1010
Rolex
Ref. 1655
Explorer II, MK I
A fine and rare stainless steel wristwatch with center seconds, date, 24-hour indication, MK I dial and bracelet
- Estimate
- HK$100,000 - 200,000€11,900 - 23,800$12,800 - 25,600
HK$201,600
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- Circa 1971
- Reference No
- 1655
- Movement No
- D283’158
- Case No
- 2’726’815
- Model Name
- Explorer II, MK I
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 1570, 26 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet stamped “7836”, endlinks stamped “358”, max length 190mm
- Clasp/Buckle
- Stainless steel Rolex Oyster deployant clasp stamped “2,70”
- Dimensions
- 39mm diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
The Rolex Explorer II was first introduced in 1971 by the way of the ref. 1655. Designed for expeditioners and professional alike, one of the most notable traits of the ref. 1655 is its large orange luminous 24-hour hand, which allowed the wearer to differentiate night and day under any conditions earning its nickname the “Freccione” or “Big Arrow”.
With its production spanning to the mid-1980s, the ref. 1655 was released with a total of 5 different marks as well as two service dials (one with tritium and one with luminova). The earliest examples of the reference known as the Mark I featured a distinctive straight center seconds hand. The present example Rolex Explorer II ref. 1655 fitted with a MK I dial belongs to an early example of the reference with a 2.7 million serial from circa 1971.
With its production spanning to the mid-1980s, the ref. 1655 was released with a total of 5 different marks as well as two service dials (one with tritium and one with luminova). The earliest examples of the reference known as the Mark I featured a distinctive straight center seconds hand. The present example Rolex Explorer II ref. 1655 fitted with a MK I dial belongs to an early example of the reference with a 2.7 million serial from circa 1971.
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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