Always Imitated, Never Surpassed, Best Swiss Replica Watches

The Explorer II is a product line with Rolex’s distinctive style. Since the advent of the first generation model Ref.1655 in 1971, the brand has yet to adjust the series’ appearance significantly, and all generations of works have continued the stable style. This design heritage has established the Explorer II’s status and triggered many “tributes” from competitors. The critical reason why the Explorer II has been so famous for so long is its uniqueness.

The Explorer II is the only remaining “second generation of Rolex.”

Yacht-Master II Ref.116680

This year (2024), Rolex officially removed the Yacht-Master II from the current product list, marking the series’ official exit. Looking at the Rolex product line, the only models still named with the Roman numeral “II” are the “Greenwich II” and the “Explorer II.”

The first generation Ref.1655 MK1

The watch has a diameter of 39mm, and the black dial is added with an orange GMT hand, which reads the value on the 24-hour stainless steel outer ring. Since the outer ring cannot rotate, the Explorer II is only a “two-time function watch” and cannot obtain the third time zone information by rotating like the Greenwich model. Regarding details, the Explorer II does not use the Mercedes-Benz hand and the 3/6/9 Arabic numerals and has reconstructed the crown shoulder, small window convex lens, and other parts.

Explorer I (1953) and Explorer II (1971)

The early Explorer II movement is synchronized with the Greenwich model: the Cal.1575 movement equipped with Ref.1655 is also used in the Greenwich model I Ref.1765. Entering the 21st century, Rolex no longer launches the “Greenwich I” watch; in fact, the “Greenwich II” has become the only choice, and its “second generation” meaning has been weakened. After this product adjustment, the Explorer has become the only series that currently has a primary function model “first generation” and a complex function model (GMT) “second generation,” which further highlights its uniqueness. Best swiss replica watches.

The uniqueness of the Explorer II is first reflected in the light-colored dial.

Rolex watches are divided into two major themes: “professional” and “classic”. The so-called “professional” is commonly known as a sports watch, mainly presented with a dark or black dial and a black outer ring. The Explorer II was the first to introduce the “cream face” in Ref.16550 in the 1980s. This combination of a light-colored dial and a steel outer ring is rare in Rolex professional watches. Replica Rolex watches.

The second generation Ref.16550 cream face

Unlike the white lacquered dial of the modern Explorer II, the Ref.16550 uses a slightly yellowed cream face, which looks classic. The diameter of this watch is expanded to 40mm. It is equipped with the Cal.3085 movement used by the GMT-Master II of the same period. The GMT hand supports quick adjustment in units of 1 hour. Whether the GMT hand supports quick adjustment is the crucial difference between the GMT-Master I and the GMT-Master II. Except for the luminous material still being tritium, many details of Ref.16550 are very close to the current sales model.

Third Generation Ref.16570 White Dial

So far, the combination of a light-colored dial and steel outer ring has become one of Explorer II’s characteristics. Time came to 1989, and the “third generation” product of the series, Ref.16570, was released. The third-generation Explorer II changed the cream dial of the previous work to a white dial, and the fresh color scheme made it more modern.

Explorer II also used a “special movement.”

The Ref.216570, which came out in 2011, is the fourth-generation product of the series. To continue the choice of black and white dials, the diameter of the watch is increased to 42mm, which is in line with the popular trend of “large watch diameter” for sports models of the same period. The GMT pointer of this generation of Explorer II is adjusted to orange, which is more youthful and energetic.

Fourth Generation Ref.216570

The fourth-generation Explorer II is equipped with the Rolex Cal.3187 movement, a “special edition” specially made for Explorer II. Compared with the Cal.3186 movement equipped with Greenwich II, the Cal.3187 movement uses a Parachrom hairspring and Paraflex shock absorber, which improves the anti-magnetic performance to fit the positioning of a mountaineering watch. Similar practices of creating anti-magnetic movements for designated series have also appeared on Airmaster and Green Glass.

Fifth Generation Ref.226570

In 2021, the Explorer II (Explorer II) celebrates its 50th anniversary. Players have speculated that Rolex may launch an essential modification on the anniversary, including speculation about a ceramic ring. However, the 2021 Tan II Ref.226570 has only undergone routine upgrades. Considering that the Parachrom hairspring and Paraflex shock absorber have become standard for the 32 series movement, the fifth-generation Tan II no longer uses a “special” movement but synchronizes the Cal.3285 movement of the Greenwich II.

Comparison of details between the fifth generation (left) and the fourth generation (right)

The fifth-generation Tan II has a 42mm diameter, slightly larger than the 40mm Greenwich II. Regarding details, the fifth-generation Tan II adds a crown logo between the “SWISS MADE” at 6 o’clock.

Ref.124270 (36mm) and Ref.224270 (40mm)

As the saying goes, fashion is a cycle. With the return of small-sized men’s watches to the famous stage in recent years, the new Tan I Ref.124270 returns to the same 36mm diameter as the first generation and retains the 40mm model for players to choose from. Will the Tan-2 return to its classic size or follow the Tan-1 model and offer two watch diameters? Let’s wait and see.