834
Rolex
Ref. 16570
Explorer II
A highly attractive and rare stainless steel wristwatch with “ivory rail” dial, 24-hour indicator, sweep center seconds, date, bracelet and guarantee
- Estimate
- HK$120,000 - 200,000€13,800 - 23,000$15,000 - 25,000
HK$162,500
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- Circa 1990
- Reference No
- 16570
- Case No
- E780’438
- Model Name
- Explorer II
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 3185, 31 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet stamped 93150, endlinks stamped 501 B, max length 190 mm
- Clasp/Buckle
- Stainless steel Rolex deployant clasp stamped P3 & 93150
- Dimensions
- 39 mm diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
- Accessories
- With guarantee stamped by Henry Birks Jlrs Inc., hang tags with matching numbers, product literature and cardholder
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
Rolex unveiled an updated version of the Explorer II in 1989. The ref. 16570 was initially upgraded with the new caliber 3185, such as the present example, and subsequent examples would house the caliber 3186. Captivating and charming, the watch, with its 24-hour hand and 24-hour bezel, is incredible in terms of its technical prowess and fine aesthetics.
The present Explorer II is a particularly imposing example with its beautifully aged dial, which has metamorphosed into an off-white, ivory-colored tonality — flawlessly exemplified by the present example. The present Explorer II is also fitted with the very sough-after “rail dial”, named for the printing in the dial with the gap between the words superlative and chronometer, officially and certified, is making a kind of "rail". The luminous on the hands and on the applied white gold indexes, as well on the 24-hour hand, has naturally turned into an ivory color, matching perfectly the dial.
A very early example of the reference, it furthermore offers collectors an early example of the reference with the original guarantee and hang tags stamped with matching numbers.
The present Explorer II is a particularly imposing example with its beautifully aged dial, which has metamorphosed into an off-white, ivory-colored tonality — flawlessly exemplified by the present example. The present Explorer II is also fitted with the very sough-after “rail dial”, named for the printing in the dial with the gap between the words superlative and chronometer, officially and certified, is making a kind of "rail". The luminous on the hands and on the applied white gold indexes, as well on the 24-hour hand, has naturally turned into an ivory color, matching perfectly the dial.
A very early example of the reference, it furthermore offers collectors an early example of the reference with the original guarantee and hang tags stamped with matching numbers.
Literature
Rolex
Swiss | 1905Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.
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