849
Rolex
Ref. 16570
Explorer II
An attractive and rare stainless steel wristwatch with ‘ivory’ dial, 24-hours indicator, center seconds, date, bracelet, guarantee and presentation box
- Estimate
- HK$120,000 - 200,000€13,100 - 21,800$15,400 - 25,600
HK$225,000
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- Circa 1991
- Reference No
- 16570
- Movement No
- 6’353’180
- Case No
- X’519’649
- Model Name
- Explorer II
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 3185, 31 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet stamped "78360", endlinks stamped "501,B", max length 190mm
- Clasp/Buckle
- Stainless steel Rolex deployant clasp stamped "R8"
- Dimensions
- 39mm diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
- Accessories
- Further accompanied by Rolex guarantee stamped by Zurich Watch Co Ltd, dated 18 April 1993, hang tag, product literature, cardholder and presentation box.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
Rolex unveiled an updated version of the Explorer II in 1989. The reference 16570 was initially upgraded with the new caliber 3185, such as the present example, and subsequent examples would house the upgraded caliber 3186.
The present Explorer II is a particularly imposing example with its beautifully aged dial, which has metamorphosed into an ivory-colored tonality — flawlessly exemplified by the present example. The luminous on the hands, indexes, as well on the 24-hour hand has nicely aged with a stunning patina. A very early example of the reference, it furthermore offers with the original guarantee and accessories.
The present Explorer II is a particularly imposing example with its beautifully aged dial, which has metamorphosed into an ivory-colored tonality — flawlessly exemplified by the present example. The luminous on the hands, indexes, as well on the 24-hour hand has nicely aged with a stunning patina. A very early example of the reference, it furthermore offers with the original guarantee and accessories.
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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