ROLEX. A STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, DATE, 24 HOUR HAND, BRACELET, BLANK ORIGINAL GUARANTEE AND BOX
Lot 136 ROLEX

ROLEX. A STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, DATE, 24 HOUR HAND, BRACELET, BLANK ORIGINAL GUARANTEE AND BOX

SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL DATE, EXPLORER II, STEVE MCQUEEN MODEL, REF. 1655, CASE NO. 3’961’967, CIRCA 1975

Closed11 November 2019

Price Realised

CHF 27,500

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How to sell

ROLEX. A STAINLESS STEEL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, DATE, 24 HOUR HAND, BRACELET, BLANK ORIGINAL GUARANTEE AND BOX
SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL DATE, EXPLORER II, STEVE MCQUEEN MODEL, REF. 1655, CASE NO. 3’961’967, CIRCA 1975
Movement: cal. 1570, automatic, 26 jewels, signed
Dial: signed
Case: screw back, inside case back stamped 1655, 37.5 mm. diam., signed
With: stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet with deployant clasp stamped 78360, R7 overall length of approx. 195 mm., blank guarantee, leather card holder, product literature and presentation box

Specialist note

The present Explorer II is preserved in attractive overall condition, the Mark V dial featuring the T Swiss <25 T script at 6 o’clock, and a Mark II bezel. Its appeal is further enhanced by the presence of the period accessories.

One of the most iconic vintage Rolex references, the so-called Freccione (Italian for “big arrow”) or Steve McQueen was in production from 1971 to 1985. True to Rolex’s philosophy of producing highly reliable timepieces often focused on professional use, this model was conceived as a speleologist’s watch. The generous amount of luminous details on the dial, and the very bright 24 hours orange hand are features dedicated to these researchers who spend, at times, days underground in the dark.