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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 6150 Explorer}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex 6150 Explorer}}
{{#seo:
{{#seo:
|title=Rolex Explorer 6150 — Early Explorer-Dial Oyster | Rolexopedia
|title=Rolex Explorer 6150, Early Explorer-Dial Oyster | Rolexopedia
|description=The 6150 is the non-chronometer 36mm Oyster precursor to the Explorer. 1953-concentrated production with a 1955-56 tail, full-rotor caliber A296, "Precision" and rare "Explorer Precision" transitional dials, 1955 Kangchenjunga expedition pedigree.
|description=The Rolex 6150 is an early 36mm Oyster reference related to the Explorer. It uses the full-rotor A296, appears mainly with Precision dials, and has documented 1955 Kangchenjunga examples.
|keywords=Rolex, 6150, Explorer, Pre-Explorer, A296, Precision, Kangchenjunga, Hillary, Everest
|keywords=Rolex, 6150, Explorer, Pre-Explorer, A296, Precision, Kangchenjunga, Hillary, Everest
|image=Ref 6150 hero.webp
|image=Ref 6150 hero.webp
|image_alt=Rolex Explorer 6150 — gilt dial with 3-6-9 layout
|image_alt=Rolex Explorer 6150, gilt dial with 3-6-9 layout
|type=Article
|type=Article
|og_type=article
|og_type=article
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<div class="rp-lead">
<div class="rp-lead">
[[File:Ref 6150 hero.webp|thumb|center|640px|alt=Rolex Explorer 6150 — gilt dial with 3-6-9 layout|Rolex Explorer 6150 — gilt dial with 3-6-9 layout]]
[[File:Ref 6150 hero.webp|thumb|center|640px|alt=Rolex Explorer 6150, gilt dial with 3-6-9 layout|Rolex Explorer 6150, gilt dial with 3-6-9 layout]]
</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. 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.
The 6150 is an early 36mm Oyster reference that sits immediately before the 6350 in the Explorer family. It uses the full-rotor A296 in a non-chronometer configuration. Most documented dials read "Precision"; some surviving examples add "Explorer" above it, while a smaller number use the plain Explorer wording. The reference is often linked to the 1953 Everest climb, but the documented 6150 expedition watches are the examples issued for the 1955 Kangchenjunga expedition.


<span id="core-facts"></span>
<span id="core-facts"></span>




== Core facts ==
==Core facts==


{| class="wikitable rp-facts"
{| class="wikitable rp-facts"
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|-
|-
| family
| family
| Pre-Explorer / Explorer (status disputed across sources)
| Pre-Explorer / early Explorer-related reference
|-
|-
| 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)
| documented examples from the early 1950s through 1955–56; some catalogues extend the reference to 1959, but surviving case and auction evidence is concentrated in 1953–56
|-
|-
| serial cluster
| serial cluster
| documented case numbers run 931,134 → 945,096 — tight 1953-cluster band; later examples are stockpiled cases dispatched into 1955–56 rather than continuing case production
| documented cases run roughly 930,908–945,096; the dated examples cluster around 1953, with some watches documented in 1955–56
|-
|-
| case
| case
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| crystal
| crystal
| acrylic
| acrylic
|-
| water resistance
| 50m (early 6150) / 100m on later configurations
|-
|-
| movement
| movement
| caliber A296 — full-rotor self-winding, 18 jewels, 29.5mm (~13 lignes), non-chronometer-rated
| caliber A296, full-rotor self-winding, 18 jewels, 29.5mm (~13 lignes), non-chronometer-rated
|-
|-
| dial
| dial
| black with 3-6-9 chapter-ring layout; "Precision" standard; "Explorer Precision" transitional on a small subset of late-run examples
| black 3-6-9 chapter-ring layout with "Precision" on most documented examples; some examples add "Explorer" above "Precision"
|-
|-
| hands
| hands
| Mercedes hour, baton minute, lollipop seconds on the 3-6-9 configuration; alpha-style hands on early VRFM-documented examples
| Mercedes hour, baton minute, and lollipop seconds appear on many black 3-6-9 examples; alpha-style hands are documented on an early white-dial configuration
|}
|}


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== Where it sits in the line ==
== Where it sits in the line ==


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 is the immediate predecessor to the 6350 and is closely related to the 6098 and 6298. The 6098, 6150, and 6350 share the 36mm Oyster case family and the A296 platform, but their dial wording and chronometer status differ. The 6098 is documented as a chronometer reference. Most 6150 dials say "Precision" and the reference is not chronometer-rated. The 6350 is the first reference for which the Explorer name appears consistently on the production dial, together with the Officially Certified Chronometer wording.


