Dating all the way back to 1953, the original Rolex Explorer line can be regarded as Rolex’s very first professional sports watch. Even though these rugged timepieces were intended for professional use, they lacked any specific features or complications that would make them particularly tailored to exploration or the outdoors. On the contrary, they were simply highly durable, self-winding watches that displayed nothing more than the time of day.
Rolex expanded their Explorer line of watches with the release of the reference 1655. Instead of simply being a revised version of the existing Explorer watch, the reference 1655 was a totally different timepiece; and as such, was given the “Explorer II” designation. Rather than replacing the existing Explorer, the reference 1655 Explorer II was to be provided alongside the traditional, time-only Explorer watch as a complementary offering within the fake Rolex catalog. 
Designed for speleologists exploring deep caverns below the surface of the earth, the reference 1655 was uniquely engineered for those living and working for extended periods of time in low-light conditions. What’s more, a large, bright orange, arrow-shaped, 24-hour hand was added to serve as a prominent AM/PM indicator, so that its users would not lose their sense of time after spending several days in total darkness.
In order to provide the extra functionality of a 24-hour hand and date complication, the fake Rolex equipped the Explorer II 1655 with the same 26-jewel, COSC-rated, caliber 1575 movement that they used inside their GMT-Master line of watches. Besides, the luxury replica watch also acquired the “Steve McQueen” nickname due to a Rolex advertising campaign that featured the famous Hollywood actor. However, it should be noted that no proof exists that McQueen ever actually owned or wore this special model; instead most photographs show the actor wearing a reference 5513 Submariner in his personal life.
The reference 1655 is crucial significant because it was the very first Explorer II, and no other watch that the replica Rolex has ever produced looks anything like it. Subsequent generations of the Explorer II most closely resemble GMT-Master II watches with fixed, stainless steel bezels and the option of a white dial; however the reference 1655 was a timepiece completely of its own design, and represents the original, unadulterated idea that Rolex had for the Explorer II watch. Although it was relatively unpopular while it was in production, the reference 1655 is now highly sought after by collectors thanks to its very special appearance and important position within Rolex’s long and illustrious history.