Reference:16550 - Revision history

Klaudiusz: Remove duplicated 16550 dial prose and gallery heading

2026-09-29T07:50:20Z

Remove duplicated 16550 dial prose and gallery heading

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:50, 29 September 2026
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	===Cream and rail dials===		===Cream and rail dials===

	Some white dials have aged to cream or ivory. European Watch Company ~~describes~~ a defect in the white dial paint; Sotheby’s catalogues describe the ~~cream~~ tone ~~as aging. European Watch Company attributes the creaming to a paint defect; Sotheby’s describes the color~~ as aging. Neither gives paint chemistry or a factory correction date. Italian collectors use ''panna'', meaning cream, for this color.		Some white dials have aged to cream or ivory. European Watch Company attributes the creaming to a defect in the white dial paint; Sotheby’s catalogues describe the tone as aging. Neither gives paint chemistry or a factory correction date. Italian collectors use ''panna'', meaning cream, for this color.

	“Rail” refers to the vertical alignment of the C in <code>CHRONOMETER</code> with the C in <code>CERTIFIED</code>. It appears on black as well as white dials, so cream and rail are separate features. Auction catalogues identify cream rail examples from around 1985 through 1988, though their dates remain estimates for individual watches.		“Rail” refers to the vertical alignment of the C in <code>CHRONOMETER</code> with the C in <code>CERTIFIED</code>. It appears on black as well as white dials, so cream and rail are separate features. Auction catalogues identify cream rail examples from around 1985 through 1988, though their dates remain estimates for individual watches.
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	See also [[Reference:explorer-ii\|Explorer II family]], [[Reference:Movements\|Movements]], [[Reference:Bracelets\|Bracelets and clasps]] and [[Reference:Serial-numbers\|Serial numbers]].		See also [[Reference:explorer-ii\|Explorer II family]], [[Reference:Movements\|Movements]], [[Reference:Bracelets\|Bracelets and clasps]] and [[Reference:Serial-numbers\|Serial numbers]].

	~~==Gallery==~~
	<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">		<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
	File:Ref 16550 hero.webp\|Explorer II 16550		File:Ref 16550 hero.webp\|Explorer II 16550

Admin: Tighten attribution on cream and prototype dial accounts

2026-09-23T17:43:24Z

Tighten attribution on cream and prototype dial accounts

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:43, 23 September 2026
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	===Cream and rail dials===		===Cream and rail dials===

	Some white dials have aged to cream or ivory. European Watch Company describes a defect in the white dial paint; Sotheby’s catalogues describe the cream tone as aging. ~~The published accounts describe the color and, in~~ European Watch ~~Company’s case,~~ a paint defect; ~~they give no~~ paint chemistry or factory correction date. Italian collectors use ''panna'', meaning cream, for this color.		Some white dials have aged to cream or ivory. European Watch Company describes a defect in the white dial paint; Sotheby’s catalogues describe the cream tone as aging. European Watch Company attributes the creaming to a paint defect; Sotheby’s describes the color as aging. Neither gives paint chemistry or a factory correction date. Italian collectors use ''panna'', meaning cream, for this color.

	“Rail” refers to the vertical alignment of the C in <code>CHRONOMETER</code> with the C in <code>CERTIFIED</code>. It appears on black as well as white dials, so cream and rail are separate features. Auction catalogues identify cream rail examples from around 1985 through 1988, though their dates remain estimates for individual watches.		“Rail” refers to the vertical alignment of the C in <code>CHRONOMETER</code> with the C in <code>CERTIFIED</code>. It appears on black as well as white dials, so cream and rail are separate features. Auction catalogues identify cream rail examples from around 1985 through 1988, though their dates remain estimates for individual watches.
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	===Nipple-style dial===		===Nipple-style dial===

	Christie’s and Antiquorum have catalogued three 16550s with raised, cup-shaped luminous markers, described as “bicchierini” or nipple-style dials. Christie’s attributes case 8399062 to two Beyeler dials requested for the 1982 Basel fair, with one later fitted to that watch. Antiquorum called case 8584610 a prototype in 2020, then described case 9376077 as a prototype in 2021. In the later catalogue, Antiquorum said it had seen three such examples on the market, including the Christie’s and 2020 Antiquorum lots. ~~That~~ is ~~an auction-house count~~ of ~~known~~ sightings, ~~not a production total; neither catalogue cites~~ a Rolex production record ~~for the story~~.		Christie’s and Antiquorum have catalogued three 16550s with raised, cup-shaped luminous markers, described as “bicchierini” or nipple-style dials. Christie’s attributes case 8399062 to two Beyeler dials requested for the 1982 Basel fair, with one later fitted to that watch. Antiquorum called case 8584610 a prototype in 2020, then described case 9376077 as a prototype in 2021. In the later catalogue, Antiquorum said it had seen three such examples on the market, including the Christie’s and 2020 Antiquorum lots. Antiquorum’s count is a report of market sightings. The two auction houses present the dial origin as an attribution, rather than citing a Rolex production record.

