- Posts
- 269
- Likes
- 191
devnull
·Just to confirm; the Explorer/airking crossover was between 1958 and 1967. If i see an older model 5500 "explorer" it is a safe bet that it is a redial?
Explorer 5500
- Posts
- 3,849
- Likes
- 27,357
adam78
·The 5500 only began production in 1958. It's a safe bet to be suspect of any 5500 Explorer, actually. There are a lot of details to confirm for a genuine one, and way too many fakes out there.
- Posts
- 14,273
- Likes
- 41,129
Canuck
·The Explorer name was found on Rolex watches long before the Explorer that is considered to be the Explorer 1, model 1016. The dials on the earlier versions of Rolex Explorer watches were many and varied. So don't assume a re-dial. Several years ago, a friend bought an "Explorer 1" from a prominent dealer. The case style number was 5500. The dial was not a genuine Rolex dial, but it was marked Superlative Chronometer, Officially Certified. Inside the case was a non- chronometer, Air King movement! Someone had replaced the dial of a model 5500 Air King with a bogus Explorer dial, and sold it as the real thing! The dealer was good about it, though. He exchanged the Frankenwatch for a real Explorer 1 for the same money!
- Posts
- 884
- Likes
- 851
speedbird
·If my own mother had a 5500 Explorer for sale, with box and papers, I still wouldn't buy it, and I know what I'm looking for. I've had the genuine article in my hands and the devil is in the details. Some of the frankenstiens are very good.
- Posts
- 14,273
- Likes
- 41,129
Canuck
·I do see listings for an "Explorer" model 5500. But it is really basically a non-chronometer Air-King with an Explorer-type dial marked simply "Precision". If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it ain't always a duck!
- Posts
- 884
- Likes
- 851
speedbird
·I have several reference books with the 5500 Explorer including high resolution photos. It takes a good eye to spot the real thing and with the 5500, they're all fake until proven innocent. If you really want one, I suggest you pour over the VRF archives, buy the books, and look for as many fake dials as you can. That way you can become familiar with what's right and what's wrong.
