Rolex. A stainless steel automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, 24 hours, date and bracelet
Lot 117

Rolex. A stainless steel automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, 24 hours, date and bracelet

SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL DATE, EXPLORER II, STEVE MCQUEEN MODEL, REF. 1655, CASE NO. 3'505'884, CIRCA 1973

Closed9 November 2015

Price Realised

CHF 11,875

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Rolex. A stainless steel automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, 24 hours, date and bracelet
Signed Rolex, Oyster Perpetual Date, Explorer II, Steve McQueen model, ref. 1655, case no. 3'505'884, circa 1973
Cal. 1570 automatic movement, 26 jewels, black matte dial, luminous baton and dagger numerals, luminous hands, sweep centre seconds, magnified window for date, central luminous 24 hour hand, tonneau-shaped water-resistant-type case, bezel calibrated for 24 hours, screw back, screw down crown, stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet, deployant clasp, case, dial and movement signed
39 mm. diam., overall length approx. 180 mm

Specialist note

The celebrated Rolex "Explorer II", originally launched in 1971, was designed primarily for speleologists (cave explorers). The model features a fixed bezel with 24 hour display and a special 24 hour hand to distinguish day and night hours.

Reference 1655 is frequently referred to as the "Steve McQueen" or "Freccione", Italian for "big arrow" amongst collectors.