ROLEX | Explorer II, Ref. 1655, A Stainless Steel Wristwatch with Bracelet, Circa 1984

ROLEX

Explorer II, Ref. 1655

A Stainless Steel Wristwatch with Bracelet, Circa 1984

Dial: black

Caliber: Cal. 1575 automatic, 26 jewels

Case: stainless steel, screw-down back

Closure: stainless steel Rolex Oyster bracelet and folding clasp

Dimensions: 39 mm, bracelet circumference approx. 180 mm

Signed: case, dial and movement

Case numbers: ref. 1655 / serial: 8096397

Originally developed in 1971 for cave explorers, the Explorer II ref. 1655 is the first reference in this family of Rolex watches. The Explorer 1655 is often referred to by the nickname “Freccione” (Italian for “arrow”) thanks to its prominent arrow-tipped orange 24-hour hand. By pointing to the fixed 24-hour marked bezel, the orange 24-hour hand serves as a prominent AM/PM indicator; practical for those who spend extended periods deep inside caves. This watch features a matte black MK5 dial along with a stainless steel Oyster case and Oyster bracelet. The dial design of the Explorer II 1655, which includes pencil hands, a prominent minute track, and plenty of luminous details, is markedly different from other Rolex sports watches to better lend itself to a 24-hour display. Rolex produced the ref. 1655 until 1985, and all subsequent Explorer II references differ quite significantly in both style and functionality, which further fuels the collectability of this particular vintage Rolex reference.