Where To Start Getting To Know The 1016/6610?

oddboy · Dec 19, 2015

Hey Rolex dudes,

I wanted to get to know the explorer a bit better. I was wondering if there's a good place to get started..? Vrf is tough to get use to after OF, but that's where I'm poking around.

Any suggestions welcome!

Thanks!

cfw · Dec 23, 2015

Best place would be rolexforum.com. I use tapatalk and the format between here and there are very similar.

cfw · Dec 23, 2015

U can even try watchuseek.com they have a large Rolex sub forum there

timjohn · Dec 23, 2015

You could try Skeet and Urul's Vintage Rolex Sports Models as a starting point for the basic taxonomy. As far as I'm aware the variants aren't as confusing as the Subs, but there are a lot of frankens out there.

michaelmc · Dec 25, 2015

Search the VRF archives for dial and hand variations. These are very nice watches to wear if you have a smaller wrist. Lovely dials, clean balanced design. Beware of lots of fakes and over polished & worn cases as these had smaller type lugs already and many are worn down by wear and over zealous polishing. The 1016 has the 1530 base movement and is a real workhorse. Take your time as many still available.

E-diddy · Dec 25, 2015

I've owned the 1016. Solid and one of my most accurate pieces. At 36mm and being a time-only watch, it wears small -- my only complaint.

E-diddy · Dec 25, 2015

...If had to do it again, I would go for a gilt and/or chapter ring dial. The more rare 6610 would be great too 😀

adam78 · Dec 25, 2015

E-diddy
I've owned the 1016. Solid and one of my most accurate pieces. At 36mm and being a time-only watch, it wears small -- my only complaint.

From your avatar, it looks like it would perfectly fit your slender wrist...😉

E-diddy · Dec 25, 2015

adam78
From your avatar, it looks like it would perfectly fit your slender wrist...😉

Haha yes, my wrist is only 7". I should've said the 1016 wears small for my taste (my pref is 37-40mm).
Close up wrist pics are misleading though. That UG looks big'ish on me, but in reality is small.

Archer · Dec 26, 2015

1016's are nice...serviced this one a while back...

Would have bought it if I thought I could, but it was a family watch...

Cheers, Al

alam · Dec 26, 2015

One listed in Watchnet, Seller claims 100% original...

http://forums.watchnet.com/index.php?t=tree&goto=757096&rid=0

adrienbelanger · Jan 6, 2016

I think the 6610 is a real sleeper compared to other Rolex sports/tool watches of the mid 1950s. If I'm being picky, a "red depth" 6610 would be a great one to own. If you want to know more about that particular variant, I recommend this post on WatchProSite.

The red depth 6610 is not easy to find though. This one sold for over £10k with fees last night at an obscure auction house in Canada, and the depth line looks a little odd to me.

oddboy · Jan 6, 2016

Thanks! that is some great info! thank you!

...now, one of these, or a Tudor Ranger... both seem like treacherous territory..

timjohn · Jan 6, 2016

I may be missing something, but I thought the red depth 6610s had their depth rating in, well, red.

This is the last one I saw go for auction, at Sotheby's in Hong Kong: HK$250,000 (about $30k) on an estimate of US$10-15,000

adrienbelanger · Jan 6, 2016

timjohn
I may be missing something, but I thought the red depth 6610s had their depth rating in, well, red.

This is the last one I saw go for auction, at Sotheby's in Hong Kong: HK$250,000 (about $30k) on an estimate of US$10-15,000

Hence @oddboy 's treacherous territory comment!! It's either plain wrong or some even more obscure variant...

I have seen one other like it, on Instagram a few weeks ago: click here.

Not sure about you but I would definitely be more comfortable buying a proper red one!

kyle L · Jan 6, 2016

timjohn
I may be missing something, but I thought the red depth 6610s had their depth rating in, well, red.

This is the last one I saw go for auction, at Sotheby's in Hong Kong: HK$250,000 (about $30k) on an estimate of US$10-15,000

I have seen one or two in the past without red writing, unfortunately no pictures. :-( They can also be found on similar period Oysters.

E-diddy · Jan 6, 2016

I totally want a 6610 w/ chapter ring dial and a bracelet now. no fries.

timjohn · Jan 6, 2016

adrienbelanger
I have seen one other like it, on Instagram a few weeks ago: click here.

Not sure about you but I would definitely be more comfortable buying a proper red one!

Me too! Looking at that Canadian one, it looks like the depth rating is too close to the Explorer text.

They're a minefield. This is my 5504, which according to the purists should have a Super Precision dial rather than the SCOC. What makes it interesting to me is that it has the same movement as the early 1016s (1530) and was produced in 1959, after production of the 1016 started. I wonder if they were finishing up the 5504 cases, but that might just be wishful thinking....

Novice · Mar 22, 2016

Check out this blog for a history of the Explorer I:

http://stefanomazzariol.blogspot.hk/search/label/Rolex Explorer 1 Story

Where To Start Getting To Know The 1016/6610?

oddboy

cfw

cfw

timjohn

michaelmc

E-diddy

E-diddy

adam78

E-diddy

Archer

alam

adrienbelanger

oddboy

timjohn

adrienbelanger

kyle L

E-diddy

timjohn

Novice

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