Live Auction 1357Important Watches
Rolex. A rare stainless steel automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, date, 24 hour hand, bracelet, ivory-coloured "rail" dial and service invoice
Lot 96

Rolex. A rare stainless steel automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, date, 24 hour hand, bracelet, ivory-coloured "rail" dial and service invoice

SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL DATE, EXPLORER II, REF. 16550, CASE NO. 8'399'468, MANUFACTURED IN 1985

Closed17 November 2008

Price Realised

CHF 21,250

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Rolex. A rare stainless steel automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, date, 24 hour hand, bracelet, ivory-coloured "rail" dial and service invoice
Signed Rolex, Oyster Perpetual Date, Explorer II, ref. 16550, case no. 8'399'468, manufactured in 1985
Cal. 3085 nickel-finished lever movement, 27 jewels, ivory-coloured dial, luminous dot, baton and dagger numerals, white gold luminous mercedes hands, sweep centre seconds, magnified window for date, central luminous 24 hour hand, tonneau-shaped water-resistant-type case with screw back and screw down crown, bezel calibrated for 24 hours, stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet, case, dial and movement signed
40 mm. diam.

Specialist note

With Rolex Japan invoice dated 28 July 2004 for the change of the bezel, amounting to Yen 2,100.

The present Explorer II model is from the very first series of reference 16550, introduced into the market in 1985 and replacing reference 1655. It features the much sought after ivory dial, also called "rail dial". The name is derived from the warm ivory-colour of the dial in conjunction with the symmetric division of the two lines below the centre: "Superlative" and "Officially" to the left, clearly separated by a vertical space (thus "rail"), and "Chronometer" and "Certified" to the right.

For a "standard" version of an Explorer II model with off-white dial, ref. 16570, see lot 99 in this auction.

The "ivory" or "rail" Explorer II models were produced in a very small series only and are considered highly collectable in today's market.