Rolex 1655 Explorer II

[btmclemore]

My father recently gave me his Rolex. After inspecting the the watch, there was a model number of 1655 between the lugs at the twelve o'clock position. There was also a serial number of 2912729 or 2942729 (there is a question that the third digit could be a "4"). The face of the watch says, "Explorer II".

After researching the watch online, the serial numbers are said to be issued during 1969 or 1970. However, I've read the Explorer II was introduced in 1971.

Questions...

1. The orange hand is no longer on the 24 hour hand. The hand is fully functional, but it simply a black/gray hand with no orange. Is the hand able to be replaced without damaging the watch's value?

2, The band is not a genuine rolex band. Where would one find a rolex band that would be either a 1971 band, or a real Rolex band that would fit the watch?

3. Is it unusual for the serial number to show a date off 1969 or 1970 with the Explorer II was introduced in 1971 or 1972?

Any infomation is appreciated.

Thanks,

[jdmi32]

Can you put up any pictures of the watch?

[btmclemore]

Posted some pictures below.

[218225]

Originally Posted by btmclemore

My father recently gave me his Rolex. After inspecting the the watch, there was a model number of 1655 between the lugs at the twelve o'clock position. There was also a serial number of 2912729 or 2942729 (there is a question that the third digit could be a "4"). The face of the watch says, "Explorer II".

After researching the watch online, the serial numbers are said to be issued during 1969 or 1970. However, I've read the Explorer II was introduced in 1971.

Questions...

1. The orange hand is no longer on the 24 hour hand. The hand is fully functional, but it simply a black/gray hand with no orange. Is the hand able to be replaced without damaging the watch's value?

2, The band is not a genuine rolex band. Where would one find a rolex band that would be either a 1971 band, or a real Rolex band that would fit the watch?

3. Is it unusual for the serial number to show a date off 1969 or 1970 with the Explorer II was introduced in 1971 or 1972?

Any infomation is appreciated.

Thanks,

Ad 1 - Replacing the 24hr Hand could seriously damage the value. An AD will want to replace it and restore it to "2015 factory fresh". A good watchmaker will service it like new without replacing these parts.
Ad 2 - As for the bracelet, if you go to an AD they can get you a new oyster.
I spent a year looking for a vintage bracelet that had less stretch then my dad's bracelet, before sending the original to MY. In the end I ended up with a spare and period correct! bracelet anyhow. They seem to be nearly impossible to find and I haven't seen one on the market in two years.

A few pics would be nice and there is a lot of Information on the model on the Net to be found.

[218225]

[btmclemore]

Hopefully, the picture post works.

[btmclemore]

Here's a few of all the angles I could find.

[Mark020]

Well somebody stripped the 24 hour hand. Not that hard to find a correct one. 2 things: 1) do not (I repeat: DO NOT) have an AD work on it and 2) this is a quite valuable watch so do not sell cheap.

[WhiskyVerb]

Originally Posted by Mark020

Well somebody stripped the 24 hour hand. Not that hard to find a correct one. 2 things: 1) do not (I repeat: DO NOT) have an AD work on it and 2) this is a quite valuable watch so do not sell cheap.

Noobie question: Why not have an AD work on it? Just curious.

[Vincent65]

Originally Posted by WhiskyVerb

Noobie question: Why not have an AD work on it? Just curious.

No reason not to, in my opinion, as long as you make your wishes known and they agree before-hand. I've had work done at a major Rolex AD in Zurich, in their in-house workshop. They did exactly what I wanted, and no more.

[218225]

Nice jubilee bracelet it really looks good with it. Who said it wasn't original ?

Do not have it polished when you get it serviced.
I'll post some pics of mine when I get it back. Only the plexiglass will have been replaced but that doesn't harm the value.

[btmclemore]

The exterior of the band has the Rolex crown where it fastens ,but the inside is stamped "Kreisler" "Hong Kong".

[btmclemore]

I assume "AD" means "Authorized Dealer ". Any tips on finding g a reputable watchmaker/repairman?

[218225]

Originally Posted by btmclemore

I assume "AD" means "Authorized Dealer ". Any tips on finding g a reputable watchmaker/repairman?

