Rolex consistently has associated itself with historical challenges that exhibit the best in physical achievement and endurance. Such a key event was the first attempt by humans to reach the top of Mount Everest--the world's highest mountain peak--in 1953. The endeavor began with the British Himalayas Expedition team, led by Sir John Hunt. The team included many first-rate adventurers and climbers, but only Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay successfully made their way to the top of the peak. Luckily, when Rolex had to pick one member of the exhibition to wear the prototype of the Rolex Explorer to the summit, they chose Norgay, and the Rolex Explorer made it to the top as well.
To tell the full story, when Rolex first heard about the expedition, they saw this event as a golden opportunity to prove the true excellence and quality of the Rolex brand. By that time, Rolex had already created an adventurer’s watch, which later became popularly known as "The Explorer." This watch was designed especially for extreme conditions, and Rolex wanted to test it in full view of the media and prove it could survive even the extreme conditions at the top of the world. The conquest of Mt. Everest and Rolex came together perfectly.
Rolex GMT Master
As planned, Rolex participated in the event with a prototype of the Rolex Explorer Model 6098, giving this watch to one chosen expedition member: Tenzing Norgay, a Tibetan Sherpa. On May 29, 1953, the Rolex Explorer made it to the summit of Mt. Everest, a height of 29,035 feet, on the wrist of Tenzing Norgay. It successfully withstood the harsh conditions and came out a winner, riding a huge wave of glory and acclaim with Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay. This success added a major historical, permanently-unpluckable feather to the cap of Rolex. The model 6098 was publicized on an international scale, and Rolex named it "The Explorer:" the perfect watch for the modern adventurer.
The success of the Explorer led Rolex to come up with a second generation of this masterpiece known as the Explorer II. It also was designed for any climatic extremes that could possibly be encountered on any adventure or expedition. But, even today, people associate "The Explorer" with the original conquest of Mt. Everest--a historical achievement not only for humanity, but for Rolex as well.