Rolex Explorer II 16550 Creamy Lume

transitional reference - fantastic look - great condition

Description
This 1987s Rolex Explorer II 16550 has a wonderful look thanks to the creamy luminous material on the white dial.

The Rolex Explorer II was specially developed for cave explorers who worked in the dark for a long time. This watch has a bezel with 24-hour markers and a 24-hour hand allowing to read the daytime.

This particular Rolex Explorer II dates from 1987 and is the rare transitional reference 16550. The short production time of 4 years was between 1985 and 1989. The reference 16550 had some features of the predecessor reference 1655 and at the same time some improvements that paved the way for new references. Those were, for example, a larger 40 mm case, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and the improved caliber 3085. With this new movement, the hour hand could be set independently of the 24-hour hand. As a result, the Explorer gained the GMT complication and thus was able to display the time in two time zones simultaneously.

With the reference 16550, the Rolex Explorer II was available for the first time with a white dial and not only black. The bezel contains triangles instead of bars for odd numbers. The dial now resembled other sports models with the famous Mercedes-style hands and the combination of triangular, round and rectangular indexes with tritium lume.

A special feature of this watch is the creamy-brown tritium, which has developed this beautiful, even patina over time. This gives the watch a warm and harmonious look. The stainless steel case was polished in the past. The lugs are still sharp and the case profile is thick. The bezel has thickly engraved numbers and triangles.

The stainless steel Oyster bracelet is in very good condition and has numbers matching the year of manufacture of the watch: reference 78360, end links 501B, clasp code M2.

Overall, this Rolex Explorer 16550 is a reliable companion for a busy working day and a valuable and collectable vintage watch.

Serial number: R664xxx (1987)

Int.Exe.: 95610
Features

Manufacturer: Rolex

Model: Explorer II

Reference: 16550

Functions: date - central second - COSC certified chronometer - screw-down crown - luminous hand - quickset date - screwed-on caseback

Intricacies: GMT / dual timezone

Material: Stainless steel

Dial: white

Watch glass: sapphire glass

Bracelet: stainless steel

Type of clasp: deployant buckle

Diameter: 40mm

Caliber name: Rolex 3085

Year of Manufacture: 1987

Overall condition: 7 - normal wear for its age

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