Rolex [New for 2021] The Oyster Perpetual Explorer, downsized to 36mm

The 2021 Explorer features a slightly more modest case diameter of 36mm, adds Rolesor, a combination of gold and stainless steel, and is powered by the next-generation chronometer-certified caliber 3230.

A friendlier Explorer

　Rolex has announced a new 36mm Explorer model for 2021. In addition to the standard steel model, it also comes in Rolesor, a combination of Oystersteel and yellow gold. The indices and hands on the dial are gold-colored to match the case, and are coated with luminous material that shines in the dark.

　The Explorer, a model released in 1953, was an important tool watch for mountain exploration. Since the 1930s, Rolex has provided watches to numerous Himalayan climbing teams, including the first to reach Mount Everest, at an altitude of 8848 meters. The feedback received from these teams had a direct influence on the evolution of Rolex watches, leading to the creation of more robust and reliable timepieces, which continue to this day.

　The next-generation Explorer maintained practicality and performance, while also adding a touch of jewelry to the tool watch by combining Oystersteel and 18K yellow gold. Rolesor is a name that has been given to models that combine different materials since it was registered in 1933. The design, which harmoniously combines silver and gold tones, gives a more glamorous impression than models that only feature Oystersteel. 18K yellow gold is used for the bezel, crown, and center links of the bracelet.

　The 36mm Oyster case, featuring a double-sealed screw-down crown, is robust and reliable, and is guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 100m. The middle case is made of a corrosion-resistant alloy called Oystersteel, and is machined from a single block. The robust solid back caseback has a finely grooved outer edge, a special design that can only be opened and closed by the company's watchmakers.

Reliable movement

　This timepiece is equipped with the fully in-house developed Caliber 3230, which boasts the same robust design as the Oyster case. It holds several patents and boasts exceptional precision, shock resistance, anti-magnetic properties, and reliability. The Chronergy escapement, made from a nickel-phosphorus alloy, is resistant to magnetic fields, and the Blue Parachrom hairspring, responsible for precision, is approximately 10 times more shock-resistant than a standard balance spring. The watch features an automatic winding mechanism with a Perpetual rotor, and the power reserve has been extended to approximately 70 hours by redesigning the conventional barrel and escapement.

These highly sought-after models are not easy to come by, but both the Oystersteel and Rolesor models are very attractively priced. The Explorer, now smaller and more refined, is undoubtedly a high-quality, practical watch.