Vintage Rolex Explorer 1016 Black

Vintage Watch Condition Examination:

This Rolex 1016 is in overall honest, attractive vintage condition.  The case is in good condition with normal signs of wear. The glossy dial has developed patina, wear, and some scratches throughout. The dial has also developed a few spots throughout and is still glossy. The lume on the dial has developed patina and has aged to an attractive yellow color. The hands have developed patina and have been color corrected/ relumed to match the color of the lume on the dial. The replacement bracelet is in overall great condition with normal signs of wear and light stretch between the links. The clasp was replaced at some point with a C&I USA Rolex version. 

Rolex introduced the 1016 Explorer in 1959 and it was in production until 1989 making it one of the longest running produced references from the brand. At the beginning of the run Rolex made the dials glossy and then switched to the matte style around 1966. You can split up the glossy dial variant to ones with and without chapter rings, the example we have here today has the chapter ring. The chapter ring is the circle around the edge of the dial that the minute hash marks are connected to. This little detail gives the model a vastly different look than ones without the chapter ring.

This example is in overall beautiful and honest condition, it has that quintessential vintage Rolex look and feel. It’s amazing how the chapter ring really gives the 1016 a different look when comparing to later versions.