The Rolex Explorer II was first introduced in 1971 by the way of the ref. 1655. Providing a completely refreshed configuration with the absence of the traditional 3-6-9 dial configuration and furthermore featuring a 39mm diameter Oyster case, it also is equipped with a 24-hour bezel and a large orange 24-hour hand - which gave him its Italian nickname “Freccione”, meaning "big arrow". Designed for explorers (unsurprisingly) and professionals alike, it specifically winks to speleologists as the large orange luminous hand is intended to be visible also in the low light conditions of a cave, and it allows to track the day/night cycle in case of prolonged underground expeditions.

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, without the luminous dot found in later marks. Fully retaining this characteristic, and offered in extremely attractive condition of both case and dial, the present piece will delight the “completist collector” with an accessory hardly ever present in vintage pieces (and actually modern ones as well): the original purchase invoice dating to January 29, 1986. From such document it transpires that the watch/bracelet combo was bought at the Bradford, York Mappin & Webb boutique for the amount of 138 GBP (with a 15GBP discount on the listed price of 153 GBP).