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Lot Essay
The British Ministry of Defence has a long and storied association with Rolex, most famously through the legendary 'MilSub' reference 5513, produced in the 1970s for the British Royal Navy, a model that today ranks among the most sought-after vintage Rolex watches ever made. In keeping with this tradition, the British Special Air Service (SAS), one of the most prestigious and esteemed military organizations in the world, specially commissioned the current reference 216570 in 2012.
These watches were made in very small quantities and, according to their International Guarantee cards, were only available to active SAS soldiers via Rolex London. Each example has unique personalized engravings that identify the watch's original owner, such as the SAS's winged dagger insignia on the caseback, the regimental motto 'Who Dares Wins' on the caseband, and the soldier's unique ZAP code.
Reference 216570
In honor of the original 1971 reference 1655 'Freccione', reference 216570 was launched at Baselworld 2011 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Explorer II. It featured the updated caliber 3187, a bright orange 24-hour hand, and a larger 42 mm case. The Explorer II's 24-hour hand was first created for professionals like cave explorers and polar expeditions, who needed to be able to tell day from night in situations where there was no natural light. The model developed into a dual-time wristwatch by the middle of the 1980s, making it a reliable and adaptable instrument for daily and work-related use.
These watches were made in very small quantities and, according to their International Guarantee cards, were only available to active SAS soldiers via Rolex London. Each example has unique personalized engravings that identify the watch's original owner, such as the SAS's winged dagger insignia on the caseback, the regimental motto 'Who Dares Wins' on the caseband, and the soldier's unique ZAP code.
Reference 216570
In honor of the original 1971 reference 1655 'Freccione', reference 216570 was launched at Baselworld 2011 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Explorer II. It featured the updated caliber 3187, a bright orange 24-hour hand, and a larger 42 mm case. The Explorer II's 24-hour hand was first created for professionals like cave explorers and polar expeditions, who needed to be able to tell day from night in situations where there was no natural light. The model developed into a dual-time wristwatch by the middle of the 1980s, making it a reliable and adaptable instrument for daily and work-related use.