Its historical significance is intertwined with the exploration of Mt. Everest. In 1953 Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay whore a white Rolex Oyster Perpetual as they ascended Mt. Everest’s peak for the first time. With that marketing and branding stunt Rolex wanted to show the world its Oyster case capabilities, which eventually resulted in the release of a watch similar to the one that conquered Mt. Everest. In that same year the Explorer reference 6350 was released, with a diameter of 36mm and the first to feature the iconic “Explorer” name on its dial. It also had the other features that defined the Explorer line on years to come: a black dial and numerals at 3, 6 and 9.

The timepiece showcased is the 2021 Rolex’s reinterpretation of the Explorer. A call to its origins and an instantly classic iconic watch. The new Explorer (reference number 124270) presented us with an unexpected move from Rolex: undersizing from a 39mm to a 36mm diameter, the historically accurate size of the watch. Its case is made of 904L Oystersteel (with higher corrosion resistance and higher surface hardness) and is powered by the in-house caliber 3230, with a 70 hour power reserve. This is a Superlative Chronometer movement that has not only passed the COSC (Control Officiel Suisse de Chronometres) certification (-4/+6 seconds maximum deviation per day) but was subsequently tested to Rolex’s own criteria (-2/+2 seconds maximum deviation per day), a much stricter certification. Its hands, numerals and markers are filled with Chromalight material, which emits a beautiful blue tone in darker conditions. The case and the bracelet are fully brushed on the flat surfaces, with polished accents on the sides, and the bezel is also polished, giving a prestigious look and feel to this luxury piece. This watch has never been worn and comes in factory condition, with its  full set, minus the stickers (it only has the case back sticker), and is still under the original 5 year Rolex warranty, as shown in the pictures.

This timepiece is the perfect choice for an all-rounder or daily usage luxury watch. Either you are on leisure or in business activities, this watch is completely up to the task. A master of straps, the combinations that you can arrange with this magnificent piece are almost infinite. This is a great understated timepiece that will not only mirror your personality, but also demonstrate your knowledge of the field. Not only a Rolex, but an iconic Rolex that will enrich your horological collection.

The post Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer (2021) first appeared on RF Timepieces.

The timepiece presented here is a Seiko SKX007-J1, perhaps Seiko’s most well know and iconic watch, that already has a significant group of followers. This watch is, and has been for some years, the “entry drug” to the watch collecting addiction of many collectors worldwide. If you never saw one in person, trust us… it will impress. Even more if you consider the budget needed to acquire this watch in comparison with others that will certainly take a bigger hit to your wallet. And lets not forget its reputation for accuracy, practicality and durability. This is also a J1 reference, which means that it’s really made in Japan, unlike the K reference. The first thing that stands out is that the “whole package” just gets everything right in terms of aesthetics. The black dial is super legible, under Seiko’s Hardlex scratch-resistant synthetic mineral crystal, with a handy day-date window a 3 o’clock and great luminescence on the hands and hour markers that will get you a great read in darker conditions. The crown is comfortably positioned at 4 o’clock, further contributing to the sporty looks of the watch. The unidirectional metallic bezel has a beautiful and practical polished ribbed outer surface, which gives a firm grip to turn in harder conditions. Its 7S26 automatic self-winding movement has 21 jewels and provides up to 40 hours of power reserve. And you can also count with a 200 meters water resistance to get you through your underwater trials. This watch was never worn and comes in factory condition, with its  full set, minus the stickers (it only has the case back sticker), as shown in the pictures.

This is the only daily usage and diver watch you may need, with the toughness required for your adventures, but also a chameleon adequate for more formal occasions. This one is a looker, either with a metal bracelet or a leather strap. A truly accessible all-rounder timepiece with a reputation to match.

The post Seiko SKX007-J1 first appeared on RF Timepieces.

Regarding Bulova’s horological advances, there are a few worth mentioning. In the 1960s one of their most important models was released, the Bulova Accutron, which was the first completely electronic watch ever developed with an accuracy of 1 minute per month. Bulova also partnered with NASA, where it provided timepieces for 46 missions, from the 1950s to the 1970s. The best known history is that of “the other moon watch” when, on 2nd August 1971, astronaut Dave Scott wore his Bulova Chronograph watch in the Apollo 15 mission to the Moon, which had been customized for lunar conditions. In that mission the Omega Speedmaster had again been chosen and issued to all astronauts, but when the crystal popped off from Scott’s Speedmaster he was able to wear his Bulova during the rest of the mission. In 2015, Scott’s Bulova was auctioned for the final price of $1,625,000.

The Bulova Lunar Pilot Chronograph presented here is a special edition in honor of the events occurred in the Apollo 15 mission. This watch is powered by Bulova’s high performance quartz movement with a frequency of 262 kHz, protected by a solid 316L surgical-grade stainless steel case in silver-tone. The black dial has a lot of details for your eyes to admire. First it’s very easily legible with its super-luminous white indices and pencil-shaped hands, all of which can be admired through the anti-reflective sapphire glass. The dial also shows some well thought depth details, with a raised tachymeter scale and the sundials appearing just a  step bellow the main dial. The back of the case is inscribed with a tribute to the Apollo 15 mission, including the specific location on the moon where the Bulova was worn. This watch comes with two interchangeable straps, one made of textured black leather and the other of black nylon with a nubuck leather patch that indicates the date of mission (DOM) as 08021971.

This watch was never worn and comes in factory condition, with its  full set and stickers, as shown in the pictures.

This timepiece allows you to have a beautiful and reliable watch linked with the space exploration history, within almost everyone’s budget. It’s a perfect daily piece with which you can make your statement while adding a piece of heritage to your watch collection.

The post Bulova Lunar Pilot first appeared on RF Timepieces.