Rolex. A stainless steel and gilt automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds and honeycomb dial

Reference 6298, an updated version of the Explorer prototype reference 6098, was launched in the early 1950s, its case comparable to the large size bubble back wristwatches. Early examples featured a white dial and gilt numerals and hands, later models were fitted with the typical Explorer-type black dial with Arabic quarters.

One of the ultimate exclusivities of the Explorer models are the off-white honeycomb dials which, according to scholarship, were then reserved for the Canadian market.

Being the largest, hence most practical and readable of all models in production at the time, it is well understandable that Rolex chose references 6098 and 6298 for further development of a robust watch. It is therefore by no surprise that watches from both references 6098 and 6298 were used during several Everest expeditions, most notably members of the successful expedition in 1953 lead by Sir Edmund Hillary, Sir John Hunt and Sherpa Tenzing.