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.
The 6610 followed the 6350 in the mid-1950s with caliber 1030 and a flatter caseback. The Vintage Rolex Field Manual describes the 6150 and 6610 as visually close, with the movement and caseback profile providing the practical distinctions. Other 36mm references from the same period, including 6298 and 6299, share parts of this case and movement development but should not be treated as 6150 variants.


<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 material reads the run as 1953–1959 — a six-year line. The Field Manual gives 1952–1959.
The most conservative dating is about 1952–1956. Hodinkee gives the reference as 1952–53, and the Vintage Rolex Field Manual places it in the early A296 group before the 6350. Auction catalogues document cases with 1953 dates and watches that were presented or used in 1955 and 1956. Some specialist catalogues extend the reference to 1959, but the surviving case numbers cited here do not show a continuous run that late. The 1959 date is also the end of the 6610 run, so it should not be used as an unqualified 6150 production date.


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 numbers include 930,908 (Bonhams 2024), 931,134 (Sotheby's 2025), 944,736 (Bonhams, inner-back date code IV.53), 944,811 (Bonhams), 944,925 (Antiquorum), 944,995 (Mondani Collection), 945,021 (Phillips, George Band), and 945,096 (Sotheby's). These examples fall in a fairly narrow 930K–945K range. The record supports early case production followed by later delivery or use, including the two Kangchenjunga watches, but it does not prove a separate stockpiling programme or a precise final production date.


<span id="movement-notes"></span>
<span id="movement-notes"></span>
== Movement notes ==
== Movement notes ==


The 6150 runs caliber A296. Specifications converge across the auction-house catalogs and the movement registries at full-rotor self-winding (not bumper), 29.5mm diameter (~13 lignes), 18 jewels, with the architecture used across Rolex catalog reference numbers 765, 775, and the Explorer 6098 / 6150 / 6350. The "bumper" association sometimes attached to A296 traces to the bubble-back caseback geometry rather than to the rotor system. The Rolex Forums A296 thread describes A296 as a "10.5-ligne version of a 635/645… uses a double spring hookup on the autowind and is shock resistant" — forum-level architecture detail, treat as inferred until corroborated against a service manual.
The 6150 uses Rolex caliber A296, a full-rotor automatic movement generally listed as 29.5mm in diameter with 18 jewels. Auction catalogues and movement references also use the name caliber 775 for early A296 examples, so both names can appear in descriptions of the same watch. The movement is not a bumper design.
 
A260, the smaller sister caliber used on the early Submariner refs 6202 / 6204 / 6205, sits at 26.4mm (~11.5 lignes) and was developed in parallel — A260 for the thinner Submariner cases, A296 for the bubble-back Explorer line. Both are full-rotor self-winding 18-jewel calibers; the size difference is the principal distinction. Beat rate (vph) is not stated in the editorial coverage; likely 18,000 vph based on era and architecture, but no service-manual citation has surfaced.


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.
A260 is the smaller related automatic caliber used in some early Submariner references. A296 and A260 belong to the same period of Rolex automatic development, but the 6150 should be identified by the movement found in the individual watch rather than by a family assumption. No beat rate is given here because the available 6150 sources do not agree on a service specification.


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).
The important 6150 distinction is certification. Its documented A296 examples are Precision watches without the Officially Certified Chronometer dial wording used on the 6350. The later 1030-powered 6610 belongs to the next stage of the Explorer sequence and has a flatter caseback.


<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 documented 6150 lots show the later 3-6-9 / Mercedes configuration.
The Vintage Rolex Field Manual places white dials and alpha-style hands among the early 6150 configurations, before the black 3-6-9 layout became standard in the Explorer story. The surviving record is small, and some descriptions group these early watches with the closely related 6098 and 6298. Treat the attribution as a documented configuration, not as a complete production sequence.


