1967 Rolex Explorer I 'Frog Foot' Dial 1016

Featuring a 36mm diameter Oyster case with smooth bezel and acrylic dome crystal and with a very pleasing original matte black Mark 1 dial with gently aged tritium lume plots and color matched hands. The hands have been professionally restored with non UV glow tritium lume to match the color of the dial plots. The Mark 1 dial is also referred to as the “Frog’s feet” dial due to the irregular shape of the Rolex crown logo. With corresponding case back date code of IV/67.

Information:

Pre-Owned: 1967 Rolex Explorer I 'Frog Foot' Dial 1016

Serial: 1,734,XXX

Dated: 1967

Case Reference: 1016

Dial: Mk1 Dial - Tritium

Hands: Tritium

Bracelet: 7206 rivet with 58 end links (1969 Year)

Movement: 1570 – Automatic - Serviced 01/03/2024 - Third Party

Glass: Acrylic Dome

Accessories: No box or papers - watch only

Case: 36mm - Stainless Steel

Wrist size: 7.25"

Condition:

The current example is a very pleasing example with the perfect vintage look. The matte dial surface is clean and without damage, hand drag, or scratches. The lume plots are all original and unmolested.The hands have been professionally restored with non UV glow tritium lume to match the color of the dial plots In all respects an extremely pleasing example vintage Explorer 1 model. Case has light normal wear with nothing notable. Third party servicing 01/03/2024. Bracelet has hardly any stretch with normal light wear.

About Rolex:

Rolex was founded in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis in London, before moving to Geneva in 1919 to be closer to the heart of Swiss watchmaking. From the start, Wilsdorf envisioned a wristwatch that was not only elegant, but also precise and reliable—an ambitious goal at a time when pocket watches dominated. Rolex went on to pioneer key innovations in horology, including the first officially certified chronometer wristwatch, the Oyster case (the world’s first waterproof wristwatch), and the Perpetual rotor—the self-winding mechanism that became the standard for modern automatic watches. These technical breakthroughs laid the foundation for Rolex’s enduring reputation for rugged luxury and mechanical excellence.

Today, Rolex is arguably the most recognized name in watches, with models like the Submariner, Daytona, Datejust, and GMT-Master becoming cultural icons in their own right. Whether tied to deep-sea exploration, motorsport, aviation, or mountain summits, each model reflects the brand’s commitment to performance and precision under extreme conditions. The brand’s status is bolstered by its unmatched consistency in design, rigorous in-house testing, and long-standing associations with exploration, sport, and achievement. For collectors and enthusiasts, Rolex represents more than a timepiece—it’s a benchmark of mechanical reliability, timeless design, and global prestige.