The Rolex Explorer 14270 occupies a unique position in horological history. Caught in a sort of wristwatch purgatory—not old enough to be considered vintage and not new enough to be trendy—it is an underappreciated timepiece in collecting circles, yet it boasts a dedicated cult following among enthusiasts.
The 14270 was introduced at the Basel Watch Fair in 1989, placing Rolex at the intersection of sport and luxury. The classic iteration of the tool watch was gradually being phased out as Rolex began integrating various higher-end manufacturing techniques into their timepieces. This period also saw other iconic tool watches undergoing significant design changes; for example, the Daytona received an automatic movement, while the Submariner was updated with sapphire glass and white gold surround indexes.
The Explorer 14270 is so elegantly simple in its execution that it often goes unnoticed—no date, no fluted shiny bezel, just a straightforward three-hander.
Here, we have the rarest dial of this reference, only found in early E and X series (from about 1990 to 1991), where the bold Arabic numerals are filled with glossy black enamel instead of white enamel as seen in later series.
There are even two different variants of these: white print and the slightly rarer “silver print,” where all text is printed in silver—very uncommon!
The case of our black dial remains quite robust, featuring a lovely smooth bezel. The dial has developed a slight “frozen” effect, where the black gloss has turned into a matte-like anthracite color, and the indexes have taken on a beige hue. We love it!
The bracelet is in lovely condition, a ref 78360 solid Oyster type, with endlinks marked 558b and a clasp stamped R12.
The watch has been fully serviced by our watchmaker.
The Rolex Explorer 14270 bridges the gap between a dress watch and a sports watch. Do not miss out on this rare sleeper watch; get in touch!
Specifications:
- Rolex Reference 14270
- 36mm steel case
- Serial E89xxxx dating to 1990
- Rare ‘Blackout’ Dial with silver print
- Oyster bracelet ref 78360 with 558b endlinks
- Fully serviced by our watchmaker
- One-year mechanical warranty
- Free worldwide FedEx Priority shipping