If you’ve been interested in Rolex for any length of time, you probably already know that Rolex made it to the top of the tallest mountain in the world. Rolex was involved in the 1953 ascent of Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary. Although there is a common misconception that the watch in question was the first Explorer, it was not. The Explorer was released the same year but the Oyster Perpetual was the watch that Rolex gave Hillary for the climb.
This wasn’t the first Rolex in the Himalayas. Although the watch was designed specifically for the expedition so it would be returned to Rolex for testing after the climb, other Rolexes had been in the mountains there. Rolex supplied watches to expeditions in the Himalayas since the 1930s. It helped the explorers and gave Rolex the opportunity to test their performance in extreme conditions. The climbers provided feedback, helping Rolex improve future models.
There are plenty of people who love controversy. They’ll argue Rolex wasn’t the first watch to the top of Mt. Everest but it was a Smiths watch on Hillary’s wrist. Rolex never once advertised being the first watch at the summit. A number of others reported it. People pore over photographs of Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa trying to find proof of an already settled matter. Rolex actually published a letter congratulating Smiths. The controversy is, as these things usually are, nothing at all, really. Did Rolex get a whole lot of positive press?
Sure. Is that bad?
Well, Rolex is certainly more successful than Smiths. Did it happen because of this one incident, Mt. Everest? It’s impossible to believe that. One thing I can tell you is that what Rolex has done since then is pretty amazing. For one thing, they support the Himalayan Trust. Founded by Hillary, the foundation builds hospitals, schools, clinics, and clean water systems for the Sherpa people. In addition, they support the Tenzing Norgay Sherpa Foundation, which promotes education and healthcare in Nepal. Furthermore, Rolex is working with Dawa Yangzum Sherpa in the Perpetual Planet Initiative to train and develop new female climbers.
If you’re in the market for Rolex drama, just open a web browser. If you’re in the market for a pre-owned Rolex in San Diego, reach out and I can help.
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