Property of a Japanese collector
94
Rolex
Ref. 1655, repeated inside caseback
Explorer II "Freccione"
A rare and well-preserved stainless steel wristwatch with center seconds, date, 24-hour indication, MK III rail dial and bracelet, guarantee and presentation box
- Estimate
- HK$120,000 - 320,000€14,100 - 37,700$15,400 - 41,000
HK$317,500
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- Circa 1978
- Reference No
- 1655, repeated inside caseback
- Movement No
- D782’580
- Case No
- 5’399’066
- Model Name
- Explorer II "Freccione"
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 1570, 26 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet stamped “78360”, endlinks stamped “580”, max length 200mm
- Clasp/Buckle
- Stainless steel Rolex Oyster deployant clasp stamped “VC”
- Dimensions
- 39mm diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed
- Accessories
- Accompanied with Rolex Japanese guarantee stamped L.L. Credit Mitaka dated 4th February 1979, hang tags, Rolex Service guarantee, 1978-1979 calendar card, green leather folder, instruction manual, product literature, fitted presentation box and outer packaging.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
Released in 1971, the Rolex Explorer II introduced a refreshed appeal to the iconic Explorer line with the reference 1655. Designed for expeditioners and professionals, the ref. 1655 features a large triangular-tipped luminous orange 24-hour hand, allowing the wearer to tell the time under any conditions—earning it the nickname “Freccione”, meaning “Big Arrow” in Italian. The watch also includes a 24-hour calibrated bezel, specifically designed to help speleologists differentiate between night and day during extensive caving expeditions.
In production until the mid-1980s, this reference was released with a total of five different marks, along with two service dials (one with tritium and one with luminova). The present example, from circa 1978 with a 5.3 million serial number, features a correct Mark III dial and is offered in attractive overall condition with all its original accessories.
What makes this piece even more special is the beautifully aged luminous material, which has developed an appealing pumpkin color over the years.
In production until the mid-1980s, this reference was released with a total of five different marks, along with two service dials (one with tritium and one with luminova). The present example, from circa 1978 with a 5.3 million serial number, features a correct Mark III dial and is offered in attractive overall condition with all its original accessories.
What makes this piece even more special is the beautifully aged luminous material, which has developed an appealing pumpkin color over the years.
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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