Reference:6150 - Revision history

Klaudiusz: Correctness and image audit: remove research-meta wording, fix table markup, add footer gallery

2026-09-29T06:22:31Z

Correctness and image audit: remove research-meta wording, fix table markup, add footer gallery

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:22, 29 September 2026
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	=== Honeycomb and blackout claims ===		=== Honeycomb and blackout claims ===

	~~Honeycomb or~~ blackout 6150 dials ~~are mentioned in dealer listings~~, but the ~~page's~~ cited major-house record ~~does not provide a~~ photographed example ~~that establishes~~ either as a regular ~~6150~~ variant~~. Keep those descriptions as leads until an image-backed auction or archival source can be checked~~. The better-documented ~~6150~~ groups are the early alpha/white configuration, the black 3-6-9 Precision dial, and ~~the~~ Explorer-signed examples.		Dealer listings mention honeycomb and blackout 6150 dials, but the cited major-house record has no photographed example establishing either as a regular variant. The better-documented groups are the early alpha/white configuration, the black 3-6-9 Precision dial, and Explorer-signed examples.

	<span id="case-bezel-crystal-and-crown"></span>		<span id="case-bezel-crystal-and-crown"></span>
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	== Hillary and the 1953 Everest question ==		== Hillary and the 1953 Everest question ==

	~~The claim that Hillary wore a 6150 on the Everest summit is not supported by the~~ evidence ~~cited here. Rolex and specialist accounts identify~~ the Rolex supplied for the 1953 expedition as a chronometer, in the 6098 class. The 6150 is a non-chronometer reference ~~and should not be substituted for that watch because it shares the~~ 36mm Oyster format. Hillary also carried a Smiths De Luxe A409; period evidence and later specialist discussion disagree about which watch reached the summit, so the point should remain attributed rather than stated as settled fact.		Available evidence identifies the Rolex supplied for the 1953 Everest expedition as a chronometer in the 6098 class. The 6150 is a non-chronometer reference, so its shared 36mm Oyster format does not identify it as Hillary's watch. Hillary also carried a Smiths De Luxe A409; period evidence and later specialist discussion disagree about which watch reached the summit, so the point should remain attributed rather than stated as settled fact.

	Tenzing Norgay is also linked to a Rolex prototype in dealer and auction writing, but no surviving Tenzing watch has been authenticated as a 6150. The 6150's documented expedition association is later: Phillips records George Band's engraved watch and Tony Streather's watch from the 1955 Kangchenjunga expedition. Phillips says Streather received his watch before that expedition. Both examples fall within the early case-number range, but the available material does not prove when each case was assembled.		Tenzing Norgay is also linked to a Rolex prototype in dealer and auction writing, but no surviving Tenzing watch has been authenticated as a 6150. The 6150's documented expedition association is later: Phillips records George Band's engraved watch and Tony Streather's watch from the 1955 Kangchenjunga expedition. Phillips says Streather received his watch before that expedition. Both examples fall within the early case-number range, but the available material does not prove when each case was assembled.
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	See also the [[Reference:explorer\|Explorer family index]], [[Reference:Movements\|movement reference]], [[Reference:Bracelets\|bracelet & clasp guide]], and [[Reference:Serial-numbers\|serial numbers by year]].		See also the [[Reference:explorer\|Explorer family index]], [[Reference:Movements\|movement reference]], [[Reference:Bracelets\|bracelet & clasp guide]], and [[Reference:Serial-numbers\|serial numbers by year]].

			<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
			File:Ref 6150 hero.webp\|6150 overview\|Early Explorer-related Oyster
			File:Ref 6150 precision-dial-square.webp\|Precision dial\|Black 3-6-9 Precision dial
			File:Ref 6150 hs10-navy.webp\|H.S.10 CD branch\|Royal Navy example
			File:Ref 6150 kangchenjunga-band-example.webp\|Kangchenjunga watch\|George Band example
			</gallery>

	== Sources ==		== Sources ==

Admin: Deep correctness and anti-slop audit: Reference 6150

2026-09-22T13:07:22Z

Deep correctness and anti-slop audit: Reference 6150

Show changes

Admin: Batch 30 anti-slop prose audit and heading cleanup

2026-09-22T04:31:01Z

Batch 30 anti-slop prose audit and heading cleanup

Show changes

Admin: Enrichment: fix broken Sotheby's citation URL (404, resolved via search), anonymize dealer names in Core facts table, add 4th image (H.S.10 CD Navy example) with a new dial-wording observation

2026-09-17T04:11:53Z

Enrichment: fix broken Sotheby's citation URL (404, resolved via search), anonymize dealer names in Core facts table, add 4th image (H.S.10 CD Navy example) with a new dial-wording observation

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:11, 17 September 2026
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	\| production		\| production
	\| three competing windows: 1952–1953 (Fratello "Pre-Icon Models", 2024); 1953-concentrated with 1955–56 tail (case-number evidence; Antiquorum 2021/2022, Sotheby's 2022/2024); 1953–1959 (~~Mostra~~-~~Store, Mark Littler, 10pastten — collector dealers~~)		\| three competing windows: 1952–1953 (Fratello "Pre-Icon Models", 2024); 1953-concentrated with 1955–56 tail (case-number evidence; Antiquorum 2021/2022, Sotheby's 2022/2024); 1953–1959 (collector-dealer material)
	\|-		\|-
	\| serial cluster		\| serial cluster
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	Original-delivery bracelets across documented 6150 examples converge on the Gay Frères-made riveted Oyster — Sotheby's 2022 (case 945,096) reads "stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet with folding clasp"; Sotheby's 2024 (same example reoffered) reads "stainless steel Rolex Oyster expandable bracelet with folding clasp"; Phillips 2017 (Band, case 945,021) records a "stainless steel expandable bracelet" at 185mm maximum length; multiple Bonhams 6150 lots document a "fitted stainless steel riveted link bracelet" alongside the standard folding clasp.		Original-delivery bracelets across documented 6150 examples converge on the Gay Frères-made riveted Oyster — Sotheby's 2022 (case 945,096) reads "stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet with folding clasp"; Sotheby's 2024 (same example reoffered) reads "stainless steel Rolex Oyster expandable bracelet with folding clasp"; Phillips 2017 (Band, case 945,021) records a "stainless steel expandable bracelet" at 185mm maximum length; multiple Bonhams 6150 lots document a "fitted stainless steel riveted link bracelet" alongside the standard folding clasp.

