Advice please - what is so special of Explorer with ORANGE hand

[bellaroxio]

Please educate me. I need to make an informed decision. Either buy it or trade my Daytona SS/white.

[karwath]

Someone else with more information will chime in, but the 1655 Explorer II with the orange 4th hand was made for only a few years. Sometimes called the "Steve McQueen" Rolex.

[mike]

Well, the Explorer II reference 1655 was first introduced circa 1971 as an answer created by Rolex to meet a specific need as a professional/recreational tool for speleologists. Because it was determined that those exploring caves/underground enviornments lost all sence of daylight or darkness, Rolex designed a watch that could give normal 12 hr time plus a 24 hour configuration.
This was done by adaptation of the GMT-MASTER with a fixed 24 hr. bezel.
Both the 12 hour hand and the orange 24 hour hand were synced together.
The large 24 hour hand was used in leiu of the smaller GMT 24 hr.hand because it was found to be easier to read in the enviornment in which these people worked.

Rolex used either a 1570 or 1575 movement based on what was available from stock. The first versions had what became known as a straight second hand (no luminous dot) while latter versions (circa the mid-70s) added a luminous dot to the second hand. Value wise I'm not sure there's a great difference.
The dial of the 1655 is/was unique to the reference in that not only did it have the normal hour markers, but sub markers between.
Curiously, the 1655 was not a popular watch during it's run which ended in the mid 80s as many found the dial cluttered and hard to read.
One of the most easily faked vintage pieces many try to pass off as geninue a 1655 dial and hands (also unique to the reference) in the thinner 1675 GMT-MASTER case.
The 1655 also had a very odd looking coronet sometimes called a frog's foot.
The 1655 was replaced in 1985 by the reference 16550 bearing the more familiar look we see today.
The reference as the "McQueen" seems to be based on the proposition Steve McQueen wor a 1655 in the movie "The Towering Inferno" There is no evidence McQueen wore one in real life. History seems to indicate he prefered a 5512 or 5513.
Today examples in good condition can fall in the 12k to 16k range depending on condition and box & paper.

[leopardprey]

That is a great looking watch. Can the 24 hour hand be set at a different time zone? as the current Explorer II ?

[mike]

Originally Posted by leopardprey

That is a great looking watch. Can the 24 hour hand be set at a different time zone? as the current Explorer II ?

No, they're synced together.

[astcell]

If they are synced together, how do you set them in the first place?

[mailman]

Originally Posted by astcell

If they are synced together, how do you set them in the first place?

I believe thay move together when you set the time. If you look at the pic that Mike posted, the time is 4:00pm. The 24hr hand is at 1600.

[astcell]

Originally Posted by mailman

I believe thay move together when you set the time. If you look at the pic that Mike posted, the time is 4:00pm. The 24hr hand is at 1600.

Oh so you have 12 and 24 hour versions of the local time? What a rip off.

[mike]

Originally Posted by astcell

Oh so you have 12 and 24 hour versions of the local time? What a rip off.

Curious why you feel that way? Rolex never marketed the watch as a GMT. People that bought it knew it wasn't a GMT. I agree it's not as versatile as the GMT, but as with the GMT, a watch made by Rolex for a specific function.

[SDman]

That's a very good point Mike.....

[astcell]

Originally Posted by mike

Curious why you feel that way? Rolex never marketed the watch as a GMT. People that bought it knew it wasn't a GMT. I agree it's not as versatile as the GMT, but as with the GMT, a watch made by Rolex for a specific function.

Oh if it was not meant to be a GMT that's fine then. I wonder if it sold better in Europe where 24 hour clocks are more common.

[Spark]

The Explorer II 4th hand on the Orange hand Explorer was for the use of Explorers or more to the point cave explorers/pot holers.
As with most Rolex sports models they were designed as work watches and the theory behind the Orange hand as a 24 hour hand was once the wearer had been under ground for 24 hours plus the wearer would quickly lose the notion of day/night and wouldn't be able to tell whether the time was am or pm, but with the hand hey presto they knew.
The watch has very limited uses like the Milgause, but they obviously thought it was a good idea at the time and the dial is great.
Sorry, but I have to use this thread as another poor excuse to post a pic of my 1655.

[maverick]

They are very nice watches. I would like to own one but for 12-16K I'll pass. They are now overpriced IMHO. I'd rather have a GMT which has a moveable bezel. =) maverick

[tonelar]

It's definitely a unique model...

nice pics

[padi56]

Originally Posted by maverick

They are very nice watches. I would like to own one but for 12-16K I'll pass. They are now overpriced IMHO. I'd rather have a GMT which has a moveable bezel. =) maverick

Agree up to a point Dennis its just because there are in reality not many around.Like the Milgause if we was all honest, its only there rarity and perhaps there lightening bolt hands that make them now very collectible.They were not a big selling watch and IMO not a particularly attractive one.You could say the same thing about the 6263/5 Daytona's,and I am sure if the word Rolex was not on the dial.And the current over hyped Daytona fever,they would not be all that much sort after.Like so many other fine Swiss brands same Valjoux 72 movement watches,that you buy quite cheaply now.

