1984 Rolex Explorer II 16550 Black Dial Stainless Steel Wristwatch

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1984 Rolex Explorer II 16550 Black Dial Stainless Steel Wristwatch

Name: 1984 Rolex Explorer II 16550 Black Dial Stainless Steel Wristwatch
Brand: Rolex
Price: 15200 USD

About the Item

Brand: Rolex Type: Wristwatch Model Name: Explorer II Model Number: 16550 Serial Number: 8,4XX,XXX Bezel Material: Stainless Steel Case Material: Stainless Steel Caseback Material: Stainless Steel Movement: 3085 Automatic, 27 Jewels Estimated Production Year: 1984 Markings to Inside: 16550, Stainless Steel, Montres Rolex S.A., Geneva Switzerland Functions: Date Clasp Style: Fold Over Case to Case (mm): 40 Lug to Lug (mm): 48 Total Length: 7.50” Bracelet/Fob Material: Stainless Steel Bracelet/Fob Style: Oyster Rolex got its start making watches for specialized trades. For instance, the Submariner was one of the first true dive watches, the Air King was for pilots and the Milgauss with its antimagnetic properties for scientists. In the early fifties Rolex created the Explorer for, well, explorers, but later they added the oddest watch line of all, the Explorer II. This watch line intended to serve the needs of cave explorers and spelunkers and featured an extra orange hand that showed it was daytime if it was on the right side of the face and night if on the left. It also boasted a 24 hour bezel. The target user for this was supposedly anyone who spent inordinate time in black areas where day and night were not clearly defined. They also added Arctic and Antarctic explorers to the fold. To be fair they would only need it for a couple of months a year. I have no idea how many Explorer II sold to spelunkers but I do know that a great amount of enthusiasts embraced this line of watches keeping them in production for decades. You may not have a need for a watch that differentiates day from night in the dark, but you might want a watch that is just plain this cool. The Exporer II is markedly different from other Rolex watches while at the same time clearly and easily defined as a Rolex offering. If you want a special vintage Rolex then I would whole-heartedly recommend this 1984 Rolex Explorer II reference number 16550. It has just enough wear to show great provenance but not enough to appear beaten up or unloved. To the uninitiated observer it appears in immaculate condition bestowing on its owner the best of both worlds. Cheers, David Grainger

Creator:
Rolex
Case Material:
Stainless Steel,Steel
Weight:
121 g
Movement:
Case Dimensions:
Length: 7.5 in (190.5 mm)
Place of Origin:
Switzerland
Period:
1980-1989
Date of Manufacture:
1984
Condition:
Minor losses. Cracks and lume loss on the hands. Fold over catch has small dents on it and marks to the 2 tabs.
Seller Location:
Bradford, CA
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU1991215709422

Shop All Rolex

Rolex

While the rise in popularity of vintage Rolex watches is of no surprise to aficionados, collectors and industry experts, when it comes to contemporary luxury wristwatches, Rolex is also often the first brand that springs to mind. Not only is the company revered for its precision timekeeping and impeccable craftsmanship, but its name was designed to be memorable.

Rolex's enviable worldwide recognition can be credited in part to the genius of company founder Hans Wilsdorf. When the German-born watch dealer and his brother-in-law, Alfred Davis, set up their London enterprise, in 1905, they called it Wilsdorf & Davis, according to the traditional formula.

But Wilsdorf was determined to come up with another name that was short, would look good on a watch dial and was easy to say and remember in several languages. In 1908, he trademarked the name Rolex, and by 1920, he had moved the company to Geneva and redubbed it as Montres Rolex S.A.

But the main reasons for the brand’s success are its aforementioned commitment to precision and unflagging pursuit of innovation. In 1926, the company introduced the aptly named Oyster model. With a screw-down crown and case back, both fitted with rubber gaskets, this was the first truly waterproof watch.

Five years later, Rolex upped the ante with the Oyster Perpetual. That model’s patented Perpetual movement contained a rotor mechanism enabling it to self-wind. In another trendsetting move, in 1945, the brand debuted the Datejust, with a date window prominently displayed on the dial.

The company’s two most iconic models are sports watches. Although the Submariner, which debuted in 1953, was developed as a dive watch, its waterproof case, solid construction and good looks made it a favorite of adventurers and urbanites alike, including James Bond, who wore it in classics like Dr. No and Goldfinger. The Daytona, the racing chronograph made famous by Paul Newman, is especially sought after by collectors. Newman’s personal Daytona, which hit the auction block in 2017, sold for $17.8 million.

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