	Royal Navy / H.S.10 CD examples were issued on fabric NATO-style straps — Sotheby's 2025 lot (case 931,134, "H.S.10 CD" caseback engraving with crow's foot) carries a NATO with metal pin buckle. The CD diver's role made a metal bracelet impractical, and the surviving record consistently shows fabric strap mounting on the military-issue branch.		[[File:Ref 6150 hs10-navy.webp\|thumb\|right\|240px\|alt=Rolex 6150 H.S.10 CD Navy example on NATO strap, case 931,134\|Rolex 6150 "Pre-Explorer" Navy-issue example, case 931,134, on its NATO strap. The dial reads "EXPLORER" without "Precision" — a third documented wording, distinct from the standard "Precision" and transitional "Explorer Precision" configurations described above.]]
			Royal Navy / H.S.10 CD examples were issued on fabric NATO-style straps — Sotheby's 2025 lot (case 931,134, "H.S.10 CD" caseback engraving with crow's foot) carries a NATO with metal pin buckle. The CD diver's role made a metal bracelet impractical, and the surviving record consistently shows fabric strap mounting on the military-issue branch. That same lot's dial reads "EXPLORER" without "Precision" beneath it — a plain-Explorer wording distinct from both the standard "Precision" dial and the "Explorer Precision" transitional dial documented in the Dial map above, and not yet accounted for in this article's three-configuration dial breakdown.

	The "Bonklip" claim that surfaces in some dealer write-ups is plausible for service-replacement use but is not supported as the documented original delivery; major-house lots overwhelmingly show riveted Oyster as the original-delivery configuration. Beads-of-Rice and other period bracelet styles are anecdotal and should be flagged as service-era replacements where they appear.		The "Bonklip" claim that surfaces in some dealer write-ups is plausible for service-replacement use but is not supported as the documented original delivery; major-house lots overwhelmingly show riveted Oyster as the original-delivery configuration. Beads-of-Rice and other period bracelet styles are anecdotal and should be flagged as service-era replacements where they appear.
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	* [https://www.phillips.com/article/42961247/expedition-rolex-tony-streather-kangchenjunga Tony Streather's Kangchenjunga 6150] (Phillips Perpetual)		* [https://www.phillips.com/article/42961247/expedition-rolex-tony-streather-kangchenjunga Tony Streather's Kangchenjunga 6150] (Phillips Perpetual)
	* [https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2022/fine-watches-london/rolex-explorer-6150 Rolex Explorer 6150 — Sotheby's London Fine Watches] (Sotheby's, 2022)		* [https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2022/fine-watches-london/rolex-explorer-6150 Rolex Explorer 6150 — Sotheby's London Fine Watches] (Sotheby's, 2022)
	* [https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2025/fine-watches-l25713/~~rolex-~~pre-explorer-~~6150~~-h-s-10-cd Rolex Pre-Explorer 6150 H.S.10 CD — Sotheby's Fine Watches L25713] (Sotheby's, 2025)		* [https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2025/fine-watches-l25713/pre-explorer-navy-limited-edition-reference-6150-a Rolex Pre-Explorer 6150 H.S.10 CD — Sotheby's Fine Watches L25713] (Sotheby's, 2025)
	* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-6150-explorer-lot-339-397 Rolex Ref. 6150 — Antiquorum Geneva lot 339-397] (Antiquorum, 2021)		* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-6150-explorer-lot-339-397 Rolex Ref. 6150 — Antiquorum Geneva lot 339-397] (Antiquorum, 2021)
	* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-6150-explorer-lot-349-152 Rolex Ref. 6150 Oyster Perpetual Precision — Antiquorum Geneva lot 349-152] (Antiquorum, 2022)		* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-6150-explorer-lot-349-152 Rolex Ref. 6150 Oyster Perpetual Precision — Antiquorum Geneva lot 349-152] (Antiquorum, 2022)

Admin: Remove confirmed-dead (404) Sources footer link; underlying facts remain grounded by other still-live citations

2026-09-14T18:45:23Z

Remove confirmed-dead (404) Sources footer link; underlying facts remain grounded by other still-live citations

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:45, 14 September 2026
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	* [https://www.fratellowatches.com/pre-icon-models-the-rolex-references-that-laid-the-groundwork/ Pre-Icon Models: The Rolex References That Laid the Groundwork] (Fratello, 2024)		* [https://www.fratellowatches.com/pre-icon-models-the-rolex-references-that-laid-the-groundwork/ Pre-Icon Models: The Rolex References That Laid the Groundwork] (Fratello, 2024)
	* [https://www.rolex.org/about-rolex/exploration/everest 70 Years of Rolex on Everest] (Rolex Newsroom)		* [https://www.rolex.org/about-rolex/exploration/everest 70 Years of Rolex on Everest] (Rolex Newsroom)
	* [https://www.everestbands.com/blogs/news/the-truth-about-the-1953-rolex-everest-expedition-the-smiths-de-luxe-and-the-rolex-oyster-perpetual The Truth About the 1953 Rolex Everest Expedition] (Bands)
	* [https://www.thewatchcollectorsclub.com/blog/the-rolex-explorer-everest-controversy/ The Rolex Explorer Everest Controversy] (The Watch Collectors' Club)		* [https://www.thewatchcollectorsclub.com/blog/the-rolex-explorer-everest-controversy/ The Rolex Explorer Everest Controversy] (The Watch Collectors' Club)
	* [https://www.acollectedman.com/blogs/journal/why-the-pre-explorer-rolex-might-be-the-most-interesting-explorer Why the Pre-Explorer Rolex Might Be the Most Interesting Explorer] (A Collected Man)		* [https://www.acollectedman.com/blogs/journal/why-the-pre-explorer-rolex-might-be-the-most-interesting-explorer Why the Pre-Explorer Rolex Might Be the Most Interesting Explorer] (A Collected Man)
	* [https://hairspring.com/blogs/finds/rolex-pre-explorer-6150 Rolex Pre-Explorer 6150 — Specialist Listing] (Hairspring)
	* [https://oracleoftime.com/2024/06/12/the-rolex-pre-explorer-ref-6150-thats-just-perfect/ The Rolex Pre-Explorer Ref 6150 That's Just Perfect] (Oracle of Time)		* [https://oracleoftime.com/2024/06/12/the-rolex-pre-explorer-ref-6150-thats-just-perfect/ The Rolex Pre-Explorer Ref 6150 That's Just Perfect] (Oracle of Time)
	* [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/CH080217/244 Rolex 6150 — George Band Kangchenjunga, Phillips Geneva Watch Auction SIX lot 244] (Phillips, 2017)		* [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/CH080217/244 Rolex 6150 — George Band Kangchenjunga, Phillips Geneva Watch Auction SIX lot 244] (Phillips, 2017)