[RolexKing9]

After 1655 then 16550!

[C.J.]

Originally Posted by astcell

Oh if it was not meant to be a GMT that's fine then. I wonder if it sold better in Europe where 24 hour clocks are more common.

I think it was geared toward cave explorers who needed to know whether it was AM or PM. When they were in the caves long enough, not being able to see the sun would throw their awareness of day and night off.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Spark

The Explorer II 4th hand on the Orange hand Explorer was for the use of Explorers or more to the point cave explorers/pot holers.
As with most Rolex sports models they were designed as work watches and the theory behind the Orange hand as a 24 hour hand was once the wearer had been under ground for 24 hours plus the wearer would quickly lose the notion of day/night and wouldn't be able to tell whether the time was am or pm, but with the hand hey presto they knew.
The watch has very limited uses like the Milgause, but they obviously thought it was a good idea at the time and the dial is great.
Sorry, but I have to use this thread as another poor excuse to post a pic of my 1655.

Spark,

I love that watch of yours....always admired it!! Very nice!!

[Flyjet601]

Originally Posted by astcell

Oh so you have 12 and 24 hour versions of the local time? What a rip off.

I dont get it either .....dont see the purpose of the orange hand if it cant be set independantly.
Why does the watch need 2 hands indicating the same time?

[C.J.]

Originally Posted by Flyjet601

I dont get it either .....dont see the purpose of the orange hand if it cant be set independantly.
Why does the watch need 2 hands indicating the same time?

I think it was geared toward cave explorers who needed to know whether it was AM or PM. When they were in the caves long enough, not being able to see the sun would throw their awareness of day and night off.

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by bellaroxio

Please educate me. I need to make an informed decision. Either buy it or trade my Daytona SS/white.

The special thing about it is that it is a prototype of the "Clownmaster III".

Rolex designers thought: "If customers will buy THIS, they'll buy anything"

So in 2007, Rolex finally had the courage to take the giant leap and launch the Clownmaster III.

[Incurable]

My mind keeps returning to... just how many people in the world at any given time need the explained functionality of the Explorer II. Are cave dwellers a significant market or demographic? I understand making a tool watch aimed at a specific occupation but... wouldn't offering watches for those in high shock environments or even those with poor eyesight have greater potential than those who spend their time in caves?

[leopardprey]

My mind keeps returning to... just how many people in the world at any given time need the explained functionality of the Explorer II. Are cave dwellers a significant market or demographic? I understand making a tool watch aimed at a specific occupation but... wouldn't offering watches for those in high shock environments or even those with poor eyesight have greater potential than those who spend their time in caves?__________________

Agree. Must have been someone high up in the Rolex Management that was into caving! Myself, have not been caving for about 20 years.

[mikey]

Besides the supposed function of the 1655, the 1655 is an awesome looking Rolex. I could care less if it was for cavemen (sorry geico).

[C.J.]

Originally Posted by mikey

Besides the supposed function of the 1655, the 1655 is an awesome looking Rolex. I could care less if it was for cavemen (sorry geico).

Maybe that was the reasoning behind the orange not being able to move independently.

"So simple, a caveman can use it"

[TARDIS]

It's not just for cave dwellers. The watch has the 24 hr function for space travellers as well. How about Submariners in a nuke sub who are down there for weeks on end? Suppose you were taken hostage and thrown into a windowless cell. How would you know what hour of the day/night it was. In Antarctica, the day/night is 6 months each way.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by C.J.

Maybe that was the reasoning behind the orange not being able to move independently.

"So simple, a caveman can use it"

Yes...and it also helped simplify the caveman's sex life!!

[Andad]

Originally Posted by RolexKing9

After 1655 then 16550!

Very nice.

If the 24 hour hand moves with the standard hour hand and can't be adjusted independently shouldn't the 24 hour hand be on 21 1/4 or am I a

[Incurable]

Originally Posted by TARDIS

It's not just for cave dwellers. The watch has the 24 hr function for space travellers as well. How about Submariners in a nuke sub who are down there for weeks on end? Suppose you were taken hostage and thrown into a windowless cell. How would you know what hour of the day/night it was. In Antarctica, the day/night is 6 months each way.

Good points... also good for computer addicts who sit at the computer all hours of the day and night, shades drawn, posting replies to every thread on watch forums...

[Andad]

Originally Posted by Incurable

Good points... also good for computer addicts who sit at the computer all hours of the day and night, shades drawn, posting replies to every thread on watch forums...

A watch for all JJ's.