Live Auction 2753Important Watches
Rolex. A Fine and Rare Stainless Steel Automatic Wristwatch with Center Seconds, Date, 24 Hour Hand, Bracelet, and Ivory-Colored Rail Dial
Lot 272

Rolex. A Fine and Rare Stainless Steel Automatic Wristwatch with Center Seconds, Date, 24 Hour Hand, Bracelet, and Ivory-Colored Rail Dial

SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL DATE, EXPLORER II, REF. 16550, CASE NO. 8'430'960, CIRCA 1984

Closed17 December 2013

Price Realised

USD 18,750

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Rolex. A Fine and Rare Stainless Steel Automatic Wristwatch with Center Seconds, Date, 24 Hour Hand, Bracelet, and Ivory-Colored Rail Dial
Signed Rolex, Oyster Perpetual Date, Explorer II, Ref. 16550, Case No. 8'430'960, Circa 1984
Cal. 3085 automatic movement, 27 jewels, ivory-colored dial, luminous dot, baton, and dagger numerals, white gold luminous mercedes hands, sweep center seconds, magnified aperture for date, 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
39mm diam.

Specialist note

Accompanied by an undated Rolex Certificate and product literature.
Amongst collectors, the Explorer II with ivory-colored dial is the most sought-after version of the reference 16550 watches. The present watch features a very warm tone of ivory "rail" dial, so named because of the symmetric division of the two lines below the center: "Superlative" and "Officially" to the left, clearly separated by a vertical space (thus "rail"), and "Chronometer" and "Certified" to the right.

The Explorer II model was introduced to the market in 1985, and replaced the reference 1655. The "ivory" or "rail" Explorer II models were produced in a very small series only and are considered highly collectable in today's market.

Reference 16550 with dial versions in white, black and ivory are prominently described and illustrated in 100 Years of Rolex - 1908 to 2008 by Franca and Guido Mondani, pp. 184-187.