Explorer 39 / Mark 1

The Rolex Explorer benefited from experience gained in the Himalayas, acquiring its clearly distinctive hour and minute hands, and its landmark, highly legible, black dial with luminescent indices and large Arabic numerals at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. It is designed for optimal legibility even in the dark – a crucial feature for explorers. It stood at the base for all Oyster Professional models that followed. This reference is distinguished by its 39 mm case, 3mm larger compared to earlier models. Of interest to the astute collector is the Mark 1 dial variation. When introduced, the 3, 6, and 9 hour markers on this model were non-luminous. In 2016, Rolex introduced the Mark 2 dial that has luminous markers at these hours and a slightly longer handset.