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ROLEX Explorer II "Freccione", Reference 1655, Orange Hand, Mark IV Dial, Stainless Steel, Tritium Dial, Box and Papers, Year 1981, Full Set

Introduced in 1971, the 1655 was built for a genuinely narrow purpose, letting cavers and Arctic explorers tell day from night in places where the sun offered no clues, and its bold orange hand earned it the Italian nickname "Freccione," or big arrow.

The 39mm steel case is fitted with a fixed 24 hour bezel rather than the rotating GMT bezel used on later Explorer II references, keeping the 12 and 24 hour hands permanently synced, a deliberately simple, unmistakably 1970s solution to a real field problem.

The tritium dial is the Mark IV execution, one of several dial variants produced across the 1655's run distinguished by subtle differences in font and marker design, and it has developed the warm, even patina collectors specifically seek on a genuine 1655, paired with the oversized orange 24 hour hand that gives the reference its entire character and nickname.

Inside runs the caliber 1575, the GMT based movement Rolex fitted before the independently jumping hour hand arrived with the 16550 in 1985, meaning this 1655 tells one time, just twice, and with considerably more style.

This example is offered as in:

- Authentic condtion - very good

- MK4 tritium dial with still beautiful orange color 24h hand and MK4 bezel

- Full set with box and papers, hang tag, green plastic card holder 

- Collectors item

- Coming from one of the most important european watch collection!

"The cool orange armed original that started the Explorer II story, still telling day from night exactly as designed in 1971 - still one of the most attractive Rolex tool models so far!"