Live Auction 1366Important Watches
Rolex. A stainless steel automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, date, 24 hour hand and bracelet
Lot 46 The following three lots, numbers 46 to 48, are different examples of the celebrated Rolex "Explorer II", originally launched in 1971, designed primarily for speleologists (cave explorers). The model features a fixed bezel with 24 hour display and a special 24 hour hand that can be set to distinguish day from night hours or to read the current time in different time zones.

Reference 1655 (lots 46 and 47) is frequently referred to as the "Steve McQueen" or "Freccione", Italian for "big arrow" amongst collectors.

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

SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL DATE, EXPLORER II, "STEVE MCQUEEN" MODEL, REF. 1655, CASE NO. 2'728'197, MANUFACTURED IN 1971

Closed11 May 2009

Price Realised

CHF 15,000

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Rolex. A stainless steel automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, date, 24 hour hand and bracelet
Signed Rolex, Oyster Perpetual Date, Explorer II, "Steve McQueen" model, ref. 1655, case no. 2'728'197, manufactured in 1971
Cal. 1570 nickel-finished lever 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, case, dial and movement signed
39 mm. diam.

Specialist note

The present watch is from the very first series of the Explorer II ref. 1655 model, launched in 1971, year of its manufacture. It features the second hand without the luminous circle, the numerals on the bezel in a smaller size than those of the later models (see the next lot) and the designation "T Swiss T" on the bottom of the dial.