To balance the large case, the hands and lume plots on the “Maxi Dial” also grew in size for even better legibility. GMT-Master manufactured during the same era. Moreover, although the dial layout stayed the same, another signature difference of the Explorer II ref. Throughout the history of the Explorer II, there are a handful of fundamental design details that have remained the same. It is the second generation 39mm Explorer after the first generation was introduced in 2010. The current-production Explorer II ref. The first is “Freccione” derived from the Italian word for arrow, “freccia,” which is in reference to its famous arrow-tipped hand. The original Explorer II, the reference 1655 had an acrylic crystal, a case diameter of 40 mm, and was powered by Rolex’s 26-jewel, caliber 1575 movement. A (Very) Brief History Of The Rolex Explorer Many people know the Rolex Explorer as the watch worn by Sir Edmund Hilary when he summited Mt Everest. Production of the reference 1655 lasted roughly fourteen years, until it was discontinued in 1984 and replaced by the reference 16550. While early models ran on Caliber 3185, later models housed the Caliber 3186. As with most vintage Rolex watches that were in production for a good amount of time, the Explorer ref. Production of the reference 1655 lasted roughly fourteen years, until it was discontinued in 1984 and replaced by the reference 16550. The Explorer models embody the privileged relationship that has always bound Rolex and exploration. The special Oyster housing provides optimal water protection and is particularly robust, which is why the watch was used for … 1655, sporting a 39mm stainless steel case and matching steel bracelet. 1655. One of the unique characteristics about Rolex as a company is that they are constantly working to refine and improve their watches; however they are always moving forward with their designs, and (much to the frustration of many watch collectors) never make heritage or re-issue pieces. Finally, Rolex changed to SuperLuminova around 2000 and the dials are marked with “SWISS MADE” under six. Celine is a freelance luxury watch writer who has enjoyed working in the horology industry for over ten years. The “Orange Hand” Ref. The 24-hour hand was now also longer and thinner. Model: m216570-0001 Rolex S.A respects your right to privacy and is committed to maintaining your confidence and trust. It’s important to note that Explorer II ref. 16550 with a couple of notable upgrades. Since the late 1920s, Rolex has been using the world as a proving ground to test its watches under real-life conditions, in the quest for greater precision, robustness and reliability. The Explorer II ref. It is equipped with an Oysterlock safety clasp, designed and patented by Rolex, that prevents accidental opening. the Explorer II experienced five minor dial changes, four bezel variations, and two different seconds hands; however the overall appearance of the watch remained largely unchanged. Comment below. Rolex introduced a new Explorer II in 1985, the 16550. 1655 did a great job of telling the wearer the exact time of day (or night) even in complete darkness. But with plenty of modern updates. Rolex Pro-Hunter Explorer II PVD Black Dial Swiss ETA 2836 201401171415(BP)| 1:1 Original Swiss ETA 2836 Automatic Movement, PVD Case, Black Dial, Orange Nylon Bracelet $248.00 What are your thoughts on the Rolex Explorer II History? The other with a black dial. This was a more modern take on the Explorer, which was sportier than its predecessors; with 24-hour bezel a square crown guard, a date wheel and cyclops through which to view it. For the differences, here is a simplified chart outlining the different Explorer II models, complete with production dates and specs. 1016 had an incredibly long production run until 1989. It even has a few of its own nicknames. 16550. Changes to the 16550 over time consolidated in reference 16570, introduced in 1989. 1655, is the erroneous “Steve McQueen Rolex” label. Also channeling the original Explorer II, the ref. Subsequent generations of the Explorer II far more closely resembled each other in design, but the reference 1655 used a different dial and handset than Rolex fitted to all other Explorer II references. These changes included the sapphire crystal, a caliber 3085 movement with a double bridge, and a white dial in addition to the black dial model. 1655, sporting a 39mm stainless steel case and matching steel bracelet. With its introduction, the transitional Explorer II ref. Proven to be trusted by thousands, with 5-star customer service rating. All watches are meticulously inspected and authenticated by experts. One with a white dial. He is responsible for all the day to day activities from purchasing, receiving, marketing and sales. Ref. With its introduction came a new caliber — the Caliber 1560 — and increased water resistance to 100m. The blue hue that comes alive in low light can last up to eight hours, which is double that of standard luminescent material. Bob's Watches is an independent watch dealer and is not sponsored by, associated with and/or affiliated with Rolex, or any other brand listed. Rolex is known for retooling, redesigning, and refining references on the 50th anniversary of their debuts. This results in a total of 24 glow-in-the-dark accents — one for each hour of the day. The Explorer II has always been exclusively made in stainless steel, it has always come fitted with an Oyster bracelet, and it has always had a water resistance rating of 100 meters. The latest incarnation of the Explorer II, the reference 216570 is a very different watch than the original reference 1655, yet it still manages to be a modern reinterpretation of Rolex’s original Explorer II design. 