Rolex Explorer II 1655
Model Name/Number: Explorer II - 1655 "Straight Hand"
Serial: 2,9XX,XXX
Year: Circa 1972
Gender: Men's
Movement: Automatic 1575
Case: Stainless steel case which has been previously polished. It comes with a great fixed 24-hour bezel that shows some surface wear. The caseback is stamped 1655 II.71. Serial and reference numbers are visible.
Dial: Excellent matte black Tritium dial with creamy hour markers and matching hands
Bracelet: Excellent stainless steel Rolex USA C+I Oyster Rivet with 12 links with light wear. The back of the clasp is stamped "7-72"
Box and Papers: Bob's presentation box
Warranty: This vintage Rolex comes with our one-year warranty
Return Policy: If not 100% satisfied, return the watch in 3 days for a full refund.
Vintage Watch Condition Examination:
This Rolex watch is in great, honest vintage condition. The case has some wear and scratches. The The bezel is in great condition and the black paint has been re-applied to the numerals, some of the numbers/lines have some paint missing. The dial is in great condition with a light patina. The hands have developed patina. The lume on the dial and in the hands has developed patina and aged to a matching pale yellow color. Some lume plots between 25 and 30 show signs of degradation. The orange hand has remained vibrant. The C+I bracelet is in great condition with light wear and a little stretch between the links.
Description: Vintage Rolex Explorer II Ref 1655 Steve Mcqueen
The 1655 Explorer is instantly recognizable from its bright orange 24-hour hand and steel 24-hour bezel. Rolex came out with this model in 1971 and was specifically made for cave explorers. The purpose of the orange 24-hour hand is to help the wearer distinguish day vs night in environments where this isn't easily noticeable, like in a cave with complete darkness.
This example is of the Mark 1 variety, characterized by the "straight" seconds hand and specific coronet to name a couple of details. Collectors highly seek after these early "straight" hand Explorers and give the already unique model an even more distinct look.