<span id="precision-dial"></span>
<span id="precision-dial"></span>
=== "Precision" dial (standard) ===
=== "Precision" dial (standard) ===
Most documented 6150 examples have a black gilt dial with a 3-6-9 chapter ring, "Oyster Perpetual" above the centre, and "Precision" below it. The Bonhams and Antiquorum examples cited in the auction record show this wording without an Explorer signature. Gloss level, lume condition, and hand pairing vary between surviving watches.


[[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]]
[[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.


<span id="explorer-precision-transitional"></span>
<span id="explorer-precision-transitional"></span>
=== "Explorer Precision" transitional dial ===
=== "Explorer Precision" transitional dial ===


A small subset of late-run 6150 dials carry "Explorer" above "Precision" — the transitional configuration. Bonhams 15298/261A and Phillips 2017 lot 244 (George Band, case 945,021) both document the Explorer-signed 6150 dial. The frequency is unclear; specific surviving counts have not been published. The variant suggests Rolex was experimenting with the Explorer name on a non-chronometer reference before the 6350 settled the OCC-plus-Explorer combination. Read these as transitional rather than alternate-line.
Some 6150s have "Explorer" above "Precision". Bonhams lot 15298/261A and the George Band watch sold by Phillips document the combination. The number of surviving examples is not established, so the dial is best described as an Explorer-signed 6150 configuration rather than assigned a fixed production percentage or a definitive place at the end of the run.


<span id="honeycomb-blackout-rare"></span>
<span id="honeycomb-blackout-rare"></span>
=== Honeycomb / Blackout (rare) ===
=== Honeycomb and blackout claims ===


Honeycomb dials surface on the 6150 but at much lower frequency than on the 6350. A handful of dealer listings reference honeycomb 6150s, including one specialist "Honeycomb Blackout Radium" listing, but no major-house auction lot has surfaced a honeycomb 6150 with photographic confirmation. The 6150 is overwhelmingly a glossy-gilt or matte-gilt smooth-finish reference. Honeycomb is the 6350 signature, common-but-not-majority on the 6098, and rare-to-marginal on the 6150.
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>
== Case, bezel, crystal, and crown ==
== Case, bezel, crystal, and crown ==


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 has a 36mm stainless-steel Oyster case, a smooth fixed bezel, and an acrylic crystal. The A296 case has the rounded bubble-back profile associated with this period; the later 6610 has a flatter back. Exact water-resistance figures are not consistent across the sources used for this page, so they are not assigned here.


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.
The small Brevet crown and drilled-lug Oyster construction appear on documented examples, but crown and lug details should be checked against the individual watch. Polished chamfers, replaced crowns, and later crystals can change the appearance without changing the reference number.


<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. 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.
The early alpha-style hands described in the Field Manual are associated with the white-dial configuration. Later black 3-6-9 examples are commonly shown with a Mercedes hour hand, baton minute hand, and lollipop seconds hand. Long-hour, pencil, and other hand combinations are documented in specialist and auction material, but the available record is too small to treat them as a complete sequence of factory variants.
 
Bonhams 2024 lot 29151/66 adds a documented outlier: case 930,908 was stamped 6150/6350 and carried blued leaf hands with a tropical brown dial. That lot is evidence of a dual-stamped case and an unusual surviving configuration. It does not establish that the hand set was standard delivery for either reference.


<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 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.
Auction descriptions document riveted Oyster bracelets on civilian 6150 examples. Sotheby's and Phillips also describe expandable or folding-clasp Oyster bracelets. Those descriptions date the bracelet as offered with the watch; they do not prove that every surviving bracelet is original to the watch head.
 
[[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 H.S.10 CD Navy-issue example, case 931,134, on a fabric strap.]]


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.
The Royal Navy H.S.10 CD examples are a separate military branch. Sotheby's 2025 lot 931,134 is engraved H.S.10 CD with a crow's foot and is shown on a fabric strap. Its dial reads "EXPLORER" without "Precision", a wording distinct from the more common Precision dial and from the Explorer Precision examples. The lot documents that watch, not a universal issue configuration for all 6150s.


