Tap the image to enlarge
Rolex Explorer
Ref. 214270
See more premium optionsHide
Stepping up in Rolex's range
The Explorer's brief has always been legibility under duress: the 3, 6 and 9 markers were chosen over a full hour track specifically because a climber in deteriorating conditions needs to read the time in a glance, not count indices. When Rolex scaled this reference from 36mm to 39mm with the 214270, it was the first time the Explorer's case had grown since the design was established, and it made the watch easier to wear across a wider range of wrist sizes without disturbing the austerity that defines the line. The Calibre 3132 is not merely an in-house automatic — it carries Rolex's Blue Parachrom hairspring, which is roughly ten times more resistant to magnetic fields than a conventional hairspring and almost impervious to temperature variation. The Paraflex shock absorbers work alongside it. Together they justify the Superlative Chronometer rating, which holds the movement to -2/+2 seconds per day against the industry standard of -4/+6. On the wrist, the 214270 sits closer than its weight suggests — 144 grams is substantial, but at 11.2mm the case stays flat enough that it clears a cuff without catching.
- Reference
- 214270
- Brand
- Rolex
- Collection
- Explorer
- Case size
- 39mm
- Case thickness
- 11.2mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- 3132
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 47.4mm
- Power reserve
- 48 hours
Learn more about Rolex
Hans Wilsdorf founded Wilsdorf & Davis in London in 1905 with his brother-in-law Alfred Davis, importing Swiss movements and casing them in England. He registered the name Rolex in 1908 — short, pronounceable in any language, and easy to fit on a dial.
Wilsdorf's conviction was that the wristwatch, then regarded as a woman's ornament and hopelessly fragile, could be made accurate and durable. He proved the first half in 1910 by obtaining the first chronometer certification for a wristwatch, and the second in 1926 with the Oyster case, sealed by a screw-down crown and caseback. Mercedes Gleitze swam the Channel wearing one in 1927, and Wilsdorf bought the front page of the Daily Mail to say so — arguably the first modern watch marketing campaign.
The Perpetual rotor followed in 1931, giving automatic winding in a form the whole industry eventually copied. The company relocated to Geneva during the First World War to escape British wartime duties.
The professional models arrived in a compressed burst in the 1950s: Submariner, Explorer, GMT-Master, Milgauss, and later the Daytona. Each was built for a specific job — diving, exploration, aviation, laboratory work, racing — and each became a design template.
Wilsdorf left his shares to a private foundation on his death, so Rolex answers to no shareholders. It remains the largest producer of certified chronometers in Switzerland by a wide margin.
- 1905
- Hans Wilsdorf founds Wilsdorf & Davis in London.
- 1908
- The Rolex name is registered.
- 1926
- The Oyster case introduces genuine water resistance.
- 1931
- The Perpetual rotor brings modern automatic winding.
- 1953
- The Submariner and Explorer launch.
- 1963
- The Cosmograph Daytona arrives.
Also in 3 collections
This watch appears in Stainless Steel Watches (2,624), Back in Stock (1,916) and Automatic Watches (1,472).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- 39mm suits most wrists
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Sits in the lower half of Rolex's range as we list it
Rolex Explorer alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 214270 | 49.4000.3620/21.I001 | SBGJ265 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £8,550 | £9,100 | £6,900 |
| Case size | 39mm | 40mm | 40mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Rubber strap | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 48 hours | 60 hours | 55 hours |
| This watch | Closely matched |
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
Will the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Does it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
How long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 48 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
What size strap does it take?
20mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 47.4mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16.5cm (6½ inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's, though at 39mm it sits in the range that suits anyone.
Cheapest place to buy
Goldsmiths is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference new, at £8,550. There is nothing to compare it against today.
Who are Goldsmiths?
Goldsmiths has been selling watches in Britain since 1778 and is part of the Watches of Switzerland Group, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. They are an authorised dealer, so a watch comes with the manufacturer’s own warranty.
More Rolex watches like the Explorer
In stock, and close on style and price
