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Explorer I Reference 6350
"First Explorer"
The reference that properly established the Explorer formula: black matte dial, 3-6-9 Arabic numerals at the cardinal hours, stick indices at remaining positions, and the Mercedes-style hour hand. Contemporary with the Everest climb and heavily associated with it in marketing. Cal. 1030 movement — a well-regarded 17-jewel automatic of the era.
Notable: First Explorer to feature the "Mercedes" star-tipped hour hand. The formula set here lasted nearly 70 years.
Technical Specification
| Reference | 6350 |
| Production years | 1953–1955 |
| Case diameter | 36 mm |
| Case material | Oyster steel |
| Movement | Cal. 1030 |
| Jewels | 17 |
| Frequency | 18,000 bph |
| Power reserve | 38h |
| Crystal | Acrylic (plexiglass) |
| Water resistance | 100m |
| Bracelet | Riveted Oyster / leather strap |
| Lume | Radium |
| Dial colour | Matte black |
| Numerals | 3–6–9 Arabic, white printed |
| Hands | Mercedes hour hand (first use on Explorer), baton minute |
| Crown | Screwed-down Twinlock crown |
| Serial range | 10xxxxx – 13xxxxx |
Variants & Production Marks
Matte black
Some example with tropical dial ageing