once this item comes back in stock
This 16550 is in overall excellent vintage condition. The case is in good condition with scratches and wear, it appears to have been polished. The bezel is in very good condition with some wear, scratches and some nicks along the edge. It also has some wear in the numbers. The cream dial is in excellent condition with light patina. The lume on the dial and in the hands have developed patina and aged to a lovely beige color. The lume on the dial and in the hands are close to matching in color. The hands have developed patina. The bracelet is in great condition with some wear and scratches, it has light stretch between the links.
The reference 16550 played an integral role in the Rolex Explorer II's history. When it came to market in the mid-1980s, it was the first reference in the series to feature a larger 40mm case, an upgraded scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, and a higher-beat caliber 3085 Perpetual movement. Reference 16550 was also the first Explorer II to sport the now-standard Mercedes-style hands and dot, triangle, and baton hour markers. The bezel was also upgraded from the retro 24-hour scale separated by hashes, as seen on its predecessor ref. 1655, to 24-hour graduations separated by inverted triangles. With reference 16550, the collection as we know it today started taking shape.
This circa 1984 example is referred to as a "Cream dial" because the white dial has aged to a creamy ivory color. This is something we see with these 1980s white dial 16550s and that is one of the main reasons why collectors gravitate towards these. Collectors have also nicknamed this as a "rail" dials due to the placement of the four words on the bottom of the dial "Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified." The words line up perfectly above each other leaving an even gap between the words, to read more about "rail" dials go here.
Beautiful watch in excellent condition! I could not be happier! My experience with Bob's Watches was perfect. Great customer service and fast shipping. I asked a question and it was answered within minutes. I felt very comfortable during the entire process. Do yourself a favor and buy from Bob's! I hope to again!
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