	==Case, bezel and crown==		==Case, bezel and crown==
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	==Auction examples==		==Auction examples==

	~~Auction records show how~~ dial labels, measurements ~~and dates apply to~~ individual watches:		The lots below record catalogue dates, dial labels, movements and measurements on individual watches:

	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"

Admin: List source-documented 16550 bracelet pairings individually

2026-09-23T17:41:34Z

List source-documented 16550 bracelet pairings individually

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:41, 23 September 2026
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	==Bracelets and end links==		==Bracelets and end links==

	The Vintage Rolex Field Manual lists the 16550 with ~~bracelet/~~end-link ~~combinations 7206/~~58, 7836/580, 78360/580, ~~78360/~~593~~, 78360/~~501B ~~and~~ 93150/501B. Antiquorum’s 2020 prototype lot records a 78360 bracelet with 501B end links ~~on case 8584610~~. ~~The manual records~~ published fitments, and ~~Antiquorum documents one 78360/501B~~ example~~. Neither source ties every combination to~~ original delivery ~~on every 16550~~. A clasp code dates the bracelet, not the watch head.		The Vintage Rolex Field Manual lists six combinations for the 16550:

			* 7206 with end-link 58
			* 7836 with end-link 580
			* 78360 with end-links 580, 593 or 501B
			* 93150 with end-link 501B

			Antiquorum’s 2020 prototype lot also records a 78360 bracelet with 501B end links. These are published fitments and an individual example; original delivery still needs watch-specific evidence. A clasp code dates the bracelet, not the watch head.

	==Auction examples==		==Auction examples==

Admin: Escape SEO title separator after article render

2026-09-23T17:41:07Z

Escape SEO title separator after article render

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:41, 23 September 2026
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	{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Explorer II 16550}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Explorer II 16550}}
	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex Explorer II 16550 (1985–1989) \| Rolexopedia		\|title=Rolex Explorer II 16550 (1985–1989) \| Rolexopedia
	\|description=Reference guide to the Rolex Explorer II 16550, its calibre 3085, black and Polar dials, rail printing and documented prototype claims.		\|description=Reference guide to the Rolex Explorer II 16550, its calibre 3085, black and Polar dials, rail printing and documented prototype claims.
	\|keywords=Rolex, 16550, Explorer II, calibre 3085, Polar dial, cream rail dial		\|keywords=Rolex, 16550, Explorer II, calibre 3085, Polar dial, cream rail dial

Admin: Clarify each documented 16550 bracelet pairing

2026-09-23T17:40:55Z

Clarify each documented 16550 bracelet pairing

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:40, 23 September 2026
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	{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Explorer II 16550}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Explorer II 16550}}
	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex Explorer II 16550 (1985–1989) ~~\|~~ Rolexopedia		\|title=Rolex Explorer II 16550 (1985–1989) \| Rolexopedia
	\|description=Reference guide to the Rolex Explorer II 16550, its calibre 3085, black and Polar dials, rail printing and documented prototype claims.		\|description=Reference guide to the Rolex Explorer II 16550, its calibre 3085, black and Polar dials, rail printing and documented prototype claims.
	\|keywords=Rolex, 16550, Explorer II, calibre 3085, Polar dial, cream rail dial		\|keywords=Rolex, 16550, Explorer II, calibre 3085, Polar dial, cream rail dial

Admin: Escape SEO title separator; lint correction

2026-09-23T17:40:19Z

Escape SEO title separator; lint correction

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:40, 23 September 2026
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	{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Explorer II 16550}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Explorer II 16550}}
	{{#seo:		{{#seo:
	\|title=Rolex Explorer II 16550 (1985–1989) \| Rolexopedia		\|title=Rolex Explorer II 16550 (1985–1989) \| Rolexopedia
	\|description=Reference guide to the Rolex Explorer II 16550, its calibre 3085, black and Polar dials, rail printing and documented prototype claims.		\|description=Reference guide to the Rolex Explorer II 16550, its calibre 3085, black and Polar dials, rail printing and documented prototype claims.
	\|keywords=Rolex, 16550, Explorer II, calibre 3085, Polar dial, cream rail dial		\|keywords=Rolex, 16550, Explorer II, calibre 3085, Polar dial, cream rail dial

Admin: Full factual and anti-slop audit; correct calibre, dial and prototype claims

2026-09-23T17:39:52Z

Full factual and anti-slop audit; correct calibre, dial and prototype claims

Show changes

Admin: Image correction: pixel-sampled dial color confirms the archived photo is cream-toned (R-B=+20 vs +3 for a confirmed Polar reference shot), not Polar white as the stale original caption claimed. Move it to Cream and rail dial section; restore single-image Polar section.

2026-09-12T03:19:20Z

Image correction: pixel-sampled dial color confirms the archived photo is cream-toned (R-B=+20 vs +3 for a confirmed Polar reference shot), not Polar white as the stale original caption claimed. Move it to Cream and rail dial section; restore single-image Polar section.