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.
Bonklip and other bracelet claims appear in dealer descriptions, but the cited auction record does not establish them as original 6150 delivery. Treat them as possible later or service fitments unless the individual watch has matching period evidence.


<span id="hillary-and-the-1953-everest-question"></span>
<span id="hillary-and-the-1953-everest-question"></span>
== 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). 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.
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 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 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.


[[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, with the Kangchenjunga 1955 caseback engraving]]
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.


<span id="historical-market-and-auction-record"></span>
<span id="historical-market-and-auction-record"></span>
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| Phillips Geneva Watch Auction SIX || 244 || 2017 || 945,021 || "KANGCHENJUNGA 1955 G.C BAND" caseback, A296 || CHF 200,000
| Phillips Geneva Watch Auction SIX || 244 || 2017 || 945,021 || "KANGCHENJUNGA 1955 G.C BAND" caseback, A296 || CHF 200,000
|-
|-
| Phillips Perpetual (private treaty) || — || 2024 || — || Tony Streather's Kangchenjunga 6150, NATO strap || private
| Phillips Perpetual (private treaty) ||, || 2024 ||, || Tony Streather's Kangchenjunga 6150, fabric strap || private
|-
|-
| Sotheby's London Fine Watches || — || 2022 || 945,096 || A296 18j, Oyster bracelet, no box/papers || ~GBP 23,940
| Sotheby's London Fine Watches ||, || 2022 || 945,096 || A296 18j, Oyster bracelet, no box/papers || ~GBP 23,940
|-
|-
| Sotheby's Important Watches || — || 2024 || 945,096 || same example reoffered, Oyster expandable || est. USD 20,000–40,000
| Sotheby's Important Watches ||, || 2024 || 945,096 || same example reoffered, Oyster expandable || est. USD 20,000–40,000
|-
|-
| Sotheby's Fine Watches L25713 || — || 2025 || 931,134 || H.S.10 CD Royal Navy, crow's foot, A296 18j || est. GBP 8,000–12,000
| Sotheby's Fine Watches L25713 ||, || 2025 || 931,134 || H.S.10 CD Royal Navy, crow's foot, A296 18j || est. GBP 8,000–12,000
|-
|-
| Antiquorum Geneva || 339-397 || 2021 || — || Pre-Explorer 3-6-9 chapter ring, gilt || —
| Antiquorum Geneva || 339-397 || 2021 ||, || Pre-Explorer 3-6-9 chapter ring, gilt ||,
|-
|-
| Antiquorum Geneva || 349-152 || 2022 || 944,925 || "Oyster Perpetual Precision" dial || est. CHF 15,000–20,000
| Antiquorum Geneva || 349-152 || 2022 || 944,925 || "Oyster Perpetual Precision" dial || est. CHF 15,000–20,000
|-
|-
| Antiquorum Geneva (Mondani Collection) || — || 2006 || 944,995 || "Explorer Precision" dial || —
| Antiquorum Geneva (Mondani Collection) ||, || 2006 || 944,995 || "Explorer Precision" dial ||,
|-
|-
| 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
|}
|}


The 6150 trades in three tiers. Kangchenjunga-engraved expedition examples sit at the top — Phillips's CHF 200,000 result for the George Band 6150 is the modern-era benchmark and shows provenance more than reference rarity. Royal Navy H.S.10 CD military-issue examples populate a separate niche on fabric-strap configuration; the Bonhams 2011 H.S.10 CD result of GBP 8,400 anchors the lower military-provenance band. Standard civilian "Precision" examples in clean condition sit roughly GBP 15,000–25,000 across the major houses. The "Explorer Precision" transitional dial commands a premium when authenticated; documented examples sit in the upper-middle of the standard market.
These results belong to the individual watches and their provenance. The CHF 200,000 Phillips result is tied to George Band's Kangchenjunga engraving; it is not a general 6150 price benchmark. The military lots, standard Precision examples, and Explorer-signed watches also differ in condition, originality, provenance, and sale format. Use the records above as comparables, not as fixed price bands.




