Fine Watches
Fine Watches
Explorer II 'Steve McQueen', Reference 1655 | A stainless steel wristwatch with date, 24 hour indication and bracelet | Circa 1973
Lot Closed
February 8, 02:31 PM GMT
Estimate
12,000 - 18,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Rolex
Explorer II 'Steve McQueen', Reference 1655
A stainless steel wristwatch with date, 24 hour indication and bracelet
Circa 1973
Dial: black
Calibre: cal. 1570 automatic, 26 jewels
Movement number: D'410'410
Case: stainless steel, screw-down case back
Case number: 3'343'264
Closure: stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet and folding clasp
Size: 39 mm diameter, bracelet circumference approximately 180 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 a 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 was allegedly seen sporting one in public. However, McQueen did not actually have the Explorer II on, but rather the Submariner ref. 5512.