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Old 27 August 2009, 06:27 AM   #31
Spark
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That's been a long time coming Steve, but it sure looks like it was worth it.
Congrats and wear that beauty in good health mate
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Old 27 August 2009, 07:26 AM   #32
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Congrats Steve!

It's very nice and I love how the orange hand has the nice little fade.
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Old 27 August 2009, 11:33 AM   #33
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Thanks guys for all the positive well wishes.

This watch is vintage, so you might be expecting a little too much for it to be perfect. But, it is a great example IMHO.

Here's a couple more photos:

The 'doof' at the 4 on the bezel is a little disappointing, but it shows the watch has not been a safe queen
1655-7.jpg
The mark on the bezel really isn't noticable is it when you look at it like this
1655-8.jpg

Although quite clear the markings on this dial lend themselves to confusion. The 2.5 minute markers are easily mistaken for 5 minute markers

The dial is a lot of fun and has a very 1970's style that is really unique in the Rolex dial range. It doesn't have the usual GMT,Sub,SD dial markings except for the 12, 6 & 9 markers.

I love the way the hands are blacked out at and about their central point to the dial. This gives the hand a floating illusion and is akin to some aircraft cockpit instrumentation.

The large orange triangle hand is also unique to Rolex models. It adds a great splash of colour.

Finally the second hand is white, not white gold, just painted white, again a very different feature to other vintage and current Rolex tool watches.

All in all this watch is a winner, and given it was produced from 1971 - 1984 the supply is finite and it is a great collectable whose price is likely to steadily rise over time.
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Old 27 August 2009, 12:31 PM   #34
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Grat ;pplomg watcj///"doof" amd a;;//////

Now I'll try thlat with my fingers in the right place..

Great looking watch "doof" an all............
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Old 27 August 2009, 12:44 PM   #35
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Wow,that's SUPER >>>

That is a beautiful 1655, congratulations. =) maverick
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Old 27 August 2009, 03:49 PM   #36
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Thanks once again guys and a special thanks to the guys at Rolex Australia Service Centre in Melbourne.

When I received the watch the endlinks were a little compressed, but thanks to the friendly and efficient service of the guys in the Service Centre at Rolex Australia, Melbourne, this (major issue to me ) was rectified in a matter of minutes.

Thank you guys very much.

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Old 27 August 2009, 03:53 PM   #37
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That is a stunning looking watch, Steve. Congratulations on quite an exquisite purchase. What a beauty.
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Old 27 August 2009, 04:06 PM   #38
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Thanks Frank, not an easy watch to photograph.
However I will try to take some better photos soon :
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Old 27 August 2009, 08:57 PM   #39
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Nicely Done Steve!
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Old 27 August 2009, 09:09 PM   #40
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Awesome piece Steve!!! Enjoy it for many years.

I actually ordered my own copy of The Rolex Report last night.....can't wait until it gets here
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Old 27 August 2009, 10:02 PM   #41
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Beautiful and stunning.
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Old 27 August 2009, 11:50 PM   #42
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WOW Steve,

Very impressive indeed and I'm very happy for you! About the dial confusion...Isn't this one of the things that made it unpopular at the time?

Once again congrats on an awesome piece!
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Old 28 August 2009, 10:02 AM   #43
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I don't know what made the EXII unpopular back in the 1970-80's. It was a time where digital watches were at their peak. Maybe it was the lack of clarity of the dial that affected it's popularity.

I do know that according to Skeet & Urul "Vintage Rolex Sports Models" that Rolex on this rare occasion agreed to change a 1655 EXII dial over for a 1675 GMT dial for Oliver Shepard for the purposes of his Transglobe Expedition of 1979-82. Quite remarkable for Rolex to do that and I can only guess it was to make the dial more legible.

EX-GMT.jpg
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Old 30 August 2009, 12:30 AM   #44
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Great looking piece Steve, the 1655 is on my short list...but sadly I am also short on the cash! Enjoy it!
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Old 30 August 2009, 12:36 AM   #45
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Amazing watch!!!!
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Old 22 September 2009, 04:40 AM   #46
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could you please tell me how much you paid for this watch?
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Old 22 September 2009, 04:42 AM   #47
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Old 22 September 2009, 04:46 AM   #48
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Quote:
Originally Posted by snow_rocks View Post
I can't tell from the photo, but is the 24 hr hand red, as this should be consistent with the year you stated.
This is a 1980 here on http://doubleredseadweller.com/oh_e2.htm
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File Type: jpg exp6.jpg (48.3 KB, 114 views)
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Old 22 September 2009, 04:54 AM   #49
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Very nice Explorer, congrats.
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Old 22 September 2009, 05:21 AM   #50
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Again... You got a real beauty Steve..

I think that the Exp II was really pretty popular in the 70's.....very much a working mans watch..

It, along with many others and entire watch companies, got slammed by the quarts and digital revolution where you could now display a lighted 24 hr display, and show it for any place in the world..

Kind of left the Exp II without much of a market at the time as the dial was very 'business-like"... I believe that is why it got a more dressy treatment...... expand the market out to the wannabe explorers....
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Old 22 September 2009, 06:25 AM   #51
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I am painfully jealous! Congrats on the beautiful piece :)
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Old 22 September 2009, 11:01 PM   #52
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Sorry to get in so late, I've been having problems getting onto TRF, but you know that better than I Steve.
Congratulations on finding such a beautiful watch. Its an absolute winner
I also like the way the hands seem to float too.
Wear it in the very best of health
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Old 22 September 2009, 11:22 PM   #53
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Thanks guys, I love this watch, I thoroughly recommend it as a vintage purchase, it will not disappoint, and I predict it to rise in worth over time.

Most of all, it is just so iconic, you will never get a watch like it again.
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Old 23 September 2009, 02:27 AM   #54
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Steve great find, great read & great links. Truly a beauty & never fade against time....

guys, please advise why Rolex discontinued this model & how long this model appear in the market ?
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Old 23 September 2009, 11:07 PM   #55
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Thanks guys for all the well wishes.
This watch cost in the high teen 000's.
The 1655 model was commenced in or about 1971 and discontinued in or about 1985.
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Old 23 September 2009, 11:34 PM   #56
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Great acquisition Steve! Congrats!

This one is high on my wish list as well!...
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Old 24 September 2009, 02:10 AM   #57
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Lovely piece with papers and original box! What would the correct Explorer booklet for this run nowadays?
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Old 25 September 2009, 04:06 PM   #58
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The 1655 is pure 70's Retro

There is nothing more 70's from Rolex than the legacy of the 1655.

1655-9.jpg

I don't think I will every find a dial/hands combo that is quite so stylized for the 1970's as this Explorer dial. It's funky design will give it a huge collector potential in years to come.
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Old 25 September 2009, 07:06 PM   #59
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Way to go I, I love it as well.
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Old 26 September 2009, 02:16 AM   #60
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What a beauty Steve.... (even with that huge ding at 4 o'clock ).
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