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Vintage Rolex Explorer

Vintage Rolex Explorer - Previously Sold Examples

Totally complete Mens Rolex  Explorer 2 orange hands 1655
SOLD
Purchased in 1974 by its one owner, this stunning watch was one of the very first models produced with the straight second hand
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vintage Rolex Explorer ll Orange Hands "Steve McQueen" 1655 box and punched papers - NOS
SOLD
First sold to its one UK owner in 1981 and without doubt the best orange hands we have ever seen, its virtually new old stock. The watch
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Vintage Rolex Explorer ll 1655 UK totally complete - amazing
SOLD
Purchased direct from its one UK owner having been first sold in 1985. This 1655 retains its totally original 10/10 mint matte dial with
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Vintage Rolex Explorer ll Orange Hands "Steve McQueen" 1655 straight hand box and papers
SOLD
Purchased direct by Dream Watches from its one UK owner. This stunning orange Explorer serial starts 318#### and is within the totally correct
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Vintage Rolex Explorer 1016
SOLD
We are pleased to offer for sale this very early rolex Explorer 1016 with a beautiful like new rare gilt gloss
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Vintage Rolex Explorer 1016 - Complete Example Double punched Papers
SOLD
First sold in 1970 and was purchased direct from the original owner and as you can see from the main image
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Early Vintage Mens Rolex Explorer 2 1655 Steve McQueen orange hand
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Circa 1970, this particular watch was one of the first 1655's made as you can tell from the straight second hand. This watch really has to
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Rare Vintage One Owner Rolex Explorer 1016 Punched papers Stunning Patina
SOLD
Vintage Rolex Explorer 1016 -  First purchased by its one owner in the UK from  Watches of Switzerland in 1980. This special Explorer 1016 has one of the best original dials we have ever 
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Please note: Due to the diminishing supply year on year of quality vintage Rolex sports models we would strongly erge you to register your requirements through our "Watch Alerts" facility which will give you a "heads up" when a particular vintage sports Rolex comes into stock. Unfortunately these days there are more clients looking to purchase than watches that come to market so the examples we display above are for your information and research.

Vintage Rolex Explorer

The Rolex Explorer is a very popular watch that has been around for many years.  In fact, the Explorer model was originally manufactured especially for adventuresome, explorer-type people and the name “Explorer” was registered by Rolex in Geneva, Switzerland in January of 1953.  Shortly thereafter, the Explorer became one of the first timepieces to make it to the top of Mount Everest on the wrist of a mountain climber named Tenzing Norgay.  A group of adventurers that included Norgay and Edmund Hillary scaled the behemoth in 1953 and the entire group was issued “official” timepieces, but only Norgay (and one other climber) wore a Rolex during that expedition and the exact Explorer wristwatch worn by Norgay is now on display at the Rolex Museum in Geneva.  Edmund Hillary wore a Smith, which was also an official supplier of timepieces to climbers of the Everest expedition. 

The initial Rolex Explorer wristwatches were specifically designed to be worn by explorers so this model includes a highly visible dial with a large, luminous, triangular marker at “12” to mark the top of the hour and luminous numbers in Arabic for the other quarter-hour markers.  It also has an extremely strong case and the option of being lubricated with a special type of oil that retains its viscosity and enables the watch to tolerate extremely cold temperatures from –20 to +40 degrees Celsius, making it the perfect watch for mountain climbers and other adventurers whose watches may be subjected to a variety of hazards that are easily withstood by the Explorer.

Vintage models of this popular Rolex watch are often overlooked in favor of the GMT, Daytona or Submariners, but the more knowledge you gain about collecting vintage wristwatches, the more valuable the Rolex Explorer becomes.

 A true iconic sports watch and whether you are looking for a Rolex Explorer  orange hands "Steve McQueen" 1655 with full box and papers or its smaller brother Rolex Explorer 1016 with 36mm case then Dream Watches will be able to help you. We always strive to purchase from original owners which guarantees originality and investment potential and as they are very hard to come by most of the time watches sell before they even hit out web site! 


Vintage Rolex Explorer

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