Rolex Explorer II Ref. 16570 - Chicchi di Mas 'Polar' with Papers
Straight Facts
The Rolex Explorer’s core has always been in rugged expedition. While it was originally born out of the Everest celebratory Explorer I - the Explorer II was designed for cave diving. Officially known as spelunking!
While the initial run of Explorer II (the ref. 1655 - or McQueen reference) had black dials with orange accents - later iterations like the present 16570 used a white dial. We sometimes refer to these as ‘Polar’ dials and they are among the most striking modern Rolex dials due to their monochromatic scheme with gloss white dials and black outer lume rings.
So What is Chicchi di Mais?
In Spanish, this means ‘Corn Kernel’ which describes the extremely attractive and unusual way a small set of these watches aged from the early 1990s. Now that I have said it, you can see how the small round lume plots resemble bright yellow corn kernels!
The Chicchi di Mais Dial aside - the 16570 also remains the last truly great value in sport-Rolex offering both an iconic sports model, full size 40mm case, and GMT-function for less than a brand new example (which looks almost identical!). Did we mention it has its original papers too? We strongly recommend picking this one up now before the secret gets out!
*Some marks or spots on the dial are reflections or dust on the crystal and are due to high intensity strobe lighting used while photographing. They are not actually on the watch or visible in natural lighting.
Condition Report & Details
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Shipping, Returns, & Warranty
Every Oliver & Clarke timepiece comes with a one-year mechanical warranty starting from the date of delivery. We ensure all watches are in wonderful working condition and are ready for daily wear. Many have been fully serviced by our team of watchmakers.
Please note:
- Due to the vintage or antique nature of many of our watches, they may not keep time as accurately as when new, nor as precisely as quartz or electronic devices.
- We do not guarantee water resistance and do not warranty against moisture or water damage. Deliberate exposure to water or steam is not recommended.
Warranty Exclusions:
- Internal or external damage caused by accidents, mishandling, abuse, modifications, or services performed by anyone other than our authorized personnel.
- Our warranty is non-transferable.
The Oliver & Clarke Guarantee
At Oliver & Clarke, we meticulously vet each watch to ensure its authenticity and quality. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and our mission is to help you find the perfect timepiece. If you have any questions, we are here to assist you promptly.
Our Guarantee:
- Each timepiece is thoroughly evaluated, authenticated, and approved by our expert team before it is offered for sale.
- We guarantee the period-correctness of all components unless otherwise stated.
- The authenticity of each watch is guaranteed in perpetuity.
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From Rolex & Patek Philippe, to Cartier & Audemars Piguet. As collectors first, we love the small details that separate the Submariner from Daytona and Calatrava from Royal Oak. This is why you'll find our curated assortment spans decades of generations of models and brands. We believe that watches don't just tell time, they tell history - and life is too short to wear a boring watch.
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