Rolex 1655 Explorer II MK. 5 "Freccione" SS Black Dial Circa. 1980

This Rolex 1655 is the original Explorer II, the cult "Freccione" named for the bold orange arrow sweeping its dial, conceived for speleologists and polar explorers who, cut off from natural light, needed to tell day from night at a glance. A slow seller in its own time and now among the most coveted of the four-digit sport Rolex, it rewards the collector drawn to eccentric, purpose-built design over the obvious icons. This example carries the Mk.5 dial, the last of the reference's production dials, paired with the thin-font Mk.4 bezel that Rolex fitted to Mk.5 watches. It is driven by the automatic, chronometer-rated calibre 1575, which adds a companion 24-hour hand reading against the fixed bezel, plus a date. The stainless steel Oyster case measures 39mm across and 13.5mm in thickness, its crown guards and engraved 24-hour bezel marking it a tool made for the field. The dial is black. Frequently and wrongly called the "Steve McQueen," the 1655 endures as one of the most characterful sport watches Rolex ever produced.