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Lot 330 A very rare set of 3 limited edition automatic Rolex watches
Offered by Peter Hillary and Jamling Tenzing Norgay for the benefits of the Hillary and Tenzing Foundation
The Hillary Tenzing Explorer edition
From the deepest point in the sea and the success of the Single Red Deep Sea with Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard, the next logical step for initiator Philipp Stahl was to go to highest point on earth, Mount Everest & Hillary Tenzing Explorer Edition is a unique homage to Hillary and Tenzing, two mythical names in the history of exploring. Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first humans to set foot on top of the world in 1953.
Stahl is proud to create the Hillary Tenzing Explorer Limited Edition in close cooperation with Peter Hillary and Jamling Tenzing Norgay, sons of the famous mountaineers and acclaimed adventurers themselves. "I am very excited to participate with Jamling and Philipp in this unique project", says Auckland-based Peter Hillary. "I particularly like the celebration that the Rolex Hillary Tenzing Explorer packages represent a great team achieving great heights on Everest".
Being a passionate Rolex aficionado, Stahl stresses that the Hillary Tenzing Explorer edition also pays tribute to another great feat in the impressive heritage of his beloved brand. Rolex has always been in the forefront of exploration and their watches proved to be valuable assets under the most extreme conditions.
The 1953 Everest team was equipped with Oyster Perpetual watches and Stahl vividly remembers the moment he first held one in his hands: "Sitting in the study of George Band, one of the last living members of the 1953 Everest expedition, in his mansion west of London, I was trembling all over when he handed over this legendary Rolex, after more than fifty years still in mint condition".
Stahl continues to explain that all case back engravings on the 3 watches have special significance besides the 88/88 number. The Rolex Explorer I is dedicated to the first and second generation to the top as Sir Edmund Hillary and Peter Hillary were the first father/son duo to reach the top of Mount Everest. The Explorer II orange hand highlights the achievement of the sons of Everest Summiteers because it was worn by Peter Hillary and Jamling Tenzing Norgay during their ascent on Everest. The golden Datejust refers to the watch Tenzing Norgay was given after his heroic achievement in 1953 and is dedicated to his legendary climb with Sir Edmund Hillary. The Hillary Tenzing Explorer Limited Edition is not affiliated with the Rolex organization, the international warranty will go through the watch atelier of Philipp Stahl.
Estimate: No estimate will be provided as priceless due to its fine cause and the invaluable ephemera accompanying the lot.
Offered by Peter Hillary and Jamling Tenzing Norgay for the benefits of the Hillary and Tenzing Foundation
The Hillary Tenzing Explorer edition
From the deepest point in the sea and the success of the Single Red Deep Sea with Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard, the next logical step for initiator Philipp Stahl was to go to highest point on earth, Mount Everest & Hillary Tenzing Explorer Edition is a unique homage to Hillary and Tenzing, two mythical names in the history of exploring. Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first humans to set foot on top of the world in 1953.
Stahl is proud to create the Hillary Tenzing Explorer Limited Edition in close cooperation with Peter Hillary and Jamling Tenzing Norgay, sons of the famous mountaineers and acclaimed adventurers themselves. "I am very excited to participate with Jamling and Philipp in this unique project", says Auckland-based Peter Hillary. "I particularly like the celebration that the Rolex Hillary Tenzing Explorer packages represent a great team achieving great heights on Everest".
Being a passionate Rolex aficionado, Stahl stresses that the Hillary Tenzing Explorer edition also pays tribute to another great feat in the impressive heritage of his beloved brand. Rolex has always been in the forefront of exploration and their watches proved to be valuable assets under the most extreme conditions.
The 1953 Everest team was equipped with Oyster Perpetual watches and Stahl vividly remembers the moment he first held one in his hands: "Sitting in the study of George Band, one of the last living members of the 1953 Everest expedition, in his mansion west of London, I was trembling all over when he handed over this legendary Rolex, after more than fifty years still in mint condition".
Stahl continues to explain that all case back engravings on the 3 watches have special significance besides the 88/88 number. The Rolex Explorer I is dedicated to the first and second generation to the top as Sir Edmund Hillary and Peter Hillary were the first father/son duo to reach the top of Mount Everest. The Explorer II orange hand highlights the achievement of the sons of Everest Summiteers because it was worn by Peter Hillary and Jamling Tenzing Norgay during their ascent on Everest. The golden Datejust refers to the watch Tenzing Norgay was given after his heroic achievement in 1953 and is dedicated to his legendary climb with Sir Edmund Hillary. The Hillary Tenzing Explorer Limited Edition is not affiliated with the Rolex organization, the international warranty will go through the watch atelier of Philipp Stahl.
Estimate: No estimate will be provided as priceless due to its fine cause and the invaluable ephemera accompanying the lot.
Rolex. A stainless steel automatic special edition wristwatch with sweep centre seconds and red printed "Explorer" Rolex. A stainless steel automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, 24 hours, date and bracelet Rolex. An 18K gold automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, date and bracelet
SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL EXPLORER, REFERENCE 214270, CASE NO. 485120D9, MANUFACTURED IN 2010 SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL EXPLORER II, REFERENCE 1655, CASE NO. 6'631'188, MANUFACTURED IN 1980 SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL DATEJUST, REFERENCE 6305-1, CASE NO. 99739, MANUFACTURED IN 1955
Closed16 May 2011
Price Realised
CHF 93,000
More Information
Specialist note
The first day cover envelopes and five dollar note are from the family archives of the Hillary and Tenzing Norgay families.
