Launched in 1963, ref. 1016, as implied by the name, was a tour-de-force of reliability and legibility, designed from the inside out to resist some of the most harsh conditions found on the planet. Early examples of ref. 1016 were fitted with black “glossy” lacquered dials and Rolex later replaced them with matte black dials towards the end of 1966. The reference was eventually discontinued in 1989, but the near three decades of production made this model as memorable and iconic as the Submariner or the Daytona, maybe even more given its higher accessibility. On some level, it can be said that the Explorer - considered its original highly technical nature, reliability, design and extended production run - is one of the watches that best epitomises the characteristic of Rolex’s vintage production.

The present example of Rolex Explorer ref. 1016 belongs to one of the last examples fitted with a black “glossy” lacquer dial bearing a 1.5 million serial from the end of 1966 (according to the caseback, the fourth quarter of ’66). The connoisseur will immediately notice the incredible well preserved nature of the dial. Not only the luminous material presents no losses and has developed a subtle, even and charismatic ivory hue, most notably the gloss finish is incredibly well-preserved, without bubbling or flaking as often seen on Rolex dials from this age.