Is the Explorer Rolex’s Next Titanium Watch?

In 2008, Rolex dipped its toe into titanium with the Sea-Dweller Deepsea ref. 116660: a steel watch featuring a titanium caseback. Fourteen years later, in 2022, Rolex introduced its first full-titanium watch, the Deepsea Challenge. At 50mm wide and 23mm thick, this technical marvel was less a wearable watch and more a showcase of engineering.

Image Source: Hodinkee

Then, in 2023, Rolex unveiled the Yacht-Master 42 in titanium, their first titanium watch designed with broad commercial appeal (pictured above). This is probably my favorite current-production Rolex. Today, it trades for nearly double its MSRP on the secondary market due to high demand and limited availability.

Rolex does not need to rush into more titanium offerings. The material is notoriously difficult to machine and finish—that's after you've developed entirely new equipment to machine existing models—and Rolex’s perfectionist standards only add to the complexity. However, with two titanium models released in quick succession, it’s plausible we might see another soon. So, what’s next? Among the potential candidates, the Explorer feels like the most logical choice.

Why Titanium Fits the Explorer’s Design

Curved-End Rubber Strap For Rolex Explorer

The Rolex Explorer, in case you couldn’t tell from its name, is a go-anywhere, do-anything watch. Released in 1954 as an ode to its predecessor—the Oyster Perpetual that made it to the top of Mr. Everest—the Explorer has remained one of Rolex’s most straightforward models, emphasizing usability in rough conditions (durability, legibility, water resistance). A titanium version would only enhance these qualities.

The same properties that would make a titanium Explorer excellent for mountaineering would make it excellent for everyday wear. It’s light, strong, and corrosion-resistant—you never have to worry about it and you might even forget it’s on your wrist.

A Growing Collection

The Explorer lineup has expanded in recent years. Historically available in a single size (36mm), the model grew to 39mm in 2010 before returning to its roots in 2021. By 2023, Rolex offered the Explorer in two sizes: the original 36mm and a new 40mm option.

Image Source: Sharp Magazine

We're also starting to see material diversity. The two-tone Explorer 36, introduced in 2021, was a surprising (slightly polarizing) release that showed Rolex’s willingness to further experiment with the Explorer. This trend toward optionality mirrors what we’re seeing in other Rolex lines, like the Yacht-Master, which features a variety of sizes, materials, and configurations—including titanium. A titanium Explorer would be a natural evolution, giving collectors a brand new way to enjoy one of Rolex’s most iconic (and beloved) models.

Final Thoughts

Curved-End Rubber Strap For Rolex Explorer 36mm

Rolex’s titanium rollout has been careful and deliberate, and for good reason. The brand wouldn't benefit from giving its entire catalog (or anywhere close) the titanium treatment, at least all at once. Beyond the material's production challenges and upfront cost to manufacture, some models just "wear it" better than others. Massive dive watch? A lighter titanium version makes sense. Do-it-all exploration watch? Titanium makes sense. A Day-Date? 1908? Not so much.

Whatever Rolex decides to release this year, we’ll be covering it here on the Everest Journal. Subscribe to our newsletter and stay up to date with the latest in Rolex news, insights, and more!

Header Image Source: Watch Gecko