Rolex Explorer ref. 5500 Bull Eye Dial

Rolex Explorer ref. 5500 Bull Eye Dial
Serial 2859**,1957

Case:
steel in very good condition
Serial and reference are perfectly visible between the lugs

Dial:
original Rolex Bull Eye dial
in very good condition

Case back:
original Rolex 5500
in very good condition

Bracelet:
Oyster bracelet in very good condition

Accessories: none

Price 6,800 €

Not all Rolex 5500 Explorers are fakes, just most of them.
There is a widespread belief that Rolex 5500 Explorers were sold only through the NAAF (a kind of military outlet) to serving British officers. I know for a fact that this is legend, although I am willing to admit that some may have been marketed in this way. Perhaps Rolex really intended to market them all this way, but sales did not live up to expectations, so the surplus was then sold through normal sales channels .

These watches were produced from 1958 to 1967, on the wave of the success of the EXPLORER watch ,or even just the inscription. Yes, because the market at the time was not fully ready for such a sporty watch, and so Rolex for those who wanted a more elegant version added the EXPLORER inscription on more classic dials dubbed DRESS.

The 5500 Explorer was available in two variants, Precision and Super Precision. This was related to the movement mounted, the Precision version mounted the 1520 while the Super Precision version mounted the 1530.
No 5500 Explorer was ever certified as a chronometer ( this was to keep the price down while having the usual chronometer caliber).

To recap:
– 1953: Rolex launches the first Explorer watch.
– 1957: Rolex introduces the Air-King 5500.
– 1958: Air-King 5500 sold to the public and at the same time Rolex offers a version of the ref. 5500 with an Explorer dial.
– 1967 (circa): Rolex discontinues production of the Explorer 5500.
– 1989: Rolex discontinues production of the Air-King 5500.

So absolutely, these dials are found only in this time frame and especially in the 1960s period. Of the EXPLORER 3 6 9 version, service dials were produced but they were with matt finish and not gilt. Besides these, alas, the market for fake dials is full.

Let us come to the Dress dials and specifically the Bull Eye dial marked Explorer or Everest. Produced ONLY for the Canadian market. Again marked Precision or Super Precision depending on the caliber fitted.
Extremely rare watches, the Everest version for ref. 5504 and Explorer for ref. 5500, are now part of the virtually extinct watches. There is no supply version of these dials.