Rolex Explorer II 1655

The 1970s were one of the most exciting decades for tool watches. After the launch of the Rolex Deepsea and Daytona in the 1960s, the 1970s saw the beginning of the heyday of stainless steel sports watches. This hype continues to this day. The Rolex Explorer II 1655 was presented in 1971 and supported cave explorers and other adventurers with its striking 24-hour hand. With its stainless steel bezel, the Explorer II remains one of the most individual sports models to this day.

Like the Daytona, only a few copies of the Rolex 1655 were sold at the beginning. For this reason, there are only a few models on the market. This makes the watch, also known as the "Freccione", a sought-after collector's item. Despite its vintage attitude, the watch is robust and suitable for everyday use, while at the same time giving rise to expectations of stable price development.

Seven variants of the Rolex 1655

In the 14 years that Ref. 1655 has been produced, there have always been small changes. These are of significant importance to vintage lovers. The differences from the Rolex 1655 Mark I to Mark VII partly merged into each other and involve the case, the hands, the bezel as well as the dial. The changes to the dials and hands mean that there are numerous versions of the Explorer II available.

Design changes at a glance

- Mark I (1791 to 1973): Stern dial, second hand without dots

- Mark II (1972 to 1977): Dial by Stern, second hand with luminous material and a dot at the end

- Mark III (1974 to 1977): Partly parallel production to Mark II, "Rail Dial" dial by the Stern company, bezel with thinner typography than on Mark II

- Mark IV (1977 to 1980): Dial by the Stern company with a finer crown logo and "T Swiss 25 T" signature

- Mark V (1979 to 1984): Dial by the Stern company with rounder crown opening (logo) and "T Swiss 25 T" marking

- Mark VI (service dial): Dial by the Beyerle company, luminous tritium, modern typography

- Mark VII (service dial): Dial by Rolex, luminous material of Superluminova, "SWISS" signature.

The Rolex 1655 is also known as the "Steve McQueen Explorer". It has long been assumed that McQueen wore such a model and that Ref. 1655 was his favourite watch. Although the Explorer II is not a racing watch, its perfect readability makes it a suitable model for adrenaline-fuelled events such as motorsports.

At CHRONEXT you can get vintage watches like the Rolex Ref. 1655 with a certificate of authenticity. All models are inspected for authenticity and quality by our certified CHRONEXT watchmakers before they are sold. We guarantee this with our 24-month warranty, which comes with every purchase.

With us, you are in safe hands. Decide whether you prefer simple home delivery or personal collection at one of our worldwide CHRONEXT lounges. You can try on the desired model at your leisure and only pay afterwards if you like the watch. If you have any questions about buying a Rolex 1655 or any other model, please do not hesitate to contact us.