Admin: Research pass: add 2 new Bonhams lots (2007 Explorer-dial, 2024 dual-stamped 6150/6350 case with leaf hands) plus movement/case-number detail on the already-cited 944736 lot; Cal.775=A296 naming clarified (src-bonhams-6150-london-2007-explorer, src-bonhams-6150-6350-knightsbridge-2024, src-bonhams-6150-knightsbridge-2023-precision)

2026-09-14T14:14:21Z

Research pass: add 2 new Bonhams lots (2007 Explorer-dial, 2024 dual-stamped 6150/6350 case with leaf hands) plus movement/case-number detail on the already-cited 944736 lot; Cal.775=A296 naming clarified (src-bonhams-6150-london-2007-explorer, src-bonhams-6150-6350-knightsbridge-2024, src-bonhams-6150-knightsbridge-2023-precision)

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:14, 14 September 2026
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	Production dates carry three competing readings across the literature. Fratello's "Pre-Icon Models" piece (2024) places the 6150 in 1952–1953 only, alongside but pre-dating the 6350. The case-number evidence from major-house lots tells a different story: documented examples cluster in the 944,000–945,000 band with a tight 1953 concentration. Some collector-dealer material reads the run as 1953–1959 — a six-year line. The Field Manual gives 1952–1959.		Production dates carry three competing readings across the literature. Fratello's "Pre-Icon Models" piece (2024) places the 6150 in 1952–1953 only, alongside but pre-dating the 6350. The case-number evidence from major-house lots tells a different story: documented examples cluster in the 944,000–945,000 band with a tight 1953 concentration. Some collector-dealer material reads the run as 1953–1959 — a six-year line. The Field Manual gives 1952–1959.

	Documented case-number anchors from the auction record: 931,134 (Sotheby's 2025 H.S.10 CD Royal Navy, c.1953); 944,811 (Bonhams H.S.10 CD, Feb 1953); 944,925 (Antiquorum, 1953); 944,995 (Antiquorum 2006 Mondani); 945,021 (Phillips 2017, George Band Kangchenjunga); 945,096 (Sotheby's 2022 / 2024). All sit in a tight ~~931K–945K~~ window — a short, mostly-1953 run with later examples (per dealer narratives) trickling out into 1955–1956 as remaining cases were assembled. The 1955 Kangchenjunga gifts to Streather and Band were drawn from this same band, suggesting Rolex held existing case stock back rather than continuing case production for years. The "until 1959" claim is unsupported by the case-number evidence and likely a re-tread of the 6610 transition date applied to the 6150.		Documented case-number anchors from the auction record: 930,908 (Bonhams 2024, dual-stamped case — see below); 931,134 (Sotheby's 2025 H.S.10 CD Royal Navy, c.1953); 944,736 (Bonhams, twice-offered June and November 2023, inner-back date coded IV.53 — fourth quarter 1953); 944,811 (Bonhams H.S.10 CD, Feb 1953); 944,925 (Antiquorum, 1953); 944,995 (Antiquorum 2006 Mondani); 945,021 (Phillips 2017, George Band Kangchenjunga); 945,096 (Sotheby's 2022 / 2024). All sit in a tight 930K–945K window — a short, mostly-1953 run with later examples (per dealer narratives) trickling out into 1955–1956 as remaining cases were assembled. The 1955 Kangchenjunga gifts to Streather and Band were drawn from this same band, suggesting Rolex held existing case stock back rather than continuing case production for years. The "until 1959" claim is unsupported by the case-number evidence and likely a re-tread of the 6610 transition date applied to the 6150 — though it isn't only a dealer-site claim: a Bonhams footnote from a 2007 sale of an Explorer-signed 6150 (est. £3,000–3,500) states outright that "the reference 6150 was made from 1953 until 1959 when it was replaced by the 6610," so the claim has at least one auction-house repetition. The case-number band documented here remains the stronger evidence and doesn't extend past the mid-1950s.

	<span id="movement-notes"></span>		<span id="movement-notes"></span>
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	The 6150-specific movement configuration is the absence of chronometer pass. The same A296 in the 6350 was fine-tuned and adjusted to chronometer standards, earning the OCC dial line. The 6150's A296 does not carry that adjustment.		The 6150-specific movement configuration is the absence of chronometer pass. The same A296 in the 6350 was fine-tuned and adjusted to chronometer standards, earning the OCC dial line. The 6150's A296 does not carry that adjustment.

			A Bonhams catalogue entry for case 944,736 (movement No.27166, twice offered in 2023 — unsold in June at Bonhams London, sold for £10,240 at Bonhams Knightsbridge in November) names the movement "18-jewel Cal.775 automatic" and adds that the watch "houses the early A296 calibre (also known as a calibre 775)" — the clearest auction-house source tying the two names together for this specific reference.

