Vintage Rolex Explorer II 16550 - Vintage of the Week Episode 26 | Bob's Watches

In this episode of Vintage of the Week, we have a handsome rail dial Explorer II ref. 16550. Shop vintage Rolex watches: https://www.bobswatches.com/vintage-rolex-1.html NAVIGATE THIS VIDEO 00:00 INTRO 00:11 Wrist Check 00:39 Vintage Rolex Explorer II 16550 01:18 Comparison with 16570 01:33 Markers 01:44 Transitional Model 02:05 Comparison with 1655 02:54 Patina 04:31 Box & Papers 04:50 White Gold Surrounds 05:18 Availability 05:28 OUTRO Interested in learning more about the famous Explorer II spelunker’s watch, including its most popular references and history? Check out our complete Rolex Explorer II buying guide here: https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-blog/rolex-news/rolex-polar-explorer-buying-guide.html Join us each week as we showcase a different vintage luxury watch from our vault. The star of this episode is a stunning example of the Explorer II ref. 16550 with a desirable creamy “Polar” dial. Continue reading to learn more. THE ROLEX EXPLORER II The Explorer II came to market in 1971. Like its older cousin, the Explorer, it was made for the adventurous at heart. It features Rolex’s notoriously tough waterproof Oyster case and Perpetual movement with automatic winding. While the Explorer was developed for mountaineering, the Explorer II was made for dark environment adventures, such as spelunking and arctic explorations. Its most notable features include a 4th arrow hand and a fixed 24-hour bezel to help the wearer distinguish between day and night. Dep