Rolex - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XI Hong Kong Saturday, November 28, 2020 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: Circa 1984
    Reference No: 16550, repeated inside caseback
    Movement No: 1’069’533
    Case No: 8’399’271
    Model Name: Explorer II
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 3085, 27 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet stamped “78360”, endlinks stamped “501”, max length 205mm
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster deployant clasp “I4”
    Dimensions: 40mm diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by blank Rolex guarantee, instruction manual, product literature, green card holder, hang tag, Rolex Japan service quotation, outer packaging and fitted presentation box.

  • Catalogue Essay

    The Rolex Explorer II is one of the most desirable professional sports watch that the firm released especially examples fitted with a white dial. Highly collectible and sought after by collectors of fine vintage timepieces, the ref. 16550 in white has a common trait of developing a creamy patina over time due the nature of the material used, however what makes it rare is that they develop randomly. Early examples of the reference featured applied white gold luminous indexes with later examples featuring blackened indexes.

    The present example from circa 1984 with a "cream" rail dial is perhaps one of the earliest examples of the reference to be sold and manufactured by Rolex bearing an 8.39 million serial. With an attractive creamy hue on the dial developed uniformly with matching luminous material, the case is also attractive boasting nice and crisp edges. Furthermore it is accompanied by a blank Rolex guarantee with punched case numbers matching the numbers in between the lugs.

  • Artist Biography

    Rolex

    Swiss • 1905

    Founded 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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1039

Ref. 16550, repeated inside caseback
A fine and rare stainless steel dual time wristwatch with center seconds, date, 24-hour indication, “cream” rail dial, bracelet, guarantee and presentation box

Circa 1984
40mm diameter
Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed

Estimate
HK$120,000 - 200,000 
€12,900-21,600
$15,400-25,600

Sold for HK$302,400

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi

Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2001

WatchesHK@phillips.com

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XI

Hong Kong Auction 29 November 2020