Live Auction 1243Important Watches
ROLEX. A VERY FINE STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, 24 HOUR HAND, DATE AND BRACELET
Lot 111

ROLEX. A VERY FINE STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, 24 HOUR HAND, DATE AND BRACELET

SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL DATE, EXPLORER II, STEVE MCQUEEN MODEL, REF. 1655, CASE NO. 3'181'541, CIRCA 1972

Closed15 March 2016

Price Realised

USD 10,625

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ROLEX. A VERY FINE STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, 24 HOUR HAND, DATE AND BRACELET
SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL DATE, EXPLORER II, STEVE MCQUEEN MODEL, REF. 1655, CASE NO. 3'181'541, CIRCA 1972
Cal. 1570 automatic movement, 26 jewels, black matte dial, applied luminous baton and dagger numerals, sweep centre seconds, magnified window for date, orange central luminous 24 hour hand, tonneau-shaped water-resistant-type case, bezel calibrated for 24 hours, screw down crown, screw back, stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet and deployant clasp, case, dial and movement signed
39 mm. diam.; overall length approximately 190 mm.

Specialist note

Launched in 1971, the Rolex Explorer II was initially developed for speleologists with the aim of enabling quick differentiation between diurnal and nocturnal time. Highly reliable and resistant, reference 1655 encompassed a fixed stainless steel bezel and a highly legible luminescent orange hand. Nicknamed "Freccione", translation for "The Arrow" in Italian, the present model rose to fame when actor Steve McQueen wore one during his lifetime, and has been in demand ever since.