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italianoVintage 1969 Rolex ref. 1016 Explorer w/Beautiful Mk 1 Matte Dial
Posted by $14,850
Vintage 1969 Rolex ref. 1016 Explorer w/Beautiful Mk 1 Matte Dial
$14,850
Up for sale is this classic vintage Rolex reference 1016 Oyster Perpetual Explorer Chronometer featuring a beautiful Mark I matte dial, aka “Frog Foot” due to the shape of the coronet, with creamy original Tritium luminous markers and a perfectly matching Mercedes handset. This Explorer has a 2.1 million serial number and dates to 1969, as per the matching inner caseback date/quarter stamp. This great 1016 comes on a Swiss-made 7206 rivet Oyster bracelet with model-correct 58 end-pieces that has a later (and very uncommon!) service replacement clasp & buckle assembly with “VC” date code (circa 1978). The watch itself is no safe queen and has clearly been worn and enjoyed throughout its long life, with a case that is still Very Good by vintage standards. But it's the stunning original matte dial & matching handset that really makes this one special, with just a subtle ring of hard-to-see “frosting” along the outer right edge of the dial keeping it from being perfect. One of the most versatile of the great 20th-Century Rolex Sports models, this wonderful 36mm vintage Explorer is ready to accompany its lucky new owner on any and all of their own future adventures.
The asking price for this classic Rolex 1016 Explorer with beautiful original matte Tritium dial is $14,850 USD, including fully insured shipping. Domestic U.S. deals preferred these days but I’ll certainly listen to international buyers. Bank wire/direct transfer only on this watch. Payment must be made in US DOLLARS. The watch will ship upon full clearance of the funds, as well as any necessary bank vetting. Feel free to contact me via DM or at [email protected] or [email protected].
CASE, BACK & BEZEL: The classic ref. 1016 Oyster case measures 36mm across x 44mm lug-to-lug and is a svelte 11mm thick to the top of the crystal. No safe queen, this watch has clearly been worn and enjoyed through the years. It looks to me to have been lightly polished/detailed in the past but there are still a fair amount of scratches, nicks and minor dings throughout - Very Good likely previously polished vintage condition for this 56-year-old timepiece. The smooth, pressure-fit bezel also has marks commensurate with those on the case, while the outer caseback shows mainly some minor tool marks but, logically, not as much wear. The complete 2.12 million serial number is crisp and legible between the “6” lugs, as is the “1016” model number on the “12” side. According to the best available information, the serial number perfectly matches the “II.69” inner caseback date/quarter stamp. All other Rolex nomenclature of the era is also present inside the caseback and there is little to no corrosion at the edges, which is quite uncommon for a steel tool watch of this age, even a Rolex Oyster.
DIAL & HANDS: Beautiful Mark I matte Tritium dial in Excellent+ condition with a perfectly matching handset. Correctly for the later ‘60s, the luminous compound on this dial and handset glows faintly and fades quickly under UV lighting, unlike the very active zinc sulfide-heavy mixture used on the very first generation of matte dials. The only thing keeping this dial from being graded Mint by my strict standards is a very hard-to-see-without-a-loupe - and difficult to photograph! - band of “frosting” for lack of a better term along the outer right side edge between roughly “2” and “6”, where the matte texture appears a bit more shiny. Since it’s not always visible, I have endeavored to highlight this with a few photos taken under very harsh lighting conditions and at acute angles, but it is really quite subtle and hard to see while on the wrist in most circumstances. Otherwise, it’s really a fantastic matte dial, with the iconic luminous Explorer numerals, bar markers and triangle at “12” all intact and displaying a lovely uniform creamy patina. The silver hands are shiny and Near Mint and the original tritium luminous fill of all three hands matches the dial perfectly. Just a classic and legendary Rolex dial layout in wonderful original condition and a real stunner on the wrist!
CROWN: The signed Rolex Twinlock crown is in Excellent cosmetic condition, screws down properly and unscrews to the winding and time-setting positions, as it should. The winding action is also particularly smooth on this watch.
CRYSTAL: The older domed acrylic crystal is chip and crack-free but has clearly been polished numerous times through the years, as it’s actually started to flatten a bit in the middle. It does also show a bit of crazing and the residue of older scratches, as well as some sort of visible-with-a-loupe marks/spotting to the underside - merely Very Good vintage condition on this old plexi.
MOVEMENT: This 1016 features its correct, non-hacking OP caliber 1570 chronometer-grade movement with 26-jewels, originally adjusted to five positions and temperature. This robust automatic movement was last fully overhauled a couple of years ago and then inspected and re-oiled by my watchmaker a few weeks back. It is therefore running flawlessly and keeping good time, with a strong power reserve. Guaranteed to be the case at the time of shipment.
BRACELET: This Explorer comes on a Swiss-made 7206 rivet Oyster bracelet with “58” end pieces, which are correct for 1016s of this era. However, the clasp blades and buckle are later service replacements, with the “VC” code on the blade dating to circa 1978. Note also the very uncommon style of the clasp embossing and design - a bit of a Rolex rarity in and of itself, I’d have to say. This rivet bracelet is in Excellent cosmetic condition and has 11 links with only minimal stretch. It fits up to around a 7 1/4-inch wrist at maximum length and can be sized down around 7/8” from there.
As a matter of policy, I make NO guarantees for the water resistance of this watch in any way, shape or form.
This great Vintage Rolex Explorer is offered with a 3-day inspection period from the date of receipt and may be returned for a full refund (less any shipping costs incurred by the buyer). This refund is unconditional and, once I get the watch back in exactly the same condition as it was sent to you, your money will be refunded. Once the 3 days are over, the sale will be considered FINAL.
Thanks for looking,
T.
[email protected]
[email protected]
Estimated Private Party Value $14,351 — $16,775
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| Established: | 1905 |
|---|---|
| Website: | https://www.rolex.com/ |
| Country of Origin: |  Switzerland |
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$9,499.95
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