== Related references ==
== Related references ==


* [[Reference:1016|Explorer 1016]] — Gilt to Matte (1963–1989)
* [[Reference:1016|Explorer 1016]], Gilt to Matte (1963–1989)
* [[Reference:6098|Explorer 6098]] — 1952–1953
* [[Reference:6098|Explorer 6098]], 1952–1953
* [[Reference:6350|Explorer 6350]] — First 'Explorer' Dial (1953–1955)
* [[Reference:6350|Explorer 6350]], First 'Explorer' Dial (1953–1955)
* [[Reference:6610|Explorer 6610]] — Cal 1030, Gilt Dial
* [[Reference:6610|Explorer 6610]], Cal 1030, Gilt Dial
* [[Reference:14270|Explorer 14270]] — First Sapphire (1989–2001)
* [[Reference:14270|Explorer 14270]], First Sapphire (1989–2001)
* [[Reference:114270|Explorer 114270]] — 2001–2010
* [[Reference:114270|Explorer 114270]], 2001–2010


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 ==


* [https://monochrome-watches.com/history-rolex-explorer-from-1953-36mm-1016-14270-114270-214270-124270-in-depth-review/ The History of the Rolex Explorer] — Frank Geelen (Monochrome Watches, 2024)
* [https://monochrome-watches.com/history-rolex-explorer-from-1953-36mm-1016-14270-114270-214270-124270-in-depth-review/ The History of the Rolex Explorer], Frank Geelen (Monochrome Watches, 2024)
* [https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/rolex-explorer-reference-points A Comprehensive Collector's Guide To The Rolex Explorer I] — Jon Bues (Hodinkee, 2018)
* [https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/rolex-explorer-reference-points A Comprehensive Collector's Guide To The Rolex Explorer I], Jon Bues (Hodinkee, 2018)
* [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)
* [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)
* [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)
* [https://www.10pastten.com/blogs/the-mind-of-a-collector/the-rolex-pre-explorer-pawning-the-pre-explorer The Rolex Pre-Explorer] (10pastten)
* [https://www.10pastten.com/blogs/the-mind-of-a-collector/the-rolex-pre-explorer-pawning-the-pre-explorer The Rolex Pre-Explorer] (10pastten)
* [https://www.watchdoctor.biz/Rolex_Movements.htm Rolex Movements Reference Table] (Watch Doctor)
* [https://www.watchdoctor.biz/Rolex_Movements.htm Rolex Movements Reference Table] (Watch Doctor)
* ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra
* ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'', Colin A. White, Morning Tundra
* [https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/0b5fdf83/files/uploaded/1.0%20RolexBook-23Mar.pdf The Vintage Rolex Field Manual (PDF)]


[[Category:Explorer]]
[[Category:Explorer]]

Latest revision as of 06:22, 29 September 2026


Explorer › 6150

Rolex Explorer 6150, gilt dial with 3-6-9 layout
Rolex Explorer 6150, gilt dial with 3-6-9 layout

The 6150 is an early 36mm Oyster reference that sits immediately before the 6350 in the Explorer family. It uses the full-rotor A296 in a non-chronometer configuration. Most documented dials read "Precision"; some surviving examples add "Explorer" above it, while a smaller number use the plain Explorer wording. The reference is often linked to the 1953 Everest climb, but the documented 6150 expedition watches are the examples issued for the 1955 Kangchenjunga expedition.


Core facts

detail value
reference 6150
family Pre-Explorer / early Explorer-related reference
production documented examples from the early 1950s through 1955–56; some catalogues extend the reference to 1959, but surviving case and auction evidence is concentrated in 1953–56
serial cluster documented cases run roughly 930,908–945,096; the dated examples cluster around 1953, with some watches documented in 1955–56
case 36mm stainless steel Oyster with smooth bezel and bubble-back caseback profile
crystal acrylic
movement caliber A296, full-rotor self-winding, 18 jewels, 29.5mm (~13 lignes), non-chronometer-rated
dial black 3-6-9 chapter-ring layout with "Precision" on most documented examples; some examples add "Explorer" above "Precision"
hands Mercedes hour, baton minute, and lollipop seconds appear on many black 3-6-9 examples; alpha-style hands are documented on an early white-dial configuration

Where it sits in the line

The 6150 is the immediate predecessor to the 6350 and is closely related to the 6098 and 6298. The 6098, 6150, and 6350 share the 36mm Oyster case family and the A296 platform, but their dial wording and chronometer status differ. The 6098 is documented as a chronometer reference. Most 6150 dials say "Precision" and the reference is not chronometer-rated. The 6350 is the first reference for which the Explorer name appears consistently on the production dial, together with the Officially Certified Chronometer wording.

