1655
Steve McQueen
- Production
- 1971–1985
- Model
- Explorer II
- Case material
- Oystersteel
- Case size
- 39mm
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- Cal. 1575
- Dial colours
- Black
- Market value band
- $28k – $75k
The first Explorer II, built for cave explorers who needed to know whether it was day or night underground — hence the fixed 24-hour bezel and the oversized orange hand. The 'Steve McQueen' nickname is a well-documented misattribution: McQueen was a Submariner wearer, and no evidence has ever surfaced that he owned a 1655. The name stuck anyway.
- The 24-hour hand and fixed bezel were designed for speleologists, not travellers — unlike the GMT-Master, it cannot track a second time zone in the usual sense.
- The nickname is trade folklore, not provenance. Treat any claim of McQueen association on an individual watch as requiring documentary proof.
Before you ask.
When was the Rolex 1655 produced?
The 1655 was produced from 1971 to 1985.
What movement does the Rolex 1655 use?
The Rolex 1655 runs the Cal. 1575, an automatic movement.
How do I check a Rolex 1655 with Watch Safe?
Look up the watch's serial number in the Watch Safe registry to see whether a record exists or a theft flag is attached. A registry search identifies records for a specific serial; it does not authenticate the watch. Authentication is performed in person by an independent expert authenticator, and Watch Safe records and publishes the result.
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