Rolex Explorer II "Cream" Dial SS / SS

More about Explorer II "Cream" Dial SS / SS

This is a c. 1987 Rolex Explorer II Transitional, 16550. It has an integral stainless steel "Flush Fit" Oyster bracelet, and a scratch resistant sapphire crystal with a Cyclops magnifying lens over the date aperture at the three o'clock position. The 40mm diameter solid three-body case, screwed-down solid case back and Twin lock crown, wide square font fixed graduated 24-hour second time zone bezel, and integral bracelet are polished/brushed. It exhibits little or no recent polishing, and includes a Certified Official Swiss Chronometer (COSC) certification. The dial was white, but has patinated to cream, with Tritium Rolex skeleton hands, a centered sweep second hand, and a red second time zone hand with a Tritium arrow tip. There are Tritium applied steel round, baton, and triangular hour markers, as well as an outer minute track. It's water resistant to 100 meters/333 feet, and the 12.5mm thick case, dial, and movement are all signed. The mechanical automatic self-winding Rolex caliber 3085 movement is rhodium-plated, with a shock absorber mechanism. It's constructed with 27 jewels, a straight-line lever escapement, and a Glucydur monometallic balance that's adjusted to temperatures and 5 positions. It includes a self-compensating free-sprung Breguet balance spring, Microstella regulating screws, and a hacking seconds mechanism. The 16550 was a transitional model produced between Ref. 1655 "Steve McQueen" and its predecessor, reference 16570. It was only produced for about five years, from 1984 to 1989. It was the first Explorer II that had an independently adjustable GMT hand which could be set without stopping the movement. It included a new thicker case and thicker crown guards, with a unique square font on the bezel. This particular watch has serial number 958xxxx, produced circa 1987.

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