Traditionally, the 5500 reference number has corresponded to Rolex’s Air-King line of watches; however for almost a decade between roughly 1958 and 1967, Rolex fitted reference 5500 watches with Explorer dials that largely resembled the dials found inside their standard, 36 mm version of the Explorer, the reference 1016. To match their dials, these reference 5500 Explorer watches also received scaled-down versions of Rolex’s classic, “Mercedes-style” sport hands. The end result was a watch that more-or-less resembled the reference 1016 Explorer, just in a slightly smaller, 34-mm package.

This specific watch has a tropical brown dial with aged matching hands and hour markers.

Brand: Rolex

Model: 5500

Year:  1959

Case: Stainless steel 34 mm case with minimal signs of use around the case of the watch. Watch has been previously polished and lugs are worn. Watch has 19 mm lug width

Bezel: Stainless steel smooth bezel

Crown: Original Rolex Signed Screw Down

Crystal: Acrylic 

Dial & Hands: Original tropical explorer dial with matching hands and hour markers

Movement: Automatic Cal. 1530

Bracelet/Strap: Comes with original Rolex Oyster Bracelet 78350 Z8 Code (11 links) , set to fit wrists up to 7 inches. Bracelet has very minimal slack

Note: Watch is fully functioning and running at -20 seconds and winds smooth

Box & Papers: None

Warranty: Free 6 months repair warranty