	A296 is a full-rotor, uni-directional Perpetual caliber — Rolex never made a bumper movement. The confusion traces to the bubble-back caseback geometry and the thicker autowind module the A-series carried, compounded by dealer copy that conflated mid-1950s automatic watchmaking generally with the bumper-era movements other brands used. The 1030 that succeeds A296 introduces bidirectional winding (the butterfly rotor) and a thinner module, which is what eliminates the bubble-back profile (Phillips Geneva Watch Auction FOUR lot 146 frames the A296→1030 swap explicitly as a thickness change; Charlie Dunne's ''How Rolex Became Rolex: The Automatic Perpetual Movement (Part 2)'' (Wind Vintage, 2023) dates Rolex's first bidirectional winding to the 1030).		A296 is a full-rotor, uni-directional Perpetual caliber — Rolex never made a bumper movement. The confusion traces to the bubble-back caseback geometry and the thicker autowind module the A-series carried, compounded by dealer copy that conflated mid-1950s automatic watchmaking generally with the bumper-era movements other brands used. The 1030 that succeeds A296 introduces bidirectional winding (the butterfly rotor) and a thinner module, which is what eliminates the bubble-back profile (Phillips Geneva Watch Auction FOUR lot 146 frames the A296→1030 swap explicitly as a thickness change; Charlie Dunne's ''How Rolex Became Rolex: The Automatic Perpetual Movement (Part 2)'' (Wind Vintage, 2023) dates Rolex's first bidirectional winding to the 1030).
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	Four hand configurations surface across documented 6150 examples. The early VRFM-documented alpha-style hands appear on the small population of pre-1953 examples. The 3-6-9 Mercedes hand set is the dominant later-1953 configuration paired with a baton minute hand and a lollipop seconds. Pencil hands appear on a small subset of examples — likely the same shared-parts-bin approach that produced multiple hand sets on the 6350. A fourth configuration, a long hour hand variant, is noted separately in Hodinkee's Reference Points coverage of the reference. The Field Manual describes the alpha-to-Mercedes transition as part of the 1953 evolution toward 6298 / 6350 styling.		Four hand configurations surface across documented 6150 examples. The early VRFM-documented alpha-style hands appear on the small population of pre-1953 examples. The 3-6-9 Mercedes hand set is the dominant later-1953 configuration paired with a baton minute hand and a lollipop seconds. Pencil hands appear on a small subset of examples — likely the same shared-parts-bin approach that produced multiple hand sets on the 6350. A fourth configuration, a long hour hand variant, is noted separately in Hodinkee's Reference Points coverage of the reference. The Field Manual describes the alpha-to-Mercedes transition as part of the 1953 evolution toward 6298 / 6350 styling.

			A fifth configuration surfaced at Bonhams Knightsbridge in May 2024: blued steel leaf hands on a tropicalised brown dial with luminous Arabic numeral hour markers, case No.930,908 (sold £4,096). That case is not stamped as a plain 6150 — it is catalogued "Ref: 6150/6350," a dual-reference-stamped case, the same case-sharing practice documented on the manual-wind Daytona pump/screw-pusher generation. It is direct physical evidence for the case-sharing relationship this article's Field Manual citation already implies between the 6150 and the 6350.

	<span id="bracelets-end-links-and-clasps"></span>		<span id="bracelets-end-links-and-clasps"></span>
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	\| Bonhams \|\| 18849/181 \|\| 2011 \|\| 944,811 \|\| H.S.10 CD, Burford matte-black Swiss T Precision printing, MOD broad-arrow / crow's-foot \|\| GBP 8,400 incl. premium		\| Bonhams \|\| 18849/181 \|\| 2011 \|\| 944,811 \|\| H.S.10 CD, Burford matte-black Swiss T Precision printing, MOD broad-arrow / crow's-foot \|\| GBP 8,400 incl. premium
	\|-		\|-
	\| Bonhams \|\| 28033/28 \|\| — \|\| — \|\| Pre-Explorer gilt Precision dial, c.~~1953~~ \|\| —		\| Bonhams London \|\| 28033/28 \|\| 2023 \|\| 944,736 \|\| Pre-Explorer gilt Precision dial, Cal.775/A296 movt. No.27166, date-coded IV.53 \|\| unsold, est. GBP 10,000–15,000
			\|-
			\| Bonhams Knightsbridge \|\| 28035/57 \|\| 2023 \|\| 944,736 \|\| same watch as above, reoffered \|\| GBP 10,240 incl. premium
			\|-
			\| Bonhams London \|\| 15298/261A \|\| 2007 \|\| — \|\| "Explorer"-signed gilt dial, riveted Oyster bracelet \|\| est. GBP 3,000–3,500
	\|-		\|-
	\| Bonhams \|\| ~~28035~~/57 \|\| — \|\| — \|\| ~~Pre~~-~~Explorer gilt Precision~~ dial, ~~c.1953~~ \|\| —		\| Bonhams Knightsbridge \|\| 29151/66 \|\| 2024 \|\| 930,908 \|\| Ref: 6150/6350 dual-stamped case, tropicalised dial, blued leaf hands \|\| GBP 4,096 incl. premium
	\|}		\|}

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	* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-6150-explorer-lot-349-152 Rolex Ref. 6150 Oyster Perpetual Precision — Antiquorum Geneva lot 349-152] (Antiquorum, 2022)		* [https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/rolex-ref-6150-explorer-lot-349-152 Rolex Ref. 6150 Oyster Perpetual Precision — Antiquorum Geneva lot 349-152] (Antiquorum, 2022)
	* [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/18849/lot/181/ Rolex Pre-Explorer Ref. 6150 H.S.10 CD — Bonhams lot 18849/181] (Bonhams, 2011)		* [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/18849/lot/181/ Rolex Pre-Explorer Ref. 6150 H.S.10 CD — Bonhams lot 18849/181] (Bonhams, 2011)
			* [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/15298/lot/261A/rolex-a-fine-and-rare-stainless-steel-automatic-centre-seconds-wristwatchexplorer-ref6150-circa-1953/ Rolex Explorer Ref. 6150, "Explorer"-signed dial — Bonhams lot 15298/261A] (Bonhams, 2007)
			* [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/28035/lot/57/rolex-a-fine-and-rare-stainless-steel-automatic-wristwatch-with-gilt-dial-precision-pre-explorer-ref-6150-circa-1953/ Rolex "Precision" Pre-Explorer Ref. 6150, case 944736, Cal.775/A296 — Bonhams lot 28035/57] (Bonhams, 2023)
			* [https://www.bonhams.com/auction/29151/lot/66/rolex-a-stainless-steel-automatic-wristwatch-ref-61506350-circa-1953/ Rolex Ref: 6150/6350 dual-stamped case, leaf hands — Bonhams lot 29151/66] (Bonhams, 2024)
	* [https://markllittler.com/blog/the-rolex-explorer-buying-guide The Rolex Explorer Buying Guide] (Mark Littler)		* [https://markllittler.com/blog/the-rolex-explorer-buying-guide The Rolex Explorer Buying Guide] (Mark Littler)
	* [https://www.mostra-store.com/rolex-pre-explorer-buying-guide Rolex Pre-Explorer Buying Guide] (Mostra-Store)		* [https://www.mostra-store.com/rolex-pre-explorer-buying-guide Rolex Pre-Explorer Buying Guide] (Mostra-Store)

