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Lot Essay
Accompanied by an undated Rolex Certificate and product literature.
Amongst collectors, the Explorer II with ivory-colored dial is the most sought-after version of the reference 16550 watches. The present watch features a very warm tone of ivory "rail" dial, so named because of the symmetric division of the two lines below the center: "Superlative" and "Officially" to the left, clearly separated by a vertical space (thus "rail"), and "Chronometer" and "Certified" to the right.
The Explorer II model was introduced to the market in 1985, and replaced the reference 1655. The "ivory" or "rail" Explorer II models were produced in a very small series only and are considered highly collectable in today's market.
Reference 16550 with dial versions in white, black and ivory are prominently described and illustrated in 100 Years of Rolex - 1908 to 2008 by Franca and Guido Mondani, pp. 184-187.
Amongst collectors, the Explorer II with ivory-colored dial is the most sought-after version of the reference 16550 watches. The present watch features a very warm tone of ivory "rail" dial, so named because of the symmetric division of the two lines below the center: "Superlative" and "Officially" to the left, clearly separated by a vertical space (thus "rail"), and "Chronometer" and "Certified" to the right.
The Explorer II model was introduced to the market in 1985, and replaced the reference 1655. The "ivory" or "rail" Explorer II models were produced in a very small series only and are considered highly collectable in today's market.
Reference 16550 with dial versions in white, black and ivory are prominently described and illustrated in 100 Years of Rolex - 1908 to 2008 by Franca and Guido Mondani, pp. 184-187.