Matte Mark 1 (Frog Foot)
Explorer Frog Foot 1016 — Matte Mark 1 (Frog Foot)
1967–1974
First matte dial with white print, told at once by the splayed “frog foot” coronet. Sub-types differ in the 3-6-9 numerals; early ones have puffy, UV-reactive lume and flat hands up to about 1.7M.
Serials run from about 516,xxx (1959) into the R and L letter series of 1987–1989. Dial types were not strictly sequential: some matte dials reappear late in the run.
No verified image of this watch yet
Identifying details
- “Frog foot” coronet
Widely splayed Rolex coronet likened to a frog’s webbed foot; the tell of the first matte Explorer 1016 dials.
- Explorer dial
Arabic 3, 6 and 9 hour markers.
Variants of 1016
Reference overview →| Variant | Production |
|---|---|
| Gilt Type 0 (OCC) | c. 1959–c. 1960 |
| Gilt Type 1 | 1960–1962 |
| Gilt Type 2 | c. 1960–1963 |
| Gilt Type 2 · Gilt Type 2, Exclamation Point and Underline | 1962–1963 |
Case & movement
- Reference
- 1016
- Production
- 1967–1974
- Case serials
- c. 1.5M–3.6MLook up Rolex serial numbers
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case diameter
- 36 mm
- Crown
- 6 mm
- Crown guards
- None
- Water resistance
- 100 m
More specifications (5)
- Crystal
- Acrylic (Tropic 22)
- Movement
- Automatic
Movement
Rolex 1560
Added KIF shock protection and a free-sprung hairspring. The Submariner chronometer caliber through the late gilt and early era.
Read more
- The History of the Rolex Explorer, The All-Rounder Watch PersonifiedRead more at Monochrome Watches (opens in a new tab)
- Explorer1016.com – Matte Mark 1Read more at Explorer1016.com (opens in a new tab)
- 1967 Rolex Explorer Ref. 1016 “Fat Font” Matte DialRead more at Craft & Tailored (opens in a new tab)
- Reference Points: A Comprehensive Collector's Guide To The Rolex Explorer IRead more at HODINKEE