What reference is the watch Sir Edmund Hillary wore on Everest?

devnull · Sep 14, 2015

It is this one:

https://www.hodinkee.com/blog/found...o-the-peak-of-mount-everest-live-pics-details

But I can't find the reference number and there seems to be a few Oyster Perpetual chronometer models around that time. Was it a Super Oyster or a standard screw down? I would not mind hunting one down.

Some of you might have seen this article

https://www.outdoorjournal.com/feat...verest-in-1953-putting-a-controversy-to-rest/

While being chiefly concerned with Rolex vs Smiths (spoiler alert: Smiths were the first to the summit), an Omega also makes an appearance:

"Griffith Pugh, the scientist behind their success, wore his own Omega CK2287 chronometer."

As he was the team's physician I wonder if he had a pulsometer scale?

Some more Omega-specific info here:

https://www.intlwatchleague.com/showthread.php?28685-An-Omega-on-Everest-in-1953!

dennisthemenace · Sep 14, 2015

I had heard he was actually wearing a Smiths watch and Rolex reps slapped one of their watches on his wrist after his descent.

Davidt · Sep 14, 2015

I thout it was widely accepted he wore a Smiths

devnull · Sep 14, 2015

You two realize that you are in fact talking me out of buying a watch. You people should be ashamed. 😉

Davidt · Sep 14, 2015

devnull
You two realize that you are in fact talking me out of buying a watch. You people should be ashamed. 😉

Au contraire. Now you need to buy two.

Nobel Prize · Sep 15, 2015

I thought he took both up. The Smiths because it was his preference and the Rolex because of sponsorship and testing.

Nobel Prize · Sep 15, 2015

I stand corrected, here it is:

Nobel Prize · Sep 15, 2015

although Hodinkee has some more interesting articles about it. And this is, if it was worn up there, the model worn: (credit to Hodinkee)

pitpro · Sep 15, 2015

LarryG · Sep 15, 2015

I thought it was a ref. 6098. Going to have to sell mine if this proves not to be the case....

pitpro · Sep 15, 2015

Here's some more info:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/2075...;+Rolex+.........................My+Quest+;-)

devnull · Sep 16, 2015

I see 6084 is the reference that was presented to him after he came back form Everest. Can anybody confirm that this was the same reference worn on the Everest climb?

LarryG · Sep 16, 2015

I am pretty sure that the ref. worn on the expedition was the 6098.
http://www.network54.com/Forum/2075...n+which+rolex+model+to+Mount+Everest+in+1953-

Davidt · Sep 16, 2015

I can't remember where I read this but I once saw an article which stated that Rolex sponsored the '52 expedition (which didn't make the summit) but not the '53 one. As such the team were wearing Smiths watches in '53. Once their success was confirmed Rolex then presented them with watches after the event.

devnull · Sep 16, 2015

LarryG
I am pretty sure that the ref. worn on the expedition was the 6098.
http://www.network54.com/Forum/207593/thread/1304584616/Sir Edmund Hillary worn which rolex model to Mount Everest in 1953-

The watch on the museum that is listed as having been "the watch" is a certified chronometer. Reference 6098 is the precision model, not the chronometer model.

LarryG · Sep 16, 2015

You will see 6098 Oyster perpetuals marked both precision and officially certified chronometer.

LarryG · Sep 16, 2015

Here's another example of a 6098 that was worn by one of the members of the Everest expedition, with officially certified chronometer...
http://rolexpassionreport.com/10685...ey-member-of-the-british-everest-expeditions/

davidswiss · Sep 16, 2015

Hillary wore a Smiths deluxe on the climb and presented it to Clockmaker's Company Museum at the Guildhall in London where, I believe, it's still on show. He was given a Rolex later but he didn't wear it on the first scramble up to the top of the world. I believe Tensing wore a Rolex that had been given to him by one of the climbers on the failed Swiss expedition the previous year.

dennisthemenace · Sep 16, 2015

davidswiss
Hillary wore a Smiths deluxe on the climb and presented it to Clockmaker's Company Museum at the Guildhall in London where, I believe, it's still on show. He was given a Rolex later but he didn't wear it on the first scramble up to the top of the world. I believe Tensing wore a Rolex that had been given to him by one of the climbers on the failed Swiss expedition the previous year.

Nah! he took a Smiths and a Rolex with him , but actually he wore neither of them on the climb.

davidswiss · Sep 16, 2015

dennisthemenace
Nah! he took a Smiths and a Rolex with him , but actually he wore neither of them on the climb.

I don't think he had a Rolex. Rolex gave him one when he was in England after the return from the Nepal. Smiths gave 15 watches (I think) to the expedition and were sponsors. The only reason a Rolex was there was because Tenzing had one as a gift from the Swiss expedition in '52. I'm pretty sure that Rolex would have made huge publicity from then until now if they actually had the watch that Hillary wore on the 1st climb. They imply that it was there but Hillary would never say anything and I suspect that was because he was paid by Rolex not to answer the question.