The book "Tiger of the snows" comes from the Tenzing Norgay archive on which Jamling Tenzing Norgay comments: "Although my father never learned to read or write, he spoke several languages and had many fascinating adventures to share. For this book he used a ghost writer to tell his own story of Everest and beyond. My father kept a close relationship with Sir Edmund Hillary and this book was signed by Sir Ed during one of his visits to our family home in Darjeeling, India."
The Hillary Tenzing Explorer Limited Edition no. 88/88
Handcrafted wooden expedition crate stamped number 88 consisting of 1 folder, 4 drawers and HTE limited edition booklet hangtag.
Folder attached to inside lid of wooden crate containing Certificate of Origin, stamped 88 and signed by Peter Hillary and Jamling Tenzing Norgay; first day cover envelope Indian Posts and Telegraphs commemorating the first successful ascent of Mount Everest on 29 May 1953, stamped New Delhi 2 October 1953 and addressed to Sir Edmund Hillary, Everest Office Royal Geographical Society London; first day cover envelope Indian Posts and Telegraphs commemorating the first successful ascent of Mount Everest on 29 May 1953, stamped Tenzing Norkay Sherpa, signed by Jamling Tenzing Norgay and Peter Hillary; New Zealand five dollar bank note bearing the portrait of Sir Edmund Hillary and signed by Sir Edmund Hillary.
Drawer one contains 3 Rolex watches and 1 HTE limited edition silver pin measuring approximately 5 cm and featuring original ice axe used by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay with HTE logo.
Drawer two contains limited edition leather toolkit with changing tools and magnifying glass stamped Hillary Tenzing Explorer, 3 spare shell cordovan leather limited edition bracelets with HTE stamp and 1950s aluminium film canister with leather grease.
Drawer three contains a limited edition leather map of the 1953 original route to Everest with HTE stamp and original DVD Conquest of Everest, directed by 1953 Everest expedition member George Lowe.
Drawer four contains 2 books. Everest: summit of achievement by Stephen Venables, a Royal Geographical Society chronicle of the history of Everest exploration, signed by Peter Hillary, Jamling Tenzing Norgay and George Band, one of the last living team members of the 1953 successful Everest expedition. Book Tiger of the snows, the autobiography of Tenzing of Everest written in collaboration with James Ullman, first and specially decorated edition signed by Tenzing Norgay, Sir Edmund Hillary, Jamling Tenzing Norgay and Peter Hillary.
The book "Tiger of the snows" comes from the Tenzing Norgay archive on which Jamling Tenzing Norgay comments: "Although my father never learned to read or write, he spoke several languages and had many fascinating adventures to share. For this book he used a ghost writer to tell his own story of Everest and beyond. My father kept a close relationship with Sir Edmund Hillary and this book was signed by Sir Ed during one of his visits to our family home in Darjeeling, India."
The Hillary Tenzing Explorer Limited Edition no. 88/88
Handcrafted wooden expedition crate stamped number 88 consisting of 1 folder, 4 drawers and HTE limited edition booklet hangtag.
Folder attached to inside lid of wooden crate containing Certificate of Origin, stamped 88 and signed by Peter Hillary and Jamling Tenzing Norgay; first day cover envelope Indian Posts and Telegraphs commemorating the first successful ascent of Mount Everest on 29 May 1953, stamped New Delhi 2 October 1953 and addressed to Sir Edmund Hillary, Everest Office Royal Geographical Society London; first day cover envelope Indian Posts and Telegraphs commemorating the first successful ascent of Mount Everest on 29 May 1953, stamped Tenzing Norkay Sherpa, signed by Jamling Tenzing Norgay and Peter Hillary; New Zealand five dollar bank note bearing the portrait of Sir Edmund Hillary and signed by Sir Edmund Hillary.
Drawer one contains 3 Rolex watches and 1 HTE limited edition silver pin measuring approximately 5 cm and featuring original ice axe used by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay with HTE logo.
Drawer two contains limited edition leather toolkit with changing tools and magnifying glass stamped Hillary Tenzing Explorer, 3 spare shell cordovan leather limited edition bracelets with HTE stamp and 1950s aluminium film canister with leather grease.
Drawer three contains a limited edition leather map of the 1953 original route to Everest with HTE stamp and original DVD Conquest of Everest, directed by 1953 Everest expedition member George Lowe.
Drawer four contains 2 books. Everest: summit of achievement by Stephen Venables, a Royal Geographical Society chronicle of the history of Everest exploration, signed by Peter Hillary, Jamling Tenzing Norgay and George Band, one of the last living team members of the 1953 successful Everest expedition. Book Tiger of the snows, the autobiography of Tenzing of Everest written in collaboration with James Ullman, first and specially decorated edition signed by Tenzing Norgay, Sir Edmund Hillary, Jamling Tenzing Norgay and Peter Hillary.