Introduced by Rolex during the mid-1980s, the Explorer II ref. 16550 succeeded the first Explorer II ref. 1655 “Freccione”. Regarded as a transitional reference, the newly introduced model featured certain distinctive upgrades such as a sapphire crystal and a newly implemented cal. 3085 with independent adjustment of the 24-Hour hand. Only in production for a mere four years before being replaced by the ref. 16570, the ref. 16550 has become a highly sought after vintage Rolex sports model, especially examples with a “cream” dial.

Introduced with two variants, a white and a black dial, some examples fitted with white dials have witnessed a colour changing defect turning the originally white dial to “cream” over time. These examples are certainly rare demanding premiums over its regular white and black counterparts. Extremely attractive with a heightened vintage aura, the present example Rolex Explorer II ref. 16550 with a “cream” rail dial with an 8.3 million serial from circa 1984 is perhaps one of the earliest examples of the reference featuring the rare trait. Offered in excellent overall condition and accompanied by the full set of accessories, this present timepiece is a fantastic opportunity for vintage Rolex collectors to add a beautiful specimen of the rare reference to their collection.