Rolex
Rolex Explorer II 1655
“Steve McQueen / Freccione”
The Rolex Explorer II (reference 1655) is a 39 mm stainless Steel watch with a black dial. It runs on the automatic caliber 1575 with a 48-hour power reserve and is water resistant to 60 m. It was made from 1971 to 1984.
Specifications
Case
- Reference
- 1655
- Nickname
- Steve McQueen / Freccione
- Collection
- Explorer II
- Case size
- 39 mm
- Case material
- Stainless Steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Crystal
- Acrylic
- Water resistance
- 60 m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless Steel
Dial and bezel
- Dial
- Black
- Bezel
- Fixed steel 24-hour
Movement
- Movement
- Automatic
- Caliber
- 1575
- Power reserve
- 48 hours
- Functions
- Date / GMT
Production
- Production
- 1971–1984
Dial versions
This reference was made with these dials and finishes.
1655 Steve McQueen
Matte; tritium · “Steve McQueen / Freccione”
How it compares within the Explorer II family
Side by side with other references in the same collection, from the catalog.
About the Explorer II family
The Explorer II was introduced in 1971 with ref. 1655, a watch for cave explorers and polar researchers that adds a 24-hour hand and a fixed 24-hour bezel so the wearer can tell day from night. The first version had a large orange 24-hour hand.
The ref. 16550 of the mid-1980s made the 24-hour hand independently adjustable, which turned the watch into a practical second time zone, and offered white or black dials. The 16570 carried on until 2011, when the 42 mm ref. 216570 brought back an orange hand. The current ref. 226570 of 2021 uses caliber 3285. White-dial versions, often called Polar, and black-dial versions trade as separate variants, and dealers note the dial colour first.
Quick answers
- What size is the Rolex Explorer II 1655?
- The Rolex Explorer II 1655 has a 39 mm case.
- What movement does the Rolex Explorer II 1655 use?
- It uses the automatic caliber 1575, with a 48-hour power reserve.
- How water resistant is the Rolex Explorer II 1655?
- It is water resistant to 60 metres.
- Is the Rolex Explorer II 1655 still in production?
- No. It was made until 1984.
- When did the Rolex Explorer II 1655 come out?
- It was introduced in 1971 and made until 1984.
- What is the Rolex Explorer II 1655 made of?
- The case is stainless Steel. Bracelet or strap: Stainless Steel.
- What is the Rolex Explorer II 1655 nicknamed?
- Dealers and collectors call it the “Steve McQueen / Freccione”.
Catalog facts checked October 2026.