1965 Rolex Explorer Ref. 1016 With Tropical Dial

Why This Watch Matters The Explorer ref. 1016 is one of our favorite vintage watches to offer, with a tropical dial unlike any other, it is just that much better. The Full Story The Rolex Explorer was the most talked about Rolex model of 2021, after the brand's resizing of the modern iteration back to classic 36mm standards and the introduction of a two-tone offering. This watch is all over the news today – including a recent HODINKEE Reference Points treatment. Boil down the Rolex sport watch to its purest form, and what's left? A 1016 Explorer – nothing more, nothing less. As the market continues to skew collectors toward a more modest wrist presence, the 1016, with its classic 36mm diameter, has only become more sought-after. This example from 1965 features one of the extremely desirable tropical dials. Originally glossy, like all early 1016s, depending on the life the watch has lived and the dial's original production batch, some tend to turn this beautiful mix of brown tones. Sitt