Explorer 1016 opinions please.

[Ozboy]

Hi all
I have been wanting to add an early 1970s Explorer 1016 to my small collection for a long time.

This has recently come up for sale and I am tempted, but I am not very good at spotting red flags.

Can I get some opinions on the condition of this 1016 please.

Many thanks

[Toronto Soup King]

Sub hands for one thing - it cost me a pretty penny to buy the correct hands for mine, along with a new dial. Don't do what I did - which was buy the cheapest and fix it up with new dial, hands, crown. It'd've been cheaper if I'd bought a top-condition R-serial on bracelet at the time. Get the best one you can from the outset!

And good luck. I own a dozen old Rolex and this 1016 is on my wrist 90% of the time.

[Ozboy]

Sub not 1016 hands? That's why I am here, right? :-)

Just found https://explorer1016.com/matte/mark-1/

[swish77]

Case is way overpolished. The lugs are toothpicks.

[Swearengen]

Minute hand looks a bit short

[ob1x]

Very polished!