Although it is now associated with the notion of luxury, Rolex has primarily distinguished itself by its production of “tool-watches” intended for professionals, explorers, travellers or sportsman. A few names come easily to mind: from Mrs. Mercedes Gleitz and her historic 1927 swim, to the legendary contemporary mountaineer Reinhold Messner, to Cousteau taking a Rolex watch to the bottom of the Mariana Trench (hanging outside the Trieste bathyscaphe), to Sir Hillary and the conquest of Mount Everest.

This Rolex Submariner Ref. 114060 comes with a certificate, in French, stating, it is one of the two models offered to Fred Roux and Mike Horn:

“Cette Submariner 114060 fait partie des deux Submariner ayant fait partie de l’expédition de Mike Horn en 2014 du mont Makalu qui culmine à 8 481 mètres. Mr Laurent Reiss a acheté deux montres: la W3466902 et la G862945 au magasin Yves Jacot S.A. le 2 avril 2014 et les a offerts à Mike Horn et Fred Roux. Ils ont donc grimper ensemble avec ces deux montres au poignet. Une de ces deux montres a été vendue aux enchères en 2015 pour la somme de 46 500 francs suisses. Cette montre, vue son histoire, fait partie des Rolex mythiques ayant monté, au poignet d’aventuriers hors normes, une des montagnes les plus dur à gravir au monde. Nous certifions qu’il s’agit bien de l’un des deux exemplaires.”

According to the certificate, it would seem this watch entered the legend of Rolex exploits by reaching the summit of Mount Makalu during Mike Horn and Fred Roux’s expedition. On May 17, 2014, the two Swiss climbed to the top of Makalu, between Nepal and Tibet. When all the other members of the expedition turned back, they pushed on without oxygen, ropes or Sherpa to reach the 8 481-metre summit, the fifth highest peak in the world, lost in the Himalayas. Since 1954, only 206 successful ascents have been recorded, but also 22 fatalities.