Important Watches: Part II
Important Watches: Part II
Explorer II, Ref. 1655 Stainless steel dual time zone wristwatch with 24-hour indication, date and bracelet Circa 1977
Lot Closed
May 11, 12:04 PM GMT
Estimate
15,000 - 25,000 CHF
Lot Details
Description
Rolex
Explorer II, Ref. 1655
Stainless steel dual time zone wristwatch with 24-hour indication, date and bracelet
Circa 1977
Dial: black
Caliber: cal. 1570 automatic, 26 jewels
Movement number: D034160
Case: stainless steel, screw down case back
Case number: 5'223'417
Closure: stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet with folding clasp
Size: 38 mm, bracelet circumference is approximately xx mm
Signed: case, dial and movement
Box: no
Papers: no
Accessories: none
Rolex
Explorer II, Ref. 1655
Stainless steel dual time zone wristwatch with 24-hour indication, date and bracelet
Circa 1977
Dial: black
Caliber: cal. 1570 automatic, 26 jewels
Movement number: D034160
Case: stainless steel, screw down case back
Case number: 5'223'417
Closure: stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet with folding clasp
Size: 38 mm, bracelet circumference is approximately xx mm
Signed: case, dial and movement
Box: no
Papers: no
Accessories: none
The intention behind the release of the Rolex Explorer II does not stray far from its name. The timepiece’s market and target customer were extremely narrow, catering almost exclusively to cave explorers. Upon first glance of the watch, it is clear that the piece is a technical one. With its pencil hands, prominent minute track, and its surplus of luminous details, legibility and clarity appear to be key.
But, what jumps out rather strikingly is the bright orange, arrow-tipped 24-hour hand—the specific feature, in fact, that gave the watch its first of two nicknames: Freccione, Italian for “big arrow.” The 24-hour hand pointing directly at the 24-hour marked, non-rotating bezel serves as an day and night indicator—a function perfectly served for explorers spending long hours and extended days deep in caves where natural light is lacking. The watch’s alternate, more popular nickname and one that has firmly stuck in the collector’s world, though, is actually a falsely misinterpreted rumor. The watch was quickly coined the “Steve McQueen” after the famous actor that was allegedly seen sporting one in public. However, McQueen did not actually have the Explorer II on, but rather the Submariner ref. 5512.