ROLEX EXPLORER1 Ref.1016 "PUMPKIN DIAL" Mk.3 1976

Brand: ROLEX
Model: EXPLORER I Mk.3 Pumpkin dial
Reference: 1016
Serial number: 40xxxxx
Product Year: 1976
Bracelet: SS
Caliber: 1570 Automatic
Material: Stainless Steel
Case Size: 36mm
Crystal: Plastic / Reinforced plastic windshield
Dial: Mk.3 Pumpkin dial
Bracelet / Strap: SS 78360 FF580
Lug width: 20mm
Box / Paper: No
Explorer 1 Ref. 1016 Mark 3 dial pumpkin. What is pumpkin? Yes, it is the name for a dial that has aged to a deep yellow color, almost pumpkin brown. It often appears on Submariners, but the Explorer 1 is more likely to have this Mark 3 dial. In other words, the luminous paint on dials made in the early to mid-70s was prone to aging. (In Japan, it is sometimes classified as Mark 2. Internationally, it is classified as Mark 3.)

Many people refer to this type of aged color as "burnt," but in my personal opinion, it is not due to exposure to the sun, but simply the aging of the luminous paint. So, even if you store it in a safe without using it, it will look like this.

Many people tend to confuse the two, but aging is when the color changes without any effort, while discoloration caused by external factors such as sunlight or water is simply damage. This is very similar to the difference between maturation and fermentation (maturation = change caused by enzymes that the product itself has (endogenous factors), fermentation = change caused by microorganisms or bacteria (exogenous factors)).

This is the 1016 with that dial and hands. The case is excellent and the hands and bracelet are of course original.

Explorer 1 Ref. 1016 Mark 3 dial pumpkin. What is pumpkin? Yes, that is what we call a watch that has aged to a deep yellow color that is close to pumpkin brown. It often appears on Submariners, but there is a high probability that the Explorer 1 will have this Mark 3 dial. In other words, the luminous paint on the dial made in the early to mid-70s was prone to aging. (In Japan, it is sometimes classified as Mark 2. Internationally, it is classified as Mark 3.)

Many people often describe this aged color as “burned“, but in my personal opinion, it is not a burn in the sun, but simply aging of the luminous paint. So, even if it was stored in a safe without being used, it would look like this.

Many people tend to confuse the two, but aging is when the color changes without doing anything, and discoloration due to external factors such as sunlight and water is simply damage. This is very similar to the difference between aging and fermentation (aging = change caused by enzymes that the thing itself has (endogenous), fermentation = change caused by microorganisms or bacteria (exogenous)).

This is the 1016 with that dial and hands. The case is excellent, and the hands and bracelet are of course original.