Rolex 5500
Explorer "Early Tritium Dial" Vintage 1963 - Original Box

Very rare dial on this vintage Rolex Explorer; one of the very first to have tritium luminous paint. The use of this was mandated from 1963; to indicate their compliance, many dials then already in production were quickly over-printed with a little horizontal line below the model name, or had "T<25" etc. added. However, on this original and correct dial, no such over-printing has been applied. The non-radium luminous hour markers are sharp and beautifully factory-produced.

The model is one of the last examples produced with the automatic calibre 1530, denoted by the presence of words 'Super Precision' on the dial at 6 o'clock. Later, during 1963, Rolex switched to calibre 1520. The first owner was rightly proud of this watch – the inside of the caseback has no fewer than 12 service marks, most of which appear to be by Rolex, the earliest in 1968. Clasp code for 1976; supplied with its original box, and warranted for 2 years by Watch Club.