Since I don't live in the States I wouldn't be able to say where to go. There are numerous topics on reputable watchmakers, all in the States.
In the case of these beautifull old watches the Rolex Service Center will kill the value when they get their hands on them.

Btw $30 for a replacement bracelet is cheap:)

[jdmi32]

Hopefully some better eyes will provide input but I don't like the look of that dial.

[Spoonage]

All the pics I've seen of Rolexes with tritium it's either

T Swiss T

or

Swiss T < 25

This dial is

T Swiss < 25 T

I didn't know there was another variation.

[btmclemore]

From what I've seen on this forum and other forums, the "T Swiss < 25 T" is on later issues/versions of the 1972 (and other) dials.

[btmclemore]

http://www.watchprosite.com/?page=wf...096&pi=3563066

A site that sheds some light on the "T Swiss < 25 T" issue, along with other changes in the dials of the Explorer II over the years.

[btmclemore]

Given that the previous link is correct, it would appear that the dial of my watch may have been replaced between 77 & 84.

With regard to the dial of my watch. The link I posted earlier had pictures off the evolution of the dial. In my watch, the fashion in which the words "ROLEX", "Oyster Perpetual Date" and " EXPLORER II" are lined up over each other are not like the photos of in the link. By my eyesight, it seems the "Oyster Perpetual Date" has a smaller font size than the photos.

Am I wrong, or could there be some variation in these words and their lining up on the watch?

[btmclemore]

The MK4, MK5 & MK6 on this chart include the "T SWISS < 25 T". However, when comparing the font size and alignment of the faces on the cart with the alignment of the "ROLEX", "Oyster Perpetual Date" & "EXPLORER II" with my watch, something is off with the "Oyster Perpetual Date" font size.

Is this normal, or am I dealing with a fake.

At the very least, the dial has been changed from the original. Yes?

[dat_watch]

I don't like that dial either, does not match any of the known dials as listed by Stefano Mazzariol
See below:

[watchcrank]

dial is refinished, close up of hands needed as well to determine if replacement.

[pablofields]

Originally Posted by watchcrank

dial is refinished, close up of hands needed as well to determine if replacement.

Agreed. The crown is wrong and look at the placement of the " II " after Explorer. In all the original Rolex variants the II is directly under the "Da" in Date on the line above. On the OPs dial the II is clearly further to the right and falls under the "at" in Date above.

[btmclemore]

Here's a close up of the hands. Unfortunately, my magnifying camera isn't working. Hopefully, the hour hand that is skewed can still give you some idea of what you're looking for.

Also, you said the dial had been refinished. So, this dial doesn't necesarrily mean the watch isn't legit?

[pablofields]

Originally Posted by btmclemore

Here's a close up of the hands. Unfortunately, my magnifying camera isn't working. Hopefully, the hour hand that is skewed can still give you some idea of what you're looking for.

Also, you said the dial had been refinished. So, this dial doesn't necesarrily mean the watch isn't legit?

Here is a great resource for the 1655 and many other models. It's the source of the dial variants posted earlier. I don't know if you can tell anything definitive about the hands or bezel from any pictures you're able to post, but you can inspect the case yourself. Take off the bracelet and look between the lugs. Again, this site shows the 4 variations of inscriptions for the 1655 reference so you can compare to see if your case matches one of them.

http://stefanomazzariol.blogspot.com...22freccione%22

[btmclemore]

When I was a kid, I remember the orange hand being on this watch. So, it's possible my dad had the watch worked on (minimally to remove what was left of the orange hand). So, he could have had other things checked out or refinished (such as the dial).

He's also a penny pincher (not that there's anything wrong with that), and he may not have wanted to spend the cash for a legit dial.

[btmclemore]

Assuming I can key on the differences of the "5" in the above diagram(s) for Model #, my watch matches the first example, which would jive with the serial number.

[btmclemore]

I traveled to a reliable watch repairman. He opened the back of the watch, and it appears I have a real Rolex.

So, I'll assume somewhere down the line, my father had the dial refinished or replaced.


Questions....

1. If my goal is to bring the watch up to a 1972 standard, I would assume my first order of business to to find a dial that is standard for the 1972 model. Yes?

2. How does the current refinished dial effect the value?