Klaudiusz: Fact-check follow-up: restore missing 4th hand configuration (long hour hand, per research/evidence claims.yaml) and clarify garbled originality-test phrasing

2026-09-12T14:11:57Z

Fact-check follow-up: restore missing 4th hand configuration (long hour hand, per research/evidence claims.yaml) and clarify garbled originality-test phrasing

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:11, 12 September 2026
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	The 6150 case is 36mm stainless steel Oyster with a smooth bezel and an acrylic crystal. The caseback carries the bubble-back profile that distinguishes the A296-era references from the slimmer 6610 case that follows. The bubble-back accommodates the rotor architecture without adding height to the case midsection.		The 6150 case is 36mm stainless steel Oyster with a smooth bezel and an acrylic crystal. The caseback carries the bubble-back profile that distinguishes the A296-era references from the slimmer 6610 case that follows. The bubble-back accommodates the rotor architecture without adding height to the case midsection.

	The bezel is fixed and smooth — no insert, no graduations. The crown is the Brevet small-crown configuration shared with the 6098 / 6204 / 6205 cluster. Lug profile is consistent with period Oyster construction; over-polished lug chamfers are a common originality concern on surviving examples and the ~~cleanest~~ single~~-point dating-state test~~.		The bezel is fixed and smooth — no insert, no graduations. The crown is the Brevet small-crown configuration shared with the 6098 / 6204 / 6205 cluster. Lug profile is consistent with period Oyster construction; over-polished lug chamfers are a common originality concern on surviving examples and the single clearest tell for assessing it.

	<span id="hands"></span>		<span id="hands"></span>
	== Hands ==		== Hands ==

	Four hand configurations surface across documented 6150 examples. The early VRFM-documented alpha-style hands appear on the small population of pre-1953 examples. The 3-6-9 Mercedes hand set is the dominant later-1953 configuration paired with a baton minute hand and a lollipop seconds. Pencil hands appear on a small subset of examples — likely the same shared-parts-bin approach that produced multiple hand sets on the 6350. The Field Manual describes the alpha-to-Mercedes transition as part of the 1953 evolution toward 6298 / 6350 styling.		Four hand configurations surface across documented 6150 examples. The early VRFM-documented alpha-style hands appear on the small population of pre-1953 examples. The 3-6-9 Mercedes hand set is the dominant later-1953 configuration paired with a baton minute hand and a lollipop seconds. Pencil hands appear on a small subset of examples — likely the same shared-parts-bin approach that produced multiple hand sets on the 6350. A fourth configuration, a long hour hand variant, is noted separately in Hodinkee's Reference Points coverage of the reference. The Field Manual describes the alpha-to-Mercedes transition as part of the 1953 evolution toward 6298 / 6350 styling.

	<span id="bracelets-end-links-and-clasps"></span>		<span id="bracelets-end-links-and-clasps"></span>

Klaudiusz: Text audit: fix negation pivots, strip research-scaffold "corpus/surveyed" tokens, add Field Manual first-mention attribution, cut two redundant closing paragraphs

2026-09-12T04:38:11Z

Text audit: fix negation pivots, strip research-scaffold "corpus/surveyed" tokens, add Field Manual first-mention attribution, cut two redundant closing paragraphs

Admin: Add verified Phillips lot 244 image (George Band Kangchenjunga example) to expedition section

2026-09-12T04:33:33Z

Add verified Phillips lot 244 image (George Band Kangchenjunga example) to expedition section

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:33, 12 September 2026
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	Tenzing Norgay is variously claimed in dealer-side editorial to have worn a 6098 prototype on the climb. Some Phillips and Sotheby's editorial pieces frame the Tenzing watch as "a prototype of this watch [6150]," but no surviving Tenzing watch has been authenticated as a 6150. Rolex did supply expedition watches to the 1953 Everest team for accuracy testing; these were chronometer-rated reference 6098s, returned to Rolex post-expedition for accuracy data.		Tenzing Norgay is variously claimed in dealer-side editorial to have worn a 6098 prototype on the climb. Some Phillips and Sotheby's editorial pieces frame the Tenzing watch as "a prototype of this watch [6150]," but no surviving Tenzing watch has been authenticated as a 6150. Rolex did supply expedition watches to the 1953 Everest team for accuracy testing; these were chronometer-rated reference 6098s, returned to Rolex post-expedition for accuracy data.

			[[File:Ref 6150 kangchenjunga-band-example.webp\|thumb\|right\|240px\|alt=George Band's Rolex 6150, case 945,021, Kangchenjunga 1955\|George Band's Rolex 6150, case 945,021, sold by Phillips with its "Kangchenjunga 1955" caseback engraving]]
	The clearer expedition-watch story for the 6150 is Kangchenjunga 1955, not Everest 1953. Phillips Geneva Watch Auction SIX (10 November 2017) lot 244 sold George Band's caseback-engraved 6150 (case 945,021, "KANGCHENJUNGA 1955 G.C BAND") for CHF 200,000. Phillips Perpetual handled Tony Streather's 6150 from the same 1955 expedition by private treaty in 2024. Both watches were drawn from existing Rolex case stock dating to 1953.		The clearer expedition-watch story for the 6150 is Kangchenjunga 1955, not Everest 1953. Phillips Geneva Watch Auction SIX (10 November 2017) lot 244 sold George Band's caseback-engraved 6150 (case 945,021, "KANGCHENJUNGA 1955 G.C BAND") for CHF 200,000. Phillips Perpetual handled Tony Streather's 6150 from the same 1955 expedition by private treaty in 2024. Both watches were drawn from existing Rolex case stock dating to 1953.

Admin: Retain former square hero as inline Precision-dial image after landscape hero replacement

2026-09-12T04:29:17Z

Retain former square hero as inline Precision-dial image after landscape hero replacement

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:29, 12 September 2026
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	=== "Precision" dial (standard) ===		=== "Precision" dial (standard) ===

			[[File:Ref 6150 precision-dial-square.webp\|thumb\|right\|240px\|alt=Rolex 6150 "Precision" gilt dial, 3-6-9 chapter ring\|Rolex 6150 "Precision" gilt dial, 3-6-9 chapter ring]]
	The dominant 6150 dial. Glossy black ground with gilt printing, 3-6-9 chapter ring, "Oyster Perpetual" above the centre, and "Precision" beneath the centre. No Explorer marking. The Bonhams Pre-Explorer lots and the Antiquorum 2021 / 2022 examples (case 944,925) all confirm "Oyster Perpetual / Precision" without Explorer signature on the dominant 6150 configuration. Some specialist listings read the early "Swiss only" Precision dial as among the first Explorer-configuration dials.		The dominant 6150 dial. Glossy black ground with gilt printing, 3-6-9 chapter ring, "Oyster Perpetual" above the centre, and "Precision" beneath the centre. No Explorer marking. The Bonhams Pre-Explorer lots and the Antiquorum 2021 / 2022 examples (case 944,925) all confirm "Oyster Perpetual / Precision" without Explorer signature on the dominant 6150 configuration. Some specialist listings read the early "Swiss only" Precision dial as among the first Explorer-configuration dials.

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:38, 12 September 2026
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	</div>		</div>

	The 6150 is where the Explorer line begins, in the qualified sense — it carries the 36mm Oyster case, the A296 caliber, and the 3-6-9 chapter-ring dial that will define the Explorer, but it predates the Explorer name on the dial. ~~Caliber~~ A296 in non-chronometer configuration; "Precision" wording on the lower half of most dials; a small subset of late-run examples carry the "Explorer" wording above "Precision" — the transitional configuration sometimes called "Pre-Explorer with Explorer signature" in collector literature. The 6150's documented expedition pedigree ~~runs through~~ Kangchenjunga ~~1955~~, ~~not~~ Everest ~~1953~~.		The 6150 is where the Explorer line begins, in the qualified sense — it carries the 36mm Oyster case, the A296 caliber, and the 3-6-9 chapter-ring dial that will define the Explorer, but it predates the Explorer name on the dial. It runs caliber A296 in non-chronometer configuration, with "Precision" wording on the lower half of most dials; a small subset of late-run examples carry the "Explorer" wording above "Precision" instead — the transitional configuration sometimes called "Pre-Explorer with Explorer signature" in collector literature. The 6150's documented expedition pedigree traces to the 1955 Kangchenjunga expedition, well after the 1953 Everest climb it is often mistakenly linked to.

	<span id="core-facts"></span>		<span id="core-facts"></span>
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	The 6150 sits between the 6098 (1952, chronometer-rated) and the 6350 (1953–55, chronometer-rated, Explorer-named). All three reference numbers run the same caliber A296 and share the 36mm Oyster case; they differ in chronometer status and dial wording. The 6098 reads "Officially Certified Chronometer." The 6150 reads "Precision" — same caliber, no chronometer pass. The 6350 reads "Explorer" alongside "Officially Certified Chronometer" and is the first reference where the Explorer name lands on the production dial. The 6610 (1955–59) succeeds the 6150 / 6350 cluster with the slimmer bidirectional caliber 1030 — the butterfly-rotor architecture that succeeds the thicker uni-directional A296 — and finally settles the modern Explorer dial layout.		The 6150 sits between the 6098 (1952, chronometer-rated) and the 6350 (1953–55, chronometer-rated, Explorer-named). All three reference numbers run the same caliber A296 and share the 36mm Oyster case; they differ in chronometer status and dial wording. The 6098 reads "Officially Certified Chronometer." The 6150 reads "Precision" — same caliber, no chronometer pass. The 6350 reads "Explorer" alongside "Officially Certified Chronometer" and is the first reference where the Explorer name lands on the production dial. The 6610 (1955–59) succeeds the 6150 / 6350 cluster with the slimmer bidirectional caliber 1030 — the butterfly-rotor architecture that succeeds the thicker uni-directional A296 — and finally settles the modern Explorer dial layout.

	The Vintage Rolex Field Manual describes the 6150 and the 6610 as "indistinguishable from one another" except for the movement (A296 vs. 1030) and the flatter caseback on the 6610. The 6150's bubble-back caseback is the cleanest visual differentiator from the slimmer 6610 case. The Field Manual also documents Explorer-adjacent reference numbers from the same period (6298, 6299, 8044, 8045, 1427) that share the 36mm case and chronometer ambitions across both A296 and caliber 1030 architectures — none carry the Explorer name on the dial, but the surrounding reference cluster shows how broadly Rolex was experimenting with the 36mm tool-watch niche in 1952–1955.		Colin A. White's ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' (Morning Tundra) describes the 6150 and the 6610 as "indistinguishable from one another" except for the movement (A296 vs. 1030) and the flatter caseback on the 6610. The 6150's bubble-back caseback is the cleanest visual differentiator from the slimmer 6610 case. The Field Manual also documents Explorer-adjacent reference numbers from the same period (6298, 6299, 8044, 8045, 1427) that share the 36mm case and chronometer ambitions across both A296 and caliber 1030 architectures — none carry the Explorer name on the dial, but the surrounding reference cluster shows how broadly Rolex was experimenting with the 36mm tool-watch niche in 1952–1955.

	<span id="production-outline"></span>		<span id="production-outline"></span>
	== Production outline ==		== Production outline ==

	Production dates carry three competing readings across the literature. Fratello's "Pre-Icon Models" piece (2024) places the 6150 in 1952–1953 only, alongside but pre-dating the 6350. The case-number evidence from major-house lots tells a different story: documented examples cluster in the 944,000–945,000 band with a tight 1953 concentration. Some collector-dealer reads the run as 1953–1959 — a six-year line. The Field Manual gives 1952–1959.		Production dates carry three competing readings across the literature. Fratello's "Pre-Icon Models" piece (2024) places the 6150 in 1952–1953 only, alongside but pre-dating the 6350. The case-number evidence from major-house lots tells a different story: documented examples cluster in the 944,000–945,000 band with a tight 1953 concentration. Some collector-dealer material reads the run as 1953–1959 — a six-year line. The Field Manual gives 1952–1959.

	Documented case-number anchors from the auction record: 931,134 (Sotheby's 2025 H.S.10 CD Royal Navy, c.1953); 944,811 (Bonhams H.S.10 CD, Feb 1953); 944,925 (Antiquorum, 1953); 944,995 (Antiquorum 2006 Mondani); 945,021 (Phillips 2017, George Band Kangchenjunga); 945,096 (Sotheby's 2022 / 2024). All sit in a tight 931K–945K window — a short, mostly-1953 run with later examples (per dealer narratives) trickling out into 1955–1956 as remaining cases were assembled. The 1955 Kangchenjunga gifts to Streather and Band were drawn from this same band, suggesting Rolex held existing case stock back rather than continuing case production for years. The "until 1959" claim is unsupported by the case-number evidence and likely a re-tread of the 6610 transition date applied to the 6150.		Documented case-number anchors from the auction record: 931,134 (Sotheby's 2025 H.S.10 CD Royal Navy, c.1953); 944,811 (Bonhams H.S.10 CD, Feb 1953); 944,925 (Antiquorum, 1953); 944,995 (Antiquorum 2006 Mondani); 945,021 (Phillips 2017, George Band Kangchenjunga); 945,096 (Sotheby's 2022 / 2024). All sit in a tight 931K–945K window — a short, mostly-1953 run with later examples (per dealer narratives) trickling out into 1955–1956 as remaining cases were assembled. The 1955 Kangchenjunga gifts to Streather and Band were drawn from this same band, suggesting Rolex held existing case stock back rather than continuing case production for years. The "until 1959" claim is unsupported by the case-number evidence and likely a re-tread of the 6610 transition date applied to the 6150.

	~~The case-number evidence supports a 1953-concentrated run with a 1955–56 tail. The 1959 endpoint is dealer narrative without serial-anchor support.~~

	<span id="movement-notes"></span>		<span id="movement-notes"></span>
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	The 6150-specific movement configuration is the absence of chronometer pass. The same A296 in the 6350 was fine-tuned and adjusted to chronometer standards, earning the OCC dial line. The 6150's A296 does not carry that adjustment.		The 6150-specific movement configuration is the absence of chronometer pass. The same A296 in the 6350 was fine-tuned and adjusted to chronometer standards, earning the OCC dial line. The 6150's A296 does not carry that adjustment.

	A296 is a full-rotor uni-directional Perpetual~~, not~~ a bumper. The ~~architecture~~ confusion ~~that briefly attached to A296~~ traces to the bubble-back caseback geometry — the thicker autowind module the A-series carried, ~~not a bumper rotor system — and to~~ dealer copy that conflated mid-1950s automatic watchmaking generally with bumper-era movements~~. Rolex never produced a bumper caliber~~. The 1030 that succeeds A296 introduces bidirectional winding (the butterfly rotor) and a thinner module, which is what eliminates the bubble-back profile (Phillips Geneva Watch Auction FOUR lot 146 frames the A296→1030 swap explicitly as a thickness change; Charlie Dunne's ''How Rolex Became Rolex: The Automatic Perpetual Movement (Part 2)'' (Wind Vintage, 2023) dates Rolex's first bidirectional winding to the 1030).		A296 is a full-rotor, uni-directional Perpetual caliber — Rolex never made a bumper movement. The confusion traces to the bubble-back caseback geometry and the thicker autowind module the A-series carried, compounded by dealer copy that conflated mid-1950s automatic watchmaking generally with the bumper-era movements other brands used. The 1030 that succeeds A296 introduces bidirectional winding (the butterfly rotor) and a thinner module, which is what eliminates the bubble-back profile (Phillips Geneva Watch Auction FOUR lot 146 frames the A296→1030 swap explicitly as a thickness change; Charlie Dunne's ''How Rolex Became Rolex: The Automatic Perpetual Movement (Part 2)'' (Wind Vintage, 2023) dates Rolex's first bidirectional winding to the 1030).

	<span id="dial-map"></span>		<span id="dial-map"></span>
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	=== Early configuration (alpha hands, white dial) ===		=== Early configuration (alpha hands, white dial) ===

	The Field Manual describes early 6150 examples with white dials and alpha-style hands — a configuration that predates the Explorer aesthetic entirely. These early examples look nothing like what most collectors picture when they think "Explorer." The Field Manual notes the 6150 "evolved in 1953 into the 3-6-9 Arabic layout with Mercedes hands," and that 3-6-9 configuration becomes the Explorer signature. The early alpha-hand variant is sparsely documented at the major houses — most ~~surveyed~~ 6150 lots show the later 3-6-9 / Mercedes configuration.		The Field Manual describes early 6150 examples with white dials and alpha-style hands — a configuration that predates the Explorer aesthetic entirely. These early examples look nothing like what most collectors picture when they think "Explorer." The Field Manual notes the 6150 "evolved in 1953 into the 3-6-9 Arabic layout with Mercedes hands," and that 3-6-9 configuration becomes the Explorer signature. The early alpha-hand variant is sparsely documented at the major houses — most documented 6150 lots show the later 3-6-9 / Mercedes configuration.

	<span id="precision-dial"></span>		<span id="precision-dial"></span>
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	== Hands ==		== Hands ==

	Four hand configurations surface across ~~the~~ 6150 ~~corpus~~. The early VRFM-documented alpha-style hands appear on the small population of pre-1953 examples. The 3-6-9 Mercedes hand set is the dominant later-1953 configuration paired with a baton minute hand and a lollipop seconds. Pencil hands appear on a small subset of examples — likely the same shared-parts-bin approach that produced multiple hand sets on the 6350. The Field Manual describes the alpha-to-Mercedes transition as part of the 1953 evolution toward 6298 / 6350 styling.		Four hand configurations surface across documented 6150 examples. The early VRFM-documented alpha-style hands appear on the small population of pre-1953 examples. The 3-6-9 Mercedes hand set is the dominant later-1953 configuration paired with a baton minute hand and a lollipop seconds. Pencil hands appear on a small subset of examples — likely the same shared-parts-bin approach that produced multiple hand sets on the 6350. The Field Manual describes the alpha-to-Mercedes transition as part of the 1953 evolution toward 6298 / 6350 styling.

	<span id="bracelets-end-links-and-clasps"></span>		<span id="bracelets-end-links-and-clasps"></span>
	== Bracelets, end links, and clasps ==		== Bracelets, end links, and clasps ==

	Original-delivery bracelets across ~~the surveyed~~ 6150 ~~corpus~~ converge on the Gay Frères-made riveted Oyster — Sotheby's 2022 (case 945,096) reads "stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet with folding clasp"; Sotheby's 2024 (same example reoffered) reads "stainless steel Rolex Oyster expandable bracelet with folding clasp"; Phillips 2017 (Band, case 945,021) records a "stainless steel expandable bracelet" at 185mm maximum length; multiple Bonhams 6150 lots document a "fitted stainless steel riveted link bracelet" alongside the standard folding clasp.		Original-delivery bracelets across documented 6150 examples converge on the Gay Frères-made riveted Oyster — Sotheby's 2022 (case 945,096) reads "stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet with folding clasp"; Sotheby's 2024 (same example reoffered) reads "stainless steel Rolex Oyster expandable bracelet with folding clasp"; Phillips 2017 (Band, case 945,021) records a "stainless steel expandable bracelet" at 185mm maximum length; multiple Bonhams 6150 lots document a "fitted stainless steel riveted link bracelet" alongside the standard folding clasp.

	Royal Navy / H.S.10 CD examples were issued on fabric NATO-style straps — Sotheby's 2025 lot (case 931,134, "H.S.10 CD" caseback engraving with crow's foot) carries a NATO with metal pin buckle. The CD diver's role made a metal bracelet impractical, and the surviving record consistently shows fabric strap mounting on the military-issue branch.		Royal Navy / H.S.10 CD examples were issued on fabric NATO-style straps — Sotheby's 2025 lot (case 931,134, "H.S.10 CD" caseback engraving with crow's foot) carries a NATO with metal pin buckle. The CD diver's role made a metal bracelet impractical, and the surviving record consistently shows fabric strap mounting on the military-issue branch.
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	== Hillary and the 1953 Everest question ==		== Hillary and the 1953 Everest question ==

	The "6150 was Hillary's actual Everest watch" claim is contested and the evidence does not support it. Rolex's own 70th-anniversary post and Fratello's 2023 piece on the watch gifted to Hillary identify Hillary's Rolex as a chronometer-rated Oyster Perpetual (6098-class)~~, not a 6150~~. The watch Rolex gifted to Hillary post-expedition was a chronometer-grade piece marked "Officially Certified Chronometer" — that wording does not appear on a Precision-rated 6150. Hillary himself reportedly carried a Smiths De Luxe A409 to the summit alongside a Rolex; the Smiths / Rolex / Everest debate is well-documented in specialist research and resolved in favor of the Smiths as the on-summit watch.		The "6150 was Hillary's actual Everest watch" claim is contested and the evidence does not support it. Rolex's own 70th-anniversary post and Fratello's 2023 piece on the watch gifted to Hillary identify Hillary's Rolex as a chronometer-rated Oyster Perpetual (6098-class). The watch Rolex gifted to Hillary post-expedition was a chronometer-grade piece marked "Officially Certified Chronometer" — that wording does not appear on a Precision-rated 6150. Hillary himself reportedly carried a Smiths De Luxe A409 to the summit alongside a Rolex; the Smiths / Rolex / Everest debate is well-documented in specialist research and resolved in favor of the Smiths as the on-summit watch.

	Tenzing Norgay is variously claimed in dealer-side editorial to have worn a 6098 prototype on the climb. Some Phillips and Sotheby's editorial pieces frame the Tenzing watch as "a prototype of this watch [6150]," but no surviving Tenzing watch has been authenticated as a 6150. Rolex did supply expedition watches to the 1953 Everest team for accuracy testing; these were chronometer-rated reference 6098s, returned to Rolex post-expedition for accuracy data.		Tenzing Norgay is variously claimed in dealer-side editorial to have worn a 6098 prototype on the climb. Some Phillips and Sotheby's editorial pieces frame the Tenzing watch as "a prototype of this watch [6150]," but no surviving Tenzing watch has been authenticated as a 6150. Rolex did supply expedition watches to the 1953 Everest team for accuracy testing; these were chronometer-rated reference 6098s, returned to Rolex post-expedition for accuracy data.

	[[File:Ref 6150 kangchenjunga-band-example.webp\|thumb\|right\|240px\|alt=George Band's Rolex 6150, case 945,021, Kangchenjunga 1955\|George Band's Rolex 6150, case 945,021, sold by Phillips with its "Kangchenjunga 1955" caseback engraving]]		[[File:Ref 6150 kangchenjunga-band-example.webp\|thumb\|right\|240px\|alt=George Band's Rolex 6150, case 945,021, Kangchenjunga 1955\|George Band's Rolex 6150, case 945,021, sold by Phillips with its "Kangchenjunga 1955" caseback engraving]]
	The ~~clearer~~ expedition~~-watch story for~~ the ~~6150 is~~ Kangchenjunga ~~1955, not Everest 1953~~. Phillips Geneva Watch Auction SIX (10 November 2017) lot 244 sold George Band's caseback-engraved 6150 (case 945,021, "KANGCHENJUNGA 1955 G.C BAND") for CHF 200,000. Phillips Perpetual handled Tony Streather's 6150 from the same 1955 expedition by private treaty in 2024. Both watches were drawn from existing Rolex case stock dating to 1953.		The 6150's genuinely documented expedition pedigree is the 1955 Kangchenjunga climb. Phillips Geneva Watch Auction SIX (10 November 2017) lot 244 sold George Band's caseback-engraved 6150 (case 945,021, "KANGCHENJUNGA 1955 G.C BAND") for CHF 200,000. Phillips Perpetual handled Tony Streather's 6150 from the same 1955 expedition by private treaty in 2024. Both watches were drawn from existing Rolex case stock dating to 1953.

	~~The 6150's expedition pedigree runs through the 1955 British Kangchenjunga team (Band, Streather), not Hillary or Tenzing on Everest~~.

	<span id="historical-market-and-auction-record"></span>		<span id="historical-market-and-auction-record"></span>