Rolex. A stainless steel automatic bracelet watch Model: Oyster Perpetual Precision 'Pre-Explorer' Reference: 6098 Date: Circa 1951 Movement: 18-jewel Cal.775 automatic, Rolex Super Balance, No.43338 Dial: Silvered, luminous Arabic numeral hour markers, black outer minute and 1/5th second divisions, blued steel leaf hands with luminous inserts, centre seconds Case: Brushed and polished tonneau form, screw down back and crown, No.726545 Strap/Bracelet: Fitted later 62510 H Oyster link, end links stamped 455B Buckle/Clasp: Signed folding clasp Signed: Case, dial & movement Size: 36mm Accompaniments: Velveteen Rolex Oyster box Footnotes: In May 1953, Sir John Hunt led the successful British expedition to climb Mt Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. Within the climbing party there were several members wearing Rolex 6098 watches upon their wrists thus launching the legacy that still thrives today. It can be assumed that upon the successful return of the party that the name Explorer was adopted by Rolex. It was subsequently used on the 6098 model very briefly before being phased out shortly after for the 6298 featuring the now familiar black 3, 6, 9 dial configuration. Being effectively the prototype for the Explorer, the 6098 is nicknamed the 'Pre-Explorer'. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com