Reference:6350: Difference between revisions

== Where it sits in the line ==

The 6350 succeeds the 6150 and precedes the 6610. The 6098 (1952), 6150 (1953), and 6350 (1953–55) form the early Explorer cluster on caliber A296; the 6610 (1955–59) moves to caliber 1030.

The dial text separates the references. Chronometer-rated 6098 examples read Officially Certified Chronometer, the 6150 reads Precision, and the 6350 combines Explorer with Officially Certified Chronometer. A small number of 6098s also carry Explorer wording, including white-dial expedition watches that predate the 6350. The 6350 is therefore the first reference in which Explorer appears as the regular production designation, while the 6098 remains earlier on the narrow question of the first Explorer-marked dial.

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=== Standard gilt chapter ring ===

[[File:Ref 6350 dial-closeup.webp|thumb|right|220px|alt=Gilt dial detail|Gilt dial detail]]

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=== Honeycomb (waffle) ===

The pressed cross-hatch texture under the gilt printing replaces the smooth lacquer surface. Specialist descriptions attribute the texture to a stamped and chemically bonded dial finish, but the surviving sources do not document Rolex's complete production process. Honeycomb dials make up roughly half of the selected major-house lot record on the reference. Phillips Geneva XIII 2021 lot 75 (case 955,327), Phillips Racing Pulse NY Dec 2020 lot 17 (case 955,837), Phillips Geneva XV May 2022 lot 157 (case 955,369), Phillips Geneva FOUR Nov 2016 lot 179 (case 955,855), Antiquorum HK May 2022 lot 218 (case 955,343, est HKD 380,000–480,000) anchor the variant.

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== Special branches ==

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Antiquorum Geneva November 2018 lot 317-570 (case 955,761) records a 6350 associated with Douglas Prior's Royal Society Antarctic Expedition / IGY 1956 work at Halley Bay. The watch was returned to Rolex after the expedition and re-gifted with a letter referencing the serial. The catalogue lists caliber 775, which is a service replacement. This is documented polar provenance for a 6350; it is separate from the disputed Hillary and Tenzing claims attached to some 6098s. The catalogue title sometimes styles Prior as "Sir", but the lot note identifies him as Douglas Roland Otway Prior and documents the Polar Medal rather than a knighthood.

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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]].

== Sources ==