The Rolex Sir Edmund Hillary Wore To The Peak Of Mount Everest

2 minutes read

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. While browsing the Beyer Watch and Clock Museum in Zürich, I suddenly found myself face-to-face with this legendary watch and knew I had to share it with all of you.

This watch was produced in 1950 and was never purchased commercially. Rolex was one of the sponsors of the 1953 Everest Expedition – only one expedition was allowed each year by the Nepalese government – and part of this sponsorship included providing Hillary with this watch. It was not a gift, but rather a watch for Hillary to wear during the expedition and then to return to Rolex for extensive testing after the descent. And that is exactly what happened.



Rolex

Rolex watches are crafted from the finest raw materials and assembled with scrupulous attention to detail.

Explore

Send request

The Rolex Sir Edmund Hillary Wore To The Peak Of Mount Everest



Keep reading:


Dec 22, 2022

The sky is the limit

The Oyster Perpetual Air-King celebrates the aeronautical heritage of the original Oyster. It pays tribute to those for whom the sky was a new frontier of adventure, exploration and groundbreaking achievement – a springboard for new ideals.

Dec 21, 2022

The cosmopolitan watch

The Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II is designed to display the time in two different time zones simultaneously. Robust and functional, it is the ideal watch for criss-crossing the globe.

@petitegenevepetrovic

Follow us

Explore the world of luxury timepieces and stay updated through our Instagram profile.

Go to the profile


Essence of the Oyster

Watches in the Oyster Perpetual range are symbols of universal and classic style, while offering essential day-to-day functions – hours, minutes and seconds.

Explore

The realization of an ideal

When midnight strikes, the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date forms a bridge between past and future, between what has been achieved and what remains to be lived.

Explore



What you missed: