Watch Paparazzi

Singer Anthony Kiedis spotted wearing Rolex

Anthony Kiedis, lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, was recently spotted on the wrist with a stainless steel Rolex Explorer II reference 1655 — a watch that collectors and historians regard as one of the most consequential references Rolex ever produced. The sighting underlines a taste for purposeful vintage steel over flashier alternatives.

Rolex introduced the Explorer II ref. 1655 in 1971 as a purpose-built tool watch aimed at speleologists and polar explorers. Powered by the Caliber 1575, a 26-jewel automatic movement beating at 19,800 vph, the ref. 1655 represented a conceptual departure from every Explorer that preceded it. While it borrowed the dual-timezone architecture from the GMT-Master, its mission was fundamentally different: the large, sword-shaped orange 24-hour hand — earning the watch its 'Freccione' nickname in Italian collector circles — was designed to read a fixed 24-hour bezel, allowing explorers in environments of perpetual daylight or total darkness to distinguish AM from PM at a glance. The white lacquered dial, applied hour markers, and fixed stainless steel bezel gave it an identity entirely its own.

Among collectors, the ref. 1655 occupies a serious position in the Rolex vintage hierarchy. Early examples feature a gilt 'Fudge' dial with warm patina, while later executions shifted to a cleaner matte white surface. The reference remained in production until 1985, when Rolex replaced it with the ref. 16550 and a sapphire crystal. Condition, dial variant, and originality of the tritium lume drive significant price variation on the secondary market.

Kiedis has long cultivated an image aligned with counterculture authenticity, and the Freccione fits that narrative precisely. This is not a watch purchased for status signaling — it is a watch chosen because it has a story, a specific mechanical purpose, and an aesthetic that rewards knowledge.

On the grey market, clean examples of the Rolex Explorer II ref. 1655 command strong premiums, particularly those retaining original dials and matching-numbers movements. The reference has appreciated steadily as the broader vintage Rolex market matures and buyers prioritize historical significance over novelty.