ROLEX EXPLORER II

The history of this Rolex Explorer II

Launched in 1971, the Rolex Explorer II was designed to meet a specific need: that of cavers and polar expedition members who, for weeks on end, lose all sense of the difference between day and night. The brand’s solution consists of a 24-hour hand that completes one revolution of the dial per day and is read against a fixed bezel graduated over 24 hours. The first generation featured a large orange arrow, nicknamed ‘Freccione’, meaning ‘big arrow’ in Italian. In 1985, the hour hand became independently adjustable, and the Explorer II evolved from a simple day-and-night indicator into a watch capable of tracking a second time zone. The Explorer II 16570 took over in 1989 and remained in the range until 2011. It retained the red 24-hour hand with a triangular tip – more discreet than the original orange arrow – and the 40 mm case.

Case, movement and bracelet of this Explorer II

The Oyster case in steel measures 40 mm in diameter, with perforated lugs, a screw-down caseback and water resistance to 100 metres. The fixed brushed steel bezel features an engraved 24-hour scale filled with black. The black dial features luminescent round and baton hour markers, a triangle at 12 o’clock and a date window at 3 o’clock beneath a Cyclops lens, all protected by a sapphire crystal. The Mercedes-style hands and the seconds hand are luminescent, whilst the red 24-hour hand is tipped with a white triangle. Inside, the self-winding calibre 3185 features 31 jewels. It drives the 24-hour hand and a separately adjustable hour hand, allowing the wearer to switch between time zones whilst travelling. The brushed steel Oyster bracelet, with three rows of links, fastens with an Oysterlock folding clasp, fitted with a safety lever.

Why this Rolex watch

This generation is the last 40 mm Explorer II, before the move to 42 mm in 2011. It has retained the proportions of a Rolex tool watch, with a steel bezel without a coloured insert. It shares its movement with the GMT-Master II from the same era and offers the same dual-time zone display, in a more understated style. The black dial provides a sharp contrast with the hour markers and the red hand, both in daylight and in low light. This pre-owned Explorer II offers access to a model that is no longer in production, in a configuration that remains true to the model’s original purpose: telling the time without the need for external reference points.

Contents and condition

The watch is supplied on its Oyster bracelet, in a ‘The Swiss Collector’ box, without the original Rolex box or papers. It has just been polished and shows only slight signs of wear; the case and bracelet have been restored to a crisp finish. A small chip is visible on the edge of the sapphire crystal at around the 12 o’clock position, where it meets the bezel, but this does not affect the readability of the time.

Warranty and delivery

The Swiss Collector guarantees the authenticity of this watch, which is covered by a 24-month warranty. We accept returns within 10 days in accordance with our terms and conditions. As Switzerland’s leading second-hand retailer, backed by the largest network of shops, we offer online booking for a fitting and collection in-store, or fully secure international delivery.