Exploration is one of humanity’s greatest achievements. It is a combination of many characteristics: curiosity about our boundaries, the courage to step into the unknown, passion and perseverance in the face of impossible odds and finally, the creativity to find new solutions to help us go further.
Timekeeping is an essential part of an explorer’s needs. Up in the air or far down below sea level, time is of the essence and precision timekeeping is often crucial for human survival. Frequently, the name most associated with these expeditions has been the Rolex Explorer.
The word ‘expedition’ stems from the Latin verb ‘expedire’, which means ‘to make useful’. To some extent that is true. Without the British Joint Himalayan Committee led by Sir John Hunt, Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary would never have found their way to Everest’s peak. That led scientists to follow in their footsteps, to study glaciers such as the Gangotri, Yamunotri and Khumbu, which supply nearly a quarter of the global population with drinking water.
Likewise, expeditions into the deep sea have not only allowed us to satiate our curiosity about lifeforms that can live in the crushing pressure of the deep. It has also helped the scientific community gain insight into everything from marine ecosystems to life in extreme environments, and even medical care. These successes started with the Rolex Explorer, and continue to this day
TO CROWN IT ALL
Denne historien er fra Summer 2021-utgaven av World of Watches.
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Denne historien er fra Summer 2021-utgaven av World of Watches.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
BRAND ELEVATION
On the sidelines of Geneva Watch Days, Bulgari CEO JeanChristophe Babin talks about the challenges of having one brand identity across all categories, and tells us what he really thinks of watch fairs.
EVEN MORE HANDS
For the third year in a row, the collective WOW team shares the watches we ponied up for. As always, we include a couple of fantasy pieces and more than a few fails.
CONCEPTS AND CONSEQUENCES
What is the legacy of concept watches? What happens when the show is over and it is time to actually manufacture them? How do these ticking research labs translate into actual, wearable timepieces...if they ever do?
THE QUESTION OF SUCCESSION
In the watchmaking industry, a company’s longevity is oftentimes measured not in decades but in centuries. What then happens to a brand beyond its founders? We speak to three CEOs to answer this question.
LEAPS AND BOUNDS
The quest to add one day to a month every four years may seem like a mundane task in the digital age, but achieving this mechanically is anything but.
FLIP SIDE
Omega celebrates the first human flight orbit the moon with a new Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon.
SNAPPING BACK
A powerful showcase for a one-of-a-kind constant force mechanism, the Girard Perregaux Neo Constant Escapement is now available for everyone.
GO FOR GOLD
Forty-five years after Piaget released its allgold Polo 79 luxury sports watch to critical acclaim, the maison revisits this iconic collection with a new ultra-thin movement.
CLEAR WINNER
Hublot's fourth collaboration with Takashi Murakami puts the artist's joyful flower motif at the centre of a bold new case design.
HISTORICAL TRIBUTE
Parmigiani Fleurier launches a new version of their Tonda PF Hijri Perpetual Calendar with a vivid green dial.