The Mondani Collection of Rolex Wrist...

Geneva, May 14, 2006

LOT 66

Ref. 16550 ?Ivory Dial Explorer II? Rolex, ?Oyster Perpetual Date, Explorer II, Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified?, Ref. 16550. Case No. 8975163. Made in 1985. Fine and rare, two-time zone center-seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, stainless steel gentleman's wristwatch with 24-hour bezel and hand, independently adjustable 12-hour hand and a stainless steel "Fliplock" Oyster bracelet.

CHF 10,000 - 15,000

EUR 6,500 - 10,000 / USD 8,000 - 12,000

Sold: CHF 18,880

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screwed-down case back and crown, graduated bezel in 24 hours, "Twinlock" winding crown protected by the "Crown Guard", sapphire crystal with "cyclops" lens. D. Offwhite with applied luminous round, triangular and bâton indexes, aperture for the date. Luminous "skeleton" hands. M. Cal. 3085, rhodium plated, 27 jewels, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to temperatures and 5 positions, shock-absorber, self compensating Breguet balancespring, Microstella regulating screws, hack mechanism. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 40 mm. Thickness 13 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Reference 16550 was available with three different colour dials, black and white were available on the last models and off-white or ?Ivory?, as on the present watch, for 3 years on ?Pre-R? models. The ?Ivory Dial? examples are the most sought after by collectors. Since its creation the ?Explorer II? has earned its name by being standard equipment on many of the world most demanding expeditions at the close of the 20th century, an ?Ivory Dial? Explorer II was used on the GEOMAG north expedition. This watch is illustrated in ?Rolex, Collecting Wristwatches?, by Osvaldo Patrizzi, 2001 Edition, p. 349.