Rolex Explorer II 16550 Cream Dial Box and Papers
The genesis of the cream colored 16550 are a bit of a mystery. A mistake in the mixing of the laquer perhaps? By design? No matter what you think the origin story is, the cream dial 16550 has become highly sought after. The 16550 was the first sapphire crystal version of the Explorer II, as well as the first Explorer II to become available in an array of dial colors.
Debuting in 1971, the Rolex Explorer II was released to satiate the demand for a relatively niche timepiece for a particular type of explorer, Spelunkers, or cave explorers as we may call them. Made only of steel, the Explorer II's construction ensures that none of its parts might crack or break off against a rock in cramped conditions, such as a bezel insert. With this use in mind, the Explorer II originally featured its iconic arrow-shaped 24-hour hand to differentiate between AP and PM for spelunkers that might lose track of the day and night cycle while they were in caves for days at a time. The modern Explorer II models have had this function exchanged for a fully operational GMT-hand. Featuring its signature fixed stainless-steel bezel, arrow-shaped 2nd hour hand, and robust design, the Explorer II makes for an incredible jack-of-all-trades timepiece as it comprises of just about everything your modern exploring needs might demand. Whether you're 500m under a mountain, 30m underwater, or 10,000m in the air on a trans-Atlantic flight, the Explorer II has you covered.
THE DIAL Featuring a beautiful, off-white cream-colored dial that is uniform throughout and paired with stunningly aged luminous hour markers, this ref. 16550's dial is perhaps one of the most unique we have come across to date.
THE BEZEL The angular font used on the bezel of the 16550 is quite different from the later ref. 16570 (which was produced for a much longer period of time). Often overpolished and wearied, this example comparatively has a sharp bezel with clear definition in the engraved numbers and triangles.
TIMING MACHINE READOUT This reading was taken (crown down) with a ONEOF Accuracy Boutique Edition timing machine at time of cataloging. It is provided as a courtesy only, and shall not be construed as a warranty or guarantee of any kind. Please refer to our terms and conditions of sale for more information.
