95th Auction
2017/5/6
Lot 325
Rolex "Oyster Perpetual Date Explorer II Superlative Chronometer officially certified", Case No. 3035576, Ref. 1655, Cal. 1570, 38 mm, circa 1972
A gentleman's automatic wristwatch with date and 24h bezel - so called "Steve McQueen" or "Orange Hand" - with original box, guarantee, original certificate, original invoice and Rolex hang tag
Case: steel, re-case using the original serial no., screw back ref. 1655 II/72, 24h bezel MKII, screwed "Twinlock" winding crown, folded steel "Oyster" bracelet ref. 7836 3/72 with lugs 380. Dial: black, MKI. Movm.: rotorwind movement, Glucydur screw balance.
No doubt this "full set" is a cult piece that sits at the top of every Rolex aficionado’s want list!
The Rolex Explorer II, reference 1655 was launched in 1971. In contrast to the Explorer I, ref. 1016, reference 1655 is fitted with an additional orange-coloured hand and a 24 hour indication on the bezel.
English-speaking collectors call this reference "Steve McQueen", although there is not a single photograph of Steve McQueen wearing an Explorer II; he owned several Submariner models and usually wore the Submariner ref. 5512. Italian collectors, however, call the Explorer II "Freccione". The name comes from the Italian "la freccia", which means "arrow". Freccione stands for a larger version and means the central arrow-shaped orange-coloured 24h hand.
A gentleman's automatic wristwatch with date and 24h bezel - so called "Steve McQueen" or "Orange Hand" - with original box, guarantee, original certificate, original invoice and Rolex hang tag
Case: steel, re-case using the original serial no., screw back ref. 1655 II/72, 24h bezel MKII, screwed "Twinlock" winding crown, folded steel "Oyster" bracelet ref. 7836 3/72 with lugs 380. Dial: black, MKI. Movm.: rotorwind movement, Glucydur screw balance.
No doubt this "full set" is a cult piece that sits at the top of every Rolex aficionado’s want list!
The Rolex Explorer II, reference 1655 was launched in 1971. In contrast to the Explorer I, ref. 1016, reference 1655 is fitted with an additional orange-coloured hand and a 24 hour indication on the bezel.
English-speaking collectors call this reference "Steve McQueen", although there is not a single photograph of Steve McQueen wearing an Explorer II; he owned several Submariner models and usually wore the Submariner ref. 5512. Italian collectors, however, call the Explorer II "Freccione". The name comes from the Italian "la freccia", which means "arrow". Freccione stands for a larger version and means the central arrow-shaped orange-coloured 24h hand.
Sold
estimated
12.000—16.000 €
Price realized
21.700 €