The Rolex Testimonee title is most easily understood as a way to call someone a Rolex brand ambassador. The first Rolex tesimonee was Mercedes Gleitze, who wore a Rolex Oyster when she became the first woman to cross the English Channel in 1927. Almost a hundred years later, Rolex still finds exceptional people to represent the brand. From sports heroes to artists; from scientists to entertainment powerhouses; from heroes to novelists—the list of Rolex Testimonees reads like an encyclopedia of achievement.
In 1953, Tenzing Norgay became a Rolex Ambassador. A Sherpa guide without whom Hillary would most certainly never have reached the summit, Tenzing Norgay was often overlooked in reporting about the accomplishment. He was a mountaineer who received a Rolex gold bubbleback, a precursor to the Rolex Explorer. Norgay wore the watch on his wrist when he joined the British expedition to Everest in 1953. The watch was an Oyster Perpetual, the same type of watch that Sir Edmund Hillary wore when he reached the summit of Everest.
Rolex used the event to market the new Explorer watch, which was designed for navigating rough terrain and for the adventure of exploring. Rolex made sure to give Norgay his due. In advertisements after launching the Explorer II he was included whenever they talked about Sir Edmund Hillary’s accomplishments. Rolex (in fairness, responding at least to an extent to the criticism leveled toward everyone for excluding him) did their part to make sure Norgay was known and well-reported.
Tenzing Norgay isn’t as well-known to the general public as a number of mountaineers such as Edmund Hillary and Reinhold Messner. However, among mountaineers, you’ll not find anyone more respected that Sherpa Tenzing. To this day, few have accomplished even a small portion of what he’s accomplished when it comes to exploration. I think you’ll find reading up on Sherpa Tenzing Norgay very interesting. He’s an example of the sometimes exciting and often fascinating history of Rolex.
If you’re looking for a pre-owned Rolex in San Diego, give me a call. If I don’t have what you’re looking for in stock, I can very likely find it for you.
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