Prototype, Black Nipple Dial with Silver Print
Explorer II 16550 — Prototype, Black Nipple Dial with Silver Print
Prototype with a black nipple dial printed in silver, shown in public for the first time in 2022. Case 8'424'036, movement 1'063'148 (c. 1985).
Made in smaller numbers than the references either side. Dated case numbers run from about 8.4M (1985; one sold new in January 1985) through 9.1M–9.7M (1986–1987) to R serials (1987–1988). The bezel exists with a fat, square font and a slimmer font.
Identifying details
- Independent hour hand
Local hour hand jumps in one-hour steps independently of the 24-hour hand.
- 24-hour hand
Fourth, 24-hour hand read against a 24-hour bezel for a second time zone.
- Quickset date
Date can be set rapidly with the crown.
- Date
Date display.
- Cyclops
Magnifying lens over the date.
- Nipple dial
Applied gold hour markers with luminous centres.
Variants of 16550
Reference overview →| Variant | Production |
|---|---|
| Black Dial | Undated |
| White Dial, White-Gold Surrounds | Undated |
| White Dial, White-Gold Surrounds · White Dial, Rail | Undated |
| White Dial, Black Surrounds | Undated |
Case & movement
- Reference
- 16550
- Production
- c. 1985
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case diameter
- 40 mm
- Water resistance
- 100 m
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Chronometer
- Yes
More specifications (2)
- Date
Movement
Rolex 3085
First Rolex GMT caliber whose local hour hand jumps in one-hour steps independently of the 24-hour hand, without stopping the watch. Used only in the ref. 16760.
Automatic · Introduced 1983 · 27 jewels