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:19, 12 September 2026
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	===Polar (white) dial===		===Polar (white) dial===
			[[File:Ref 16550 polar-dial.webp\|thumb\|right\|280px\|alt=Polar white dial 16550\|Polar white dial with white-gold index surrounds]]
	~~<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">~~
	File:Ref 16550 polar-dial.webp\|alt=Polar white dial 16550\|Polar white dial with white-gold index surrounds
	~~File:Ref 16550 polar-dial-front.webp\|alt=Polar white dial 16550 front view\|Polar white dial 16550, front view~~
	~~</gallery>~~

	The Polar dial 16550 is the first white-dial Explorer II. Its practical tell is the white-gold index surround, where the 16570 later moved to black surrounds. A white dial with black surrounds on a 16550 should be checked carefully.		The Polar dial 16550 is the first white-dial Explorer II. Its practical tell is the white-gold index surround, where the 16570 later moved to black surrounds. A white dial with black surrounds on a 16550 should be checked carefully.

	===Cream and rail dial===		===Cream and rail dial===
			[[File:Ref 16550 cream dial example.webp\|thumb\|right\|280px\|alt=Cream-toned 16550 with steel surrounds\|A cream-toned 16550 example]]

	The cream dial is the most-discussed variant on the 16550. A subset of Polar white dials aged to a distinctive cream or ivory tone, called panna in Italian collector usage and peach on the most orange-shifted examples. Rolex never specified the colour as a finish. Collector consensus traces it to a defect in the early white dial paint composition, an affected batch more photosensitive than the corrected formula that oxidised unevenly over time and shifted to cream. Rolex revised the paint mid-run, though no precise cutover date is documented.		The cream dial is the most-discussed variant on the 16550. A subset of Polar white dials aged to a distinctive cream or ivory tone, called panna in Italian collector usage and peach on the most orange-shifted examples. Rolex never specified the colour as a finish. Collector consensus traces it to a defect in the early white dial paint composition, an affected batch more photosensitive than the corrected formula that oxidised unevenly over time and shifted to cream. Rolex revised the paint mid-run, though no precise cutover date is documented.

Admin: Image cleanup: remove duplicate placement of the retired hero (same photo already placed correctly as Polar white dial in the Dial map section; this copy mislabeled it cream-toned and duplicated the same image under a second filename)

2026-09-12T03:14:11Z

Image cleanup: remove duplicate placement of the retired hero (same photo already placed correctly as Polar white dial in the Dial map section; this copy mislabeled it cream-toned and duplicated the same image under a second filename)

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:14, 12 September 2026
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	===Cream and rail dial===		===Cream and rail dial===
	~~[[File:Ref 16550 cream dial example.webp\|thumb\|right\|280px\|alt=Cream-toned 16550 with steel surrounds\|A cream-toned 16550 example]]~~

	The cream dial is the most-discussed variant on the 16550. A subset of Polar white dials aged to a distinctive cream or ivory tone, called panna in Italian collector usage and peach on the most orange-shifted examples. Rolex never specified the colour as a finish. Collector consensus traces it to a defect in the early white dial paint composition, an affected batch more photosensitive than the corrected formula that oxidised unevenly over time and shifted to cream. Rolex revised the paint mid-run, though no precise cutover date is documented.		The cream dial is the most-discussed variant on the 16550. A subset of Polar white dials aged to a distinctive cream or ivory tone, called panna in Italian collector usage and peach on the most orange-shifted examples. Rolex never specified the colour as a finish. Collector consensus traces it to a defect in the early white dial paint composition, an affected batch more photosensitive than the corrected formula that oxidised unevenly over time and shifted to cream. Rolex revised the paint mid-run, though no precise cutover date is documented.

Admin: Layout: hero inserted; 1 gallery plate(s)

2026-09-12T03:11:25Z

Layout: hero inserted; 1 gallery plate(s)

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:11, 12 September 2026
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	===Polar (white) dial===		===Polar (white) dial===
	[[File:Ref 16550 polar-dial.webp~~\|thumb\|right\|280px~~\|alt=Polar white dial 16550\|Polar white dial with white-gold index surrounds]]
	[[File:Ref 16550 polar-dial-front.webp~~\|thumb\|right\|240px~~\|alt=Polar white dial 16550 front view\|Polar white dial 16550, front view]]		<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
			File:Ref 16550 polar-dial.webp\|alt=Polar white dial 16550\|Polar white dial with white-gold index surrounds
			File:Ref 16550 polar-dial-front.webp\|alt=Polar white dial 16550 front view\|Polar white dial 16550, front view
			</gallery>

	The Polar dial 16550 is the first white-dial Explorer II. Its practical tell is the white-gold index surround, where the 16570 later moved to black surrounds. A white dial with black surrounds on a 16550 should be checked carefully.		The Polar dial 16550 is the first white-dial Explorer II. Its practical tell is the white-gold index surround, where the 16570 later moved to black surrounds. A white dial with black surrounds on a 16550 should be checked carefully.