RolexExplorer II

Starting life as a ‘Spelunking’ or cave explorer’s watch in 1971, the Explorer II was built for legibility. A separate 24-hour hand advised the wearer whether it was day or night when traversing dark caves for long periods. In 1985, the model was updated with a new case, dial, and movement. The 24-hour hand could be adjusted independently to display a second time zone. The Explorer II now appealed to a much wider audience as a rugged and reliable companion for travelling the world.

In 2010, the reference 216570 was released as a 40^th anniversary celebration of the original Explorer II. In a rare move for Rolex, they directly referenced their past by incorporating the orange 24-hour hand from the original 1970s model. Everything else was beefed up, including a 42mm case and a ‘maxi-dial’ with larger hands and indices. This dial configuration has become extremely popular as an alternative to the myriad of black dial sports watches. It’s also unique as the only white dial Rolex sports watch with a date. This reference is now discontinued as of early 2021 and so unavailable to buy at retail.

A new movement was introduced exclusively for the reference 216570. The calibre 3187 offered all of Rolex’s latest technology, including the proprietary ‘Paraflex’ shock protection system and an anti-magnetic ‘Parachrom’ hairspring. It has a 48-hour power reserve, bi-directional winding and is rated from -2 to +2 seconds per day in addition to being chronometer certified.

Attached to the case is Rolex’s Oyster bracelet. Satin-finished with polished outer links, it tapers down to the safety clasp. The ‘Easylink’ extension gives the wearer 5mm of on the go, tool-free adjustability.

The watch is presented in mint unworn condition with the factory plastic protective stickers in place, commonly these are removed at the point of sale. This is a December 2019 purchase and is still under Rolex’s five-year international guarantee with a further three years supplied by Watches of Switzerland Group. The box, guarantee certificates, user manual and swing tags are all present. Unusually, the factory plastic transit case is also provided as is the bezel protector, both of which are normally retained by the retailer, alongside a Rolex magazine featuring the Polar Explorer II on the cover.

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