| Manufacturer: | Rolex |
| Regular Price: | $30,864.86 |
| Item Number: | 115486 |
| Nickname: | Rolex Steve Mcqueen |
| Condition: | Vintage |
| Model Name/Number: | Explorer II Ref. 1655 "Albino" |
| Serial/Year: | 5,3XX,XXX - 1978 |
| Gender: | Men's |
| Movement: | Automatic 1575 |
| Case: | Excellent case which has previously been polished shows light wear. Comes with an excellent MK II bezel that shows some wear and nicks on the edge. Some of the numbers on the bezel show the paint wearing off. Inner caseback is stamped: 1655. Serial and reference numbers are crisp and well defined. Acrylic crystal has light wear. |
| Dial: | Excellent matte black Mark III "Rail Dial" with light creamy markers and faded GMT hand. The lume in the hands and on the dial have all aged to the same light creamy color. Some of the lume plots show signs of degradation, specifically 12 o'clock in the top center. Some of the lume plots have developed areas of darker patina. |
| Bracelet: | Excellent folded 9315 Oyster bracelet with 11 links, 380 end links and divers extension. Bracelet has light stretch and slight wear from use. Small nicks to some links. |
| Box & Papers: | Rolex punched papers |
| Warranty: | This vintage Rolex comes with Bob's Watches one year warranty |
| Return Policy: | If not 100% satisfied, return watch in 3 days for a full refund. Terms. |
This Rolex watch is in vintage condition with some noticeable surface wear from age. The case and bracelet have been polished. The Mark II bezel is in great condition with some signs of wear and slight paint loss. The dial is in overall excellent condition with light patina and some lume plots show signs of degradation. The lume has all aged to a lovely light creamy color and the 24 hour hand has aged to a white color. This 1655 comes on a folded Oyster bracelet that typically would come on a Submariner. It was not uncommon for customers to request the Submariner bracelet because of the additional flip lock clasp, back in the day Rolex would accommodate requests like this.
By Paul Altieri
The 1655 Explorer is instantly recognizable from its bright orange 24 hour hand and steel 24 hour bezel. Rolex came out with this model in 1971 and it was specifically made for cave explorers. The purpose of the orange 24 hour hand is to help the wearer distinguish day vs night in environments where this isn't easily noticeable, like in a cave with complete darkness.
The orange 24 hour hand on this example has faded over the years to white, hence the nickname "Albino." The white colored 24 hour hand gives the 1655 a completely different and more subdued look. Perfect for those who want something different, but would rather not stand out. This example features a Mark III dial which is known as a is a "Rail Dial." This refers to placement of the text on the lower half of the dial, they line up in a way that there is a noticeable and symmetric gap between the four words. This is also the tell that it is a Mark III dial, none of the others have this placement. To read more about Rail Dials, go here. Another neat thing about this watch is that it comes with its punched papers, something that is always welcome in the world of vintage sports Rolex.
* All Pre-Owned Rolex watches are guaranteed to be 100% genuine and certified authentic. Certificates are issued by WatchCSA, the industry's leading independent authority on watch authentication. WatchCSA Certified Pre-Owned certificates are provided for an additional fee at checkout. All watches are shipped to fit the average size wrist (7 1/4" - 7 1/2" for men and 6 1/4" - 6 1/2" for women). Additional links can be purchased if needed. Note that "B&P" means "box and papers" where stated.
This pre-owned Rolex comes with Bob's Watches one year warranty
We even offer free over night shipping, so you can be rest assured you'll be happy with your purchase.
SO FAR SO GREAT. A VERY NICE LOOKING CLEAN WATCH. HAS BEEN WORKING ACCURATELY.
