Live Auction 1372Important Watches Including A CONNOISSEUR'S VISION PART II
Christie’s roundel
Lot 268

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. 5'459'928, MANUFACTURED IN 1978

Closed10 May 2010

Price Realised

CHF 10,000

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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. 5'459'928, manufactured in 1978
Cal. 1570 GMT 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, blank bezel calibrated for 24 hours, screw back, screw down crown, stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet, case, dial and movement signed
38 mm. diam.

Specialist note

The celebrated Rolex "Explorer II", originally launched in 1971, was primarily designed 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 is frequently referred to as the "Steve McQueen" or "Freccione", Italian for "big arrow", amongst collectors.