The dial of this Rolex Explorer Super Precision, is completely original, with its contrasting gilt and silver text and pre-tritium luminous compound, set against a beautiful finely-mottled black surface. Also note the old-style seconds marks, joined up by a gilt-printed outer circle.

Rolex serial number data for the 1950s can be quite sketchy (this example has a six digit code starting with 281xxx), but this watch can be very precisely dated to 1958 from the code inside the matching case-back (II.1958); this correlates exactly with published sources (e.g. Skeet & Urul, Vintage Rolex Sports Models). The automatic rotor is the original early "curly" type, and is in exceptionally clean condition, as is the rest of the movement and indeed the whole watch. Sold with a two-year guarantee.