When it comes to design language, the Reference 14270 may be the most important and collectable Rolex of the contemporary era. Launched 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. Representing 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. This variation is known as the "Blackout." This 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. These 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.
