[Homocaballus]

Rolex exploited the scaling of the Everest by Tensing and Hillary whom are supposed to have taken a Smith and a Rolex to the top.
Later Rolex claimed that Habeler and Messner took their Oysterquartz on their assault without oxigen. After reading the book by Habeler I sériously doubt that.
Anyway, there is a confírmed third. Both by video footage and the man who wore it when he touched his helicopter down on the top of Everest.
It took me several month to track it down but:


Buenos Dias Senor !
Your question came to me through a long process and I apologize for the delay !
Of course your request seemed a little bit strange to people here but I will directly answer you.
I had a quite simple wristwatch (not so expensive but very reliable) on this famous day of 2005, May 14[sup]th[/sup] but a very useful one for a pilot:
- Brand: CITIZEN
- Model PROMASTER WR100 World Time Chronograph
It is fitted with a circular sliding ruler allowing computing a lot of navigation factors, conversion from different aeronautical units, and so on.
I bought it in 1999 and I’m still wearing it!
So I was pleased to answer you, this was not a trivial matter for watch interested people and I hope this answer will agree you!
Thank you very much for your interest!
Didier Delsalle

 

[jbdan]

Wow that is awesome! Thanks! 8)

 

[Harry Denmark]

Ha! Its posts like this that justify our passion for watches! NICE piece of research there!

 

[Homocaballus]

The nice thing is that the info comes from Didier Lesalle himself without ány vested interest.

There is hardly ANY information like this from unsponsored sources. Hardly any honest user info at this level without marketing sauce.

Here is a cutting edge test pilot enthusiastic about his ´99 Citizen that he himself payed for and still uses to satisfaction. Nó marketing blurp

This is not ´user testimonial´ like published by manufacturers.

He had no interest even in responding to this trivial question from a nobody. Just being nice and wellmannered. Very rare in the mire of marketing bullshit we are wading through.

 

[petew]

I think it's a stretch to compare Didier's watch to any watch actually worn to the summit. Didier's watch wasn't really exposed to anything other than the drone of the helicopter engine and perhaps the thin air of the cabin (or was it pressurized). Didier never even left the helicopter.