278
Rolex
Ref. 1655
Explorer II Steve McQueen
A fine and rare stainless steel dual time wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, date and bracelet
- Estimate
- HK$84,000 - 108,000
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- 1974
- Reference No
- 1655
- Movement No
- D145229
- Case No
- 3'299'903
- Model Name
- Explorer II Steve McQueen
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Calibre
- Automatic, 1570, 26 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Stainless steel <em>Rolex Oyster</em> bracelet, 170 mm. maximum length, end link stamped 380
- Clasp/Buckle
- Stainless steel <em>Rolex </em>folding deployant clasp
- Dimensions
- 38 mm. diameter
- Signed
- <em>Case, dial and movement signed</em>
- Accessories
- With <em>Rolex </em>Garantie Internationale Service dated 17 June 2010, fitted presentation box and outer packaging.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
Introduced to the market in the early 1970s, the Explorer II wristwatches feature a fat orange hand for 24 hours and a fixed calibrated bezel. Early generations examples are fitted with the straight seconds hands and the later generation models are fitted with the seconds hand that carries a luminous dot.
The present watch is in original condition, the luminous numerals have aged to a deep brown tone that is consistent with the hands and the 24 hours hands. The Oyster bracelet stamped 2.72 for the second part of 1972 is original and further complements this vintage collector's watch.
The present watch is in original condition, the luminous numerals have aged to a deep brown tone that is consistent with the hands and the 24 hours hands. The Oyster bracelet stamped 2.72 for the second part of 1972 is original and further complements this vintage collector's watch.
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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