Live Auction 1401Important Watches including Property from an Important European Collection
Rolex. A rare stainless steel automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, date, 24 hour hand, bracelet and ivory-coloured "rail" dial
Lot 418

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

SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL DATE, EXPLORER II, REF. 16550, CASE NO. 8'957'538, MANUFACTURED IN 1985

Closed12 May 2014

Price Realised

CHF 9,375

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Rolex. A rare stainless steel automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, date, 24 hour hand, bracelet and ivory-coloured "rail" dial
Signed Rolex, Oyster Perpetual date, Explorer II, ref. 16550, case no. 8'957'538, manufactured in 1985
Cal. 3085 automatic movement, 27 jewels, ivory-coloured dial, luminous dot, baton and dagger numerals, luminous mercedes hands, sweep centre seconds, magnified window for date, central red 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

Among collectors, the present watch with ivory-coloured dial is without doubt the most sought-after version of all reference 16550 watches. This ivory/cream dial is special both because of its very warm and eye-pleasing tone and because of the way the "Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified" is displayed. Also known as "rail dial" it is distinguished by 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.

While dials in white and black exist for this fine Explorer II reference, the "ivory rail dial" model was produced in a very small series only.