Live Auction 1380Important Watches
Rolex. A stainless steel automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, 24 hours, date and bracelet
Lot 122

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. 3'182'727, MANUFACTURED IN 1973

Closed16 May 2011

Price Realised

CHF 11,250

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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. 3'182'727, manufactured in 1973
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
38 mm. diam.

Specialist note

With Rolex Deutschland servicing estimate dated 12 December 2003, seal, fitted green presentation box and outer packaging.

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 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.