The 6610 followed the 6350 in the mid-1950s with caliber 1030 and a flatter caseback. The Vintage Rolex Field Manual describes the 6150 and 6610 as visually close, with the movement and caseback profile providing the practical distinctions. Other 36mm references from the same period, including 6298 and 6299, share parts of this case and movement development but should not be treated as 6150 variants.

Production outline

The most conservative dating is about 1952–1956. Hodinkee gives the reference as 1952–53, and the Vintage Rolex Field Manual places it in the early A296 group before the 6350. Auction catalogues document cases with 1953 dates and watches that were presented or used in 1955 and 1956. Some specialist catalogues extend the reference to 1959, but the surviving case numbers cited here do not show a continuous run that late. The 1959 date is also the end of the 6610 run, so it should not be used as an unqualified 6150 production date.

Documented case numbers include 930,908 (Bonhams 2024), 931,134 (Sotheby's 2025), 944,736 (Bonhams, inner-back date code IV.53), 944,811 (Bonhams), 944,925 (Antiquorum), 944,995 (Mondani Collection), 945,021 (Phillips, George Band), and 945,096 (Sotheby's). These examples fall in a fairly narrow 930K–945K range. The record supports early case production followed by later delivery or use, including the two Kangchenjunga watches, but it does not prove a separate stockpiling programme or a precise final production date.

Movement notes

The 6150 uses Rolex caliber A296, a full-rotor automatic movement generally listed as 29.5mm in diameter with 18 jewels. Auction catalogues and movement references also use the name caliber 775 for early A296 examples, so both names can appear in descriptions of the same watch. The movement is not a bumper design.

A260 is the smaller related automatic caliber used in some early Submariner references. A296 and A260 belong to the same period of Rolex automatic development, but the 6150 should be identified by the movement found in the individual watch rather than by a family assumption. No beat rate is given here because the available 6150 sources do not agree on a service specification.

The important 6150 distinction is certification. Its documented A296 examples are Precision watches without the Officially Certified Chronometer dial wording used on the 6350. The later 1030-powered 6610 belongs to the next stage of the Explorer sequence and has a flatter caseback.

Dial map

Early configuration (alpha hands, white dial)

The Vintage Rolex Field Manual places white dials and alpha-style hands among the early 6150 configurations, before the black 3-6-9 layout became standard in the Explorer story. The surviving record is small, and some descriptions group these early watches with the closely related 6098 and 6298. Treat the attribution as a documented configuration, not as a complete production sequence.

"Precision" dial (standard)

Most documented 6150 examples have a black gilt dial with a 3-6-9 chapter ring, "Oyster Perpetual" above the centre, and "Precision" below it. The Bonhams and Antiquorum examples cited in the auction record show this wording without an Explorer signature. Gloss level, lume condition, and hand pairing vary between surviving watches.

Rolex 6150 "Precision" gilt dial, 3-6-9 chapter ring
Rolex 6150 "Precision" gilt dial, 3-6-9 chapter ring

"Explorer Precision" transitional dial

Some 6150s have "Explorer" above "Precision". Bonhams lot 15298/261A and the George Band watch sold by Phillips document the combination. The number of surviving examples is not established, so the dial is best described as an Explorer-signed 6150 configuration rather than assigned a fixed production percentage or a definitive place at the end of the run.

Honeycomb and blackout claims

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.

Case, bezel, crystal, and crown

The 6150 has a 36mm stainless-steel Oyster case, a smooth fixed bezel, and an acrylic crystal. The A296 case has the rounded bubble-back profile associated with this period; the later 6610 has a flatter back. Exact water-resistance figures are not consistent across the sources used for this page, so they are not assigned here.