1655 watches look orange! In 1971, the Explorer II is introduced and, in the same spirit as the Explorer, it perpetuates the privileged relationship that Rolex enjoys with exploration. When the longstanding reign of the 1016 ended, a new era began with the debut of the Explorer II. History. The bezel remained fixed and included the 24-hour scale but the design featured inverted triangles rather than sticks for odd numbers. First came tritium (labeled with SWISS T < 25). There’s an intriguing feature for Rolex collectors on the white dial version of the Explorer II ref. With new versions of the Explorer II, Rolex made a similar model for fans of the modern watches. 16550 brought the larger 40mm case size, a sapphire crystal, and Caliber 3085. Case material:Oystersteel 3. 1016 First introduced in 1963, the Rolex Explorer. Some time ago, Michael Stockton wrote quite a ‘love letter’ (as one of our readers wrote in the comments) on the Rolex Explorer 1016.While the reference 1016 Explorer was being produced already in 1963 and kept in production for 26 years, Rolex introduced another Explorer in 1971. The Rolex Explorer II was introduced by Rolex in 1971, 18 years after the first Explorer came to the market. Let’s delve into the history of the Rolex Explorer II and investigate its evolution through a handful of models. The overall history of the Explorer models dates … Take for example the Explorer II ref. The Explorer II ref. The 1655 was named the Explorer II model, launched in 1971. And in true vintage Rolex fashion, that “defect” commands a premium price in the market over its black dial counterpart! It is additionally fitted with the Easylink comfort extension link, patented by Rolex in 1996. 16550 with the option of a black or white dial rather than just black. 1655 that made it particularly practical for them. 2011 marked the 40th anniversary of the Explorer II. 216570 is offered with either a black dial or a white “Polar” dial. It’s actually a very sought after vintage Rolex tool watch in collecting circles. But of course, unlike the original, the current Explorer II is a dual-time watch with a second time zone display thanks to the independent 24-hour hand. on The History and Evolution of the Rolex Explorer II, Rolex Dive Watches: Submariner vs. Sea-Dweller vs. Deepsea, A Rendezvous with the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date, the Explorer II ref. During this time, the Explorer II experienced five minor dial changes, four bezel variations, and two different seconds hands; however the overall appearance of the watch remained largely unchanged. In 1971, Rolex expanded their Explorer line of watches with the reference 1655. 216570, Explorer II still surviving, it’s actually thriving as one of Rolex’s most popular sports watches, Five of Our Favorite Cartier Watches for Men, Rolex Datejust: Everything You Need To Know. Another popular nickname of the Explorer II ref. Overall, the Explorer II Polar ticks a lot of boxes for those who dare to step outside of the glam of popular sports models offered by Rolex. Your server might also be unable to connect to Instagram at this time. Starting with the legendary Oyster Perpetual, the world's first automatic and water resistant watch, this success story continues today. The Caliber 3085 movement now meant that the 24-hour hand could be adjusted independently from the traditional hour hand to point to a specific numeral on the fixed 24-hour bezel. Furthermore, Rolex changed the luminescent material a few times. Relatively few people required a watch specifically designed for professional cave exploring, and many criticized the design of the reference 1655 as cluttered and difficult to read. While the Explorer II ref. The 16570 model remained in production for 22 years until it was replaced by the current reference 216570. The Explorer II ref. The Submariner for divers, the GMT-Master for pilots, and the Explorer II for spelunkers. 214270 was introduced in 2016. Buying a Rolex Explorer watch means owning one of the most rugged and versatile models in the brand’s catalog. the details you provide through this website will not be used to send unsolicited email, and … A common nickname for white dial versions of the Explorer II, regardless of the specific model, is the “Polar Explorer.”. Error: API requests are being delayed for this account. 1655 is not a dual time watch since the 24-hour hand is coupled to the traditional hour hand and the bezel is fixed. 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