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Dec 5, 2013 · In 1953, the not-yet-Sir Edmund Hillary became the first man to summit Mount Everest along with expedition partner Tenzing Norgay. And he did so with a Rolex on his wrist, an Oyster Perpetual that would prove to be the ancestor of the Explorer.
- HODINKEE
On 29 May 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay achieved what no human being had ever accomplished before: reaching the highest point on Earth. Guided by their unswerving determination and driven by sheer stamina, they were the first people to see the Himalayas from the summit of Mount Everest, at an altitude of 8,848 metres (29,029 feet).
Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay approaching the highest camp on Everest at 8,500 metres, May 1953. On 29 May 2023, the families of Norgay and Hillary will gather once again near the foot of Everest to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the two men’s momentous achievement.
- Rolex and Everest
- Hillary’s Smiths Watch
- Mount Everest and Watchmaking Today
In 1933, Rolex began sponsoring expedition parties to the Himalayas. The company provided its Oyster Perpetual wristwatch to mountaineers at no cost, viewing the expeditions as a chance to test its watches in extreme surroundings as much as a potential publicity opportunity. Prior to the successful 1953 expedition, Sherpa Tenzing Norgay had taken p...
To all but the most dedicated watch enthusiasts, the name Smiths isn’t likely to be familiar. This now-defunct watch manufacturer began its life as S. Smith & Sons—an automotive and aviation instrument business that found success in Britain during the Second World War. When Hillary reached the summit of Everest in 1953, he did so carrying Smiths in...
To commemorate the achievement of Hillary and Norgay, Rolex launched the iconic Explorer in 1953. Famous for its beautifully simple dial, the Explorer has become one of the brand’s longest running models, with only minor cosmetic updates since its launch more than 60 years ago. Just as the conquering of the moon became a significant achievement for...
Jun 4, 2014 · Whether Hillary’s Rolex made it to the summit that storied day or not, it helped define the “tool watch” concept and cemented Rolex’s position as the king of the rugged sports watch market—a position the company still holds in the luxury watch industry today.
Jan 20, 2016 · The first team of climbers was forced to retire shortly before the top, leaving New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay to become the first people in history to reach the summit. Joining the pair at these icy heights was Hillary’s trusty Rolex Oyster Perpetual, which he used to calculate precisely the right time to depart. If ...
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If you are a Rolex Collector, make sure you book your flight to Geneva this November 13th for the Sir Edmund Hillary’s Rolex Collection on auction!