The small Brevet crown and drilled-lug Oyster construction appear on documented examples, but crown and lug details should be checked against the individual watch. Polished chamfers, replaced crowns, and later crystals can change the appearance without changing the reference number.

Hands

The early alpha-style hands described in the Field Manual are associated with the white-dial configuration. Later black 3-6-9 examples are commonly shown with a Mercedes hour hand, baton minute hand, and lollipop seconds hand. Long-hour, pencil, and other hand combinations are documented in specialist and auction material, but the available record is too small to treat them as a complete sequence of factory variants.

Bonhams 2024 lot 29151/66 adds a documented outlier: case 930,908 was stamped 6150/6350 and carried blued leaf hands with a tropical brown dial. That lot is evidence of a dual-stamped case and an unusual surviving configuration. It does not establish that the hand set was standard delivery for either reference.

Bracelets, end links, and clasps

Auction descriptions document riveted Oyster bracelets on civilian 6150 examples. Sotheby's and Phillips also describe expandable or folding-clasp Oyster bracelets. Those descriptions date the bracelet as offered with the watch; they do not prove that every surviving bracelet is original to the watch head.

Rolex 6150 H.S.10 CD Navy example on NATO strap, case 931,134
Rolex 6150 H.S.10 CD Navy-issue example, case 931,134, on a fabric strap.

The Royal Navy H.S.10 CD examples are a separate military branch. Sotheby's 2025 lot 931,134 is engraved H.S.10 CD with a crow's foot and is shown on a fabric strap. Its dial reads "EXPLORER" without "Precision", a wording distinct from the more common Precision dial and from the Explorer Precision examples. The lot documents that watch, not a universal issue configuration for all 6150s.

Bonklip and other bracelet claims appear in dealer descriptions, but the cited auction record does not establish them as original 6150 delivery. Treat them as possible later or service fitments unless the individual watch has matching period evidence.

Hillary and the 1953 Everest question

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.

George Band's Rolex 6150, case 945,021, Kangchenjunga 1955
George Band's Rolex 6150, case 945,021, with the Kangchenjunga 1955 caseback engraving

Historical market and auction record

Sale Lot Year Serial Variant Hammer
Phillips Geneva Watch Auction SIX 244 2017 945,021 "KANGCHENJUNGA 1955 G.C BAND" caseback, A296 CHF 200,000
Phillips Perpetual (private treaty) , 2024 , Tony Streather's Kangchenjunga 6150, fabric strap private
Sotheby's London Fine Watches , 2022 945,096 A296 18j, Oyster bracelet, no box/papers ~GBP 23,940
Sotheby's Important Watches , 2024 945,096 same example reoffered, Oyster expandable est. USD 20,000–40,000
Sotheby's Fine Watches L25713 , 2025 931,134 H.S.10 CD Royal Navy, crow's foot, A296 18j est. GBP 8,000–12,000
Antiquorum Geneva 339-397 2021 , Pre-Explorer 3-6-9 chapter ring, gilt ,
Antiquorum Geneva 349-152 2022 944,925 "Oyster Perpetual Precision" dial est. CHF 15,000–20,000
Antiquorum Geneva (Mondani Collection) , 2006 944,995 "Explorer Precision" dial ,
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 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 Knightsbridge 29151/66 2024 930,908 Ref: 6150/6350 dual-stamped case, tropicalised dial, blued leaf hands GBP 4,096 incl. premium

These results belong to the individual watches and their provenance. The CHF 200,000 Phillips result is tied to George Band's Kangchenjunga engraving; it is not a general 6150 price benchmark. The military lots, standard Precision examples, and Explorer-signed watches also differ in condition, originality, provenance, and sale format. Use the records above as comparables, not as fixed price bands.


Related references

See also the Explorer family index, movement reference, bracelet & clasp guide, and serial numbers by year.

  • Early Explorer-related Oyster
    Early Explorer-related Oyster
  • Black 3-6-9 Precision dial
    Black 3-6-9 Precision dial
  • Royal Navy example
    Royal Navy example
  • George Band example
    George Band example

Sources

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