Within the gilded world of Rolex amassing, it goes with out saying that unicorn references – just like the white gold Ref. 6265 that’s actually nicknamed the ‘unicorn’ – are a frequent subject of debate, dialogue and (oftentimes) consternation. But, nearly all of these references ardent followers of the Coronet deem to be fascinating fall into the classic and neo-vintage classes: cue your ‘James Bond’ Submariners and Zenith Daytonas.
Just lately although, high-end London-based seller A Collected Man listed a contemporary Explorer II (Ref. 216570 – for the sticklers amongst you) for an informal 40,000 quid. Secondary market costs at present being what they’re (two years in the past, on the tippy-top of the market, you possibly can hope to make round $20,000 on an unworn Explorer II) one has to marvel why this contemporary 216570 has been valuated on the identical kind of price-point for which you possibly can nab a Cornes de Vache from Vacheron Constantin.
In short? An aura of heroism.
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Earlier than going any additional, it’s essential to remember that military-spec Rolexes are hardly a brand new factor. In 1957, the Coronet started outfitting members of the British Royal Navy with variants of the aforementioned ‘James Bond’ Sub (Ref. A/6538); and since then, have gone on to provide a number of U.Ok. particular forces regiments with later iterations of that iconic metal diver. Amongst these, there may be in fact the Particular Air Service (SAS) – a family identify on the planet of elite army models for a lot of many years, due to historic crises like Operation Nimrod and popular culture fodder a la Name Of Obligation.
The connection to Her Majesty’s deadliest regiment is what makes this in any other case standard execution of the Explorer II so fascinating. Established in 1941 by David ‘The Phantom Main’ Stirling, the fashionable SAS consists of three regiments: notably, the ’22 SAS’ – whose insignia you may see engraved on the caseback of this Explorer II. Consisting of some 400-600 elite troopers at anybody time, the members of this regiment are additional break up into ‘troops’: 4 areas of specialty that cowl maritime warfare, HALO leaping, arctic fight and lord-knows-what-else.
Suffice to say, it’s important to be one the hardest, roughest SOBs in Her Majesty’s complete armed forces to qualify into the 22 SAS; and once more, it’s this lofty standing that imparts an extra halo of desirability on this Explorer II. When it was first retailed in 2012 (at a single level of sale through Rolex London) the SAS Explorer II may solely be bought by members who had been actively serving within the Regiment. Even then, we wish to assume that the Coronet’s common recognition ensured there was in all probability a waitlist someplace, titled ‘allocations for Britain’s most rogue of operators”.
Speaking particulars, the SAS Explorer II’s caseback options the pressure’s attribute ‘winged dagger’ insignia: each in reduction and as a recurring motif. These references are supplemented by an engraving on the left case flank spelling out the SAS’s legendary motto, “Who Dares Wins”.
For a concise explainer on the historical past of the SAS Explorer II, full with in-the-metal footage, try Adrian Barker’s YouTube vid beneath…
