Rolex — Explorer II
Explorer II 16550
“Transitional Polar / cream dial”
Produced 1985–1989. The short-lived Explorer II 16550 is the transitional model that made the line recognizably modern: 40 mm steel case, sapphire crystal, Caliber 3085 with independently adjustable 24-hour hand, fixed 24-hour bezel, and…
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Reference16550
BrandRolex
FamilyExplorer II
Produced1985–1989
StatusDiscontinued
Editorial context
Stories featuring 16550
Follow this reference into the histories, collector guides, and cultural stories where it matters.
Rolex — 9 min readRolex Explorer: Everest, Caves, and the Cleanest Tool-Watch IdeaA connected history of the Rolex Explorer and Explorer II, from the Everest-era Oyster Perpetuals and early 6350/6610 references to the long-running 1016, the modern 14270 and 114270, the 39 mm and revived 36 mm Explorer, and the orange-hand Explorer II built for darkness.
Rolex nicknames — 9 min readPepsi, Batman and the Names Rolex Will Never PrintRolex says bleu/rouge; everyone else says Pepsi. A field guide to the soda cans, superheroes and Muppets collectors have named their watches after, and to the handful of names the purists still won't say out loud.
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