The history of Rolex is inextricably linked to the visionary spirit of Hans Wilsdorf, its founder. In 1905, at the age of 24, Hans Wilsdorf founded a company in London specialising in the distribution of timepieces. He began to dream of a watch worn on the wrist. Wristwatches were not very precise at the time, but Hans Wilsdorf foresaw that they could become not only elegant, but also reliable.
Extreme environments, such as the polar regions, have always been real-life proving grounds for Oyster watches. The Explorer II is natural heir to the Explorer as a reliable guide, a tool and a companion for explorers, speleologists and vulcanologists. When it was launched in 1971, the Explorer II set new standards for chronometric precision, strength, autonomy and clarity. It features a distinctive 24-hour hand, an invaluable aid to distinguish daytime hours from night around the poles and beneath ground.