Fresh from the Showcase here at SwissWatchExpo. I have a Rolex Explorer II reference. It just came
in a few days ago and it's been getting a ton of questions from some people who are curious.
Some people are a little confused as to what it is and some collectors just call to let us know that
they absolutely love it. This is a really rare transitional model of the Explorer II. We have
a reference 16550, and this is something I think you'll notice is taking on a lot of new features
that are recognizable in the Explorer models today, and a huge departure from
the older ones. This is really when the modern Explorer II came into its own.
And that's why this is a very hard to find watch - very rare and very expensive collector's item
that some very particular Rolex people I know are going to be incredibly interested in.
So let's get into the details about what makes this watch fantastic. It looks
a lot like the 16570 reference at least at first glance. And that's because that is where this dial
got introduced to the model. People who are more familiar with the McQueen knew that it only came
in black. This was when the white, quote unquote Polar dial was introduced. And this is sort of
where the layout comes from it. This is where the GMT hand has moved from the fatter orange hand,
that was since re-introduced in the 42 millimeter model, but this is where the thin red GMT
hand came into play. And this is definitely my favorite dial configuration of the Explorer II,
by far, whether it's in this reference or some of the later ones that they did,
this is also where the Sapphire crystal got introduced to the Explorer II,
which I think is very, very important considering what type of watch this is.
This was meant to be a watch that was worn for the actual Explorer, the person who's out there in the
forest, in the jungle, in the cave where have you. So this is a watch that needs to be very
durable. It needs to be able to take a beating as it were. This is certainly not a watch, at least
it was designed to be kept in someone's closet and cherished as an heirloom piece. It was meant
to get a little bit dirty and especially in modern terms, this is where the watch was truly willing
to do it. You've got the all smooth brushed finish on the bezel. This is a watch that is
definitely meant to be worn in the elements. And that's really where it came into its own. A couple
of things I love about this particular model and some more Rolex aficionados might know the patina
that this dial takes on, particularly the white color is particularly beautiful. It is not just
the markers, it is the whole dial - can take on a beautiful cream color. You'll notice that this one
did not the reason why is this is an impeccable condition, particularly for this reference.
A lot of people are spending a lot of money on ones that look worn that look very aged.
And that is a very beautiful thing, but this is a particularly mint condition version of this model,
and also has a lot to do with why it's listed the way it is at first glance. It doesn't look
any different than the 16570, until you look at the price point and realize what you're getting
in this watch. If you're the collector who is really into this kind of transitional model,
it was only in production for four years compared to the decades that
they kept making of the previous and subsequent Explorer II models.
So that makes it a very hard watch to find particularly in this condition. So if this is
something that you're interested in, I know this isn't going to be for everyone. This isn't going
to be your first Rolex, but if you're a collector looking for this white whale reference, and you're
looking for this specific type of Explorer II, I really don't know when you're going to see this
again. So do not hesitate to give us a call. If you have any questions about this and get this on
your wrist, add it to your collection. It's mint condition. It's got all the box and papers, and
most importantly, it is going to be a cornerstone of your Rolex collection for years to come.
So check us out on our entire YouTube channel. We are getting more and more collectible items in by
the day, as well as the bread and butter favorites for you, Rolex aficionados and for people,
fans of all sorts of brands. So check us out and subscribe to our channel, at SwissWatchExpo.com.