{"product_id":"rolex-explorer-blackout-as04489","title":"Rolex Explorer 'Blackout'","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eWhen it comes to design language, the Reference 14270 may be the most \u003cem\u003eimportant\u003c\/em\u003e and collectable Rolex of the contemporary era. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLaunched in 1990, the 14270 was the follow-up successor to the iconic 1016, and featured a truly avant-garde design language. Moving away from the matte dial 1016, the 14270 features a glossy dial with stylized applied Arabic quadrant indices and a sapphire crystal which gives the watch a thoroughly modern and luxurious visual appeal that was initially a very polarizing departure for the model. With the benefit of hindsight, we can know understand that the 14270 was essentially a test-run for a new design language that would many years later become standard for numerous timepieces across the entire Rolex catalog.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRepresenting the earliest of the 14270s, a very low number of \"E\" and \"X\" serial examples possessed a dial in which the white gold 3, 6, and 9 were painted black, instead of what would become white for remainder of the 14270s run. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThis variation is known as the \"Blackout.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThis particular example, an X-serial dating to circa 1991, features an excellent 'holey lug' Oyster case with a sapphire crystal, a glossy black Tritium dial with applied indices and silver metallic text — found only on the early 14270 dials, a matching handset, and a matching solid link oyster bracelet with a blade clasp.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThese are amongst the rarest of modern Rolex models yet still incorporate vintage elements and charm such as Tritium and drilled lugs - securing these early Explorers as truly desirable for both vintage and contemporary-minded collectors.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rolex","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39385286279255,"sku":"40920394","price":20970.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/1255\/products\/AS04489_40920394_ROLEX_EXPLORER_BLACKOUT__14270-8.jpg?v=1630416316","url":"https:\/\/www.analogshift.com\/products\/rolex-explorer-blackout-as04489","provider":"Analog:Shift","version":"1.0","type":"link"}