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Rolex. Rare montre bracelet en acier avec date 2nd fuseau horaire et 'rail dial' mouvement automatique Rolex. A stainless steel automatic calendar bracelet watch with dual time zone and 'rail' dial Explorer II 'Panna', Ref: 16650, Circa 1985 image 1
Rolex. Rare montre bracelet en acier avec date 2nd fuseau horaire et 'rail dial' mouvement automatique Rolex. A stainless steel automatic calendar bracelet watch with dual time zone and 'rail' dial Explorer II 'Panna', Ref: 16650, Circa 1985 image 2
Rolex. Rare montre bracelet en acier avec date 2nd fuseau horaire et 'rail dial' mouvement automatique Rolex. A stainless steel automatic calendar bracelet watch with dual time zone and 'rail' dial Explorer II 'Panna', Ref: 16650, Circa 1985 image 3
Lot 137

Rolex. Rare montre bracelet en acier avec date 2nd fuseau horaire et 'rail dial' mouvement automatique
Rolex. A stainless steel automatic calendar bracelet watch with dual time zone and 'rail' dial Explorer II 'Panna', Ref: 16650, Circa 1985

26 May 2023, 14:00 CEST
Paris, Avenue Hoche

€22,000 - €28,000

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Rolex. Rare montre bracelet en acier avec date 2nd fuseau horaire et 'rail dial' mouvement automatique

Rolex. A stainless steel automatic calendar bracelet watch with dual time zone and 'rail' dial
Model: Explorer II 'Panna'
Reference: 16650
Date: Circa 1985
Movement: 27-jewel Cal.3085 automatic, adjusted to 5 positions and temperature, No.1069177
Dial: Black, luminous filled dot hour markers, black outer minute divisions, magnified date aperture at 3, polished Mercedes hands and red arrow tipped dual time hand with luminous inserts, centre seconds
Case: Brushed and polished tonneau form, screw down back and shouldered crown, 24-hour markers on bezel, No.8399196
Strap/Bracelet: Fitted brushed and polished 78360 Oyster link, end links stamped 501 B
Buckle/Clasp: Signed folding clasp stamped S10
Signed: Case, dial & movement
Size: 39mm

Footnotes

Rolex's Explorer models were watches designed and intended for adventurers. While the Explorer I was marketed to mountain climbers, the Explorer II with its 24-hour graduated bezel and its large, luminescent 24-hour hand arrow, was intended for those spending extended time in dark environments, such as spelunkers.

Launched in 1985, the Rolex Explorer II reference 16550 was the first Explorer II model to be fitted with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. Only in production for less than a handful of years, it has become a favourite amongst collectors of Rolex sport watches. Due to a flaw in the paint used in the reference's earliest dials, watches fitted with originally white dials are often seen with tones that have aged to pleasing shades of ivory or cream.

The most coveted among these are those fitted with "rail" dials, as found on this extremely well-preserved example. The term "rail" is used to describe the near perfect alignment of the vertical space between the text written across the two lines on the dial at 6 o'clock. You will notice "Superlative" and "Officially" are on the left, while "Chronometer" and "Certified" are on the right.

Additional information

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