter  : March 5th, 2009-18:50
Thks for sharing

Thumbs Up.

 
 By: leopardprey : March 10th, 2009-22:09