Morgan’s GADA Watch — The Rolex Explorer 124270
You have already heard about Lex’s, Nacho’s, Daan’s, Thomas’s, RJ’s, and Henry’s GADA watches, but now it’s my turn. You are probably not familiar with me because it’s my first article on the website. I am the photographer at Fratello, and I also have a GADA watch — the Rolex Explorer ref. 124270. It’s a watch I bought for my 30th birthday, and it has been in my possession for almost two years now. In other words, it already has a lot of stories to tell!
As a former member of the military, I used to move a lot for work, and I was almost convinced that it would be difficult for me to get my hands on a brand-new Rolex from an AD without a purchase history. Fortunately, after only one month of waiting and a lot of passionate watch talk, just two weeks before my 30th birthday, I was able to gift myself a brand-new Rolex Explorer 124270. Funnily enough, I waited longer to get my Serica 5303! From France to Croatia, I’ve already brought my Explorer with me on many trips around the world (well, around Europe for now).
My GADA watch: The Rolex Explorer 124270
I guess we all have a personal definition of a GADA watch or at least a list of specifications we want our GADA watch to have. For me, a GADA watch needs to be able to handle anything from snorkeling to intense photography sessions while keeping accurate time. Yes, for me, accuracy is really important, and I love my watch to be as precise as possible. That is why a Rolex makes sense to me. Better than a COSC certification, with a Rolex watch, you get a Superlative Chronometer certification, allowing your watch to run at an excellent ±2 seconds per day after casing. Mine is currently running at ±0 seconds per day. That’s insane.
A GADA watch is meant to be worn, and I’ve already worn mine a lot, even when I was serving in the military — no joke! I brought the watch with me on many missions, and it came back with some trophy scratches on it, but while accompanying me, it never missed a beat. For me, scratches are part of the story of the watch and give it more character, so don’t be afraid of wearing your watches! Also, with its 100m water resistance rating, you don’t have to worry about bringing the Explorer underwater. And that’s exactly what I did in Croatia when I jumped from a boat to take a look at a shipwreck.
Legibility is a must
As a photographer, I want my watch to be as easy to read as possible at all times. Back in March at Watches and Wonders in Geneva, with the stress of the event and the packed schedule, I was happy to be able to count on my Explorer to keep track of time while going from one photo shoot to another. In addition, the clean dial of the Explorer and the fantastic indexes filled with Chromalight are no-brainers when it comes to visibility in low-light conditions. Another feature that I like is the Easylink, which allows the bracelet an extra 5mm extension when needed. Believe me, when it starts getting warm, you’ll want that.
From a formal outfit to a casual one, the Explorer never feels out of place, and that’s what I like about it. Of course, it is a Rolex, and as such, it’s a desirable watch that thieves may target. But this model is also not the most obvious watch, and it can kind of fly under the radar; well, let’s say it’s the most understated Rolex in the catalog. To be honest, I’ve never felt in danger or scared of being robbed with the Explorer on the wrist. That doesn’t mean that it couldn’t happen, but again, it’s not a Daytona or a gold Day-Date. This is also why I like my Explorer. It’s a simple black-dial steel watch only meant to tell you the time.
Final thoughts
People might think that a GADA watch needs to be a dive watch, but I don’t agree with that. It depends on the life you live and what you do daily. If you can go anywhere and do anything with your watch without worrying about it, well, you’ve found the right one. I’ve loved the Rolex Explorer since my early days of watch collecting, and I can’t wait to bring my Explorer 124270 with me on many more trips and infuse it with even more memories. Who knows? Perhaps one day, I will pass it to the next generation so the watch will live on. That is my philosophy about watches.
What do you think about the Rolex Explorer 124270 as a GADA watch? Would you be afraid of wearing a Rolex every day? Let me know in the comments below.
