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Rolex
Ref. 16550
Explorer II, "Cream Dial"
A rare and attractive stainless steel wristwatch with centre seconds, second time zone, bracelet, ivory "rail" dial, guarantee and box
- Estimate
- CHF8,000 - 12,000
CHF18,750
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- 1987
- Reference No
- 16550
- Case No
- 9'720'317
- Model Name
- Explorer II, "Cream Dial"
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Calibre
- Automatic, 3085
- Bracelet/Strap
- Rolex Oyster, end links stamped 801
- Clasp/Buckle
- Twin lock folding clasp
- Dimensions
- 39mm. Diameter
- Signed
- <em>Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed </em>
- Accessories
- <em>Rolex</em> punched guarantee dated 1987, product literature, plastic wallet, fitted presentation box and outer packaging
Stainless steel
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
The Explorer II was first introduced to the market in 1985. The present watch features a highly charismatic warm ivory colour “rail” dial and is presented in extremely good original condition. The term “rail” is derived from the symmetric division of the two lines of text “Superlative” and “Officially” that are separated by a vertical space on the left and “Chronometer” and “Certified” to the right. "Ivory rail dial” Explorer II models were manufactured in very small numbers and it is very rare to find an example of this quality together with accompanying paperwork.
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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