Questionable listing of 16550 EXP II with Cream Dial...non rail.

[Orchi]

Err buddies...what Orchi brings here is the classic example of the much controversial debate about the highly sought after Transitional 16550 Explorer II with Cream "Rail" or "Non-Rail" Dials...which were produced in short period of time by Rolex between 1985 to 1988 or so...

But in here...Orchi does not want to dwell into the controversial debates...

Nevertheless...amidst the controversial debates that have gone on for years since...most renown collectors have now come to some what of a common understanding...that...

1. A TRUE 16550 Exp II with Cream "Rail Dial" would have "SWISS - T<25" marking under the 6 o'clock White Gold rectangular marker...

2. ANOTHER TRUE(but believed to be in RARER numbers) 16550 Exp II with Cream "NON Rail" Dial would have "T SWISS <25 T" marking under the 6 o'clock White Gold rectangular marker...

However...Orchi stumbled onto this listing by eBay Power Seller - Watch-Navi of HongKong...for a 16550 Explorer II watch which is claimed to be...

"1987 Rolex Explorer II 16550 Cream Ivory Dial Non-Rail"

"Here is an used Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date Explorer II stainless steel men's watch, cicra. 1987, ref.no. is 16550, serial no. is R387XXX, 100% original & authentic, the watch is in overall good condition

# Dial = signed 100% original dial has changed to a nice cream / ivory colour and is in good condition, luminous marker with white gold bracket is in a nice yellowish patina, all writing is clean and visable, signed "SWISS T<25" at the bottom..."

Now if one sees the CENTRE...between the top n bottom 2 lines of COSC plots markings...one would realise that the COSC plots are "Non Rail" type...meaning without a empty channel passing thru from top to bottom between the 2 lines...

Then if one takes a closer look at the "SWISS - T<25" marking under the 6 o'clock marker...one would realize that...this Cream Non Rail Dial would have the WRONG Tritium marking on the Dial...

Also if one takes a closer look n comparison at the other plots on the Dial...one would see the inconsistency of the markings n fonts...on the Dial...

Finally when one takes a closer comparison of the quality of the hour markers which are supposed to be White Gold surround markers...one would also notice that the Tritium fillings are very much inconsistent...n downright UGLY...to begin with.

Therefore...in Orchi's frank opinion...that 16550 Explorer II watch being listed in eBay with a Buy-Now price of USD12K or so...may have a complete FAKE Dial...!



http://cgi.ebay.com/1987-Rolex-Explo...QQcmdZViewItem

For the sake of further close comparisons...Orchi shall post the following pictures of the REAL deals of "NON Rail" cream Dials...courtesy of VRF forum...n especially from buddy AAKViper...who is a renown watchmaker n very reputable collector of the Rolex vintage watches...

NOTE:

The 1st 2 pictures contain the CORRECT Real Deal on "Non Rail" n "Rail" Cream Dials...

The last picture shows another example of debatable n questionable cream "Non Rail" Dial...!