Are Explorer II reps worth owning? Any giant flaws?

[itreeman]

I have always been a big fan of the Explorer II and am thinking of picking one up from one of the dealers. Are there any real big (easily noticable flaws) on the current Exp II reps out there? Any general input on the Exp II rep?

Thanks in advance.

[FxrAndy]

I am waiting for one from silix i will post some details when i get it

[itreeman]

Sweet. Looking forward to your info.

Thanks

[jfa657]

I have the Explorer II's from Paul,Silix,Joshua and Andrew.

They all have very minor faults and I believe you would enjoy

wearing one for the beauty it offers.

Andrew"s (Trusty) has a model with correct hand stack and proper size and

operating GMT hand.

There have been reports of this movement being troublesome but I haven't

had any problems in the six months I have owned mine.

Hope this helps!

[Guest avitt]

I also recommend the Andrew version, with the correct hand stack (using the 2836-2 modified movement)...There really are no major flaws. I purchase mine (from Gil) about a year ago. Since then, it has accompanied me on several international jaunts...all the while keeping perfect time in both zones.

However, I'm not certain that Andrew still carries this version.

[who]

I have always been a big fan of the Explorer II and am thinking of picking one up from one of the dealers. Are there any real big (easily noticable flaws) on the current Exp II reps out there? Any general input on the Exp II rep?

Thanks in advance.

But Before you make your decision.....Please read my post about the different types of EXP2

http://www.rwg.cc/members/just-arrive-Expl...-II-t22848.html

[who]

I also recommend the Andrew version, with the correct hand stack (using the 2836-2 modified movement)...There really are no major flaws. I purchase mine (from Gil) about a year ago. Since then, it has accompanied me on several international jaunts...all the while keeping perfect time in both zones.

However, I'm not certain that Andrew still carries this version.

According to an email from Andrew .... " They are no more making those with Hour Hand Adj movments due to the movement problems. =P"

*note: correct hand stack = Hour Hand Adj

[flamemax]

Hello All,

I should be receiving a white faced Expl II very shortly, like in an hour or so.

I have been told that the GMT hand is completely adjustable.

I will send in some pics once I get my paws on it.

Kindest regards,

[Stephane]

From what I read on this board so far, it's very confusing wnating an Explorer II.

Some has mvt problems, most have not, some have correct hands some not...

At the end of the day, if one likes the GMT function, I would recommend a GMT Master II MBW.

I just got mine and the flaws are near to zero !

TTK could help you to get an MBW !

Cheers

Stephane

[who]

@flamemax...sounds like you bought the GMT hand adjustable version (aka Incorrect hand stack). Do you mind to tell us which dealer you bought it from? pls post a pic after you got it

[veja74]

I got mine with the correct hand stack from Eddie Lee and I love it! From what I can tell only 3 things stand out:

1 - crown is a little thick (I bought a gen crown and tube and am waiting for RBJ to do the mod)

2 - crown guards need to be filed down (This one I will do myself)

3 - the arrow on the GMT hand is a little too big. You will really only notice this after looking at a gen in person

Anyway, I love mine as a daily beater. There is no bezel insert or pearl to fall out, scratches and nicks only make it look better and with a little treatment you can waterproof it to 5 atm easily!

Good luck

[flamemax]

Hello,

I received the Exploere II yesterday.

The dealer is a local fella I found here in Montreal, he imports from Japan, so I do not think

the watch was built by any dealer on this forum . This is my first "replica" purchase, and

I really wanted to see it before I bought it, that is why I purchased locally.

First thing I noticed is that the X in ROlex does not line up with the L of perpetual.

Second thing, the magnifier bubble is a "very little bit" offset.

I'm not crazy about the bracelet, seems a bit chinsy.. edges are sharp, and I do not

like the way is fastens (clips).

Hand stack is as follows from the face up --> GMT, hour, minute, seconds

I beleive the correct hand-stack should be hour, minute, GMT, seconds? right?

I made an attempt at pictures last night, but the did not come out so well.. (I do not have a light box)

I will make another attempt on the weekend in the sunlight, and post as soon as I have some good pics.

Oh, the other thing is that the grown seems a bit thick, it is above the crown guards by about 1.2 to 2mm.

The Bezel is the comon one io assume as the font is not as bold as the gen. The little black triangles on the bezel are

in the right location however.

The settings are as follows --> C0 wind, C1 date, C2 GMT, C3 hour- minute

Kindest regards,

Robb AKA Flamemax

[who]

@flamemax...you have the incorrect hand stack. Any idea what movement inside? sorry to say...but the buyer may "import" it from Japan but the watch is still made in China. When you have the pic...can you post it here or open a new thread to show us.

@veja... do you have any pic? I'm curious to see the one from EL.

thanks guys

[flamemax]

@ Who: One of the first things I did was open the case back to see what movement I was going to find within.

To my dismay there is not one marking or identifier so I am not quite sure how to identify the movement.

If anyone has any pointers as for the identification of the movement, I am all ears.

I know I do not have the correct hand stack, I thought I mentioned that in my last post

On a side note - you state it is form China, that is very possible, bur perhaps one of you fellas can enlighten me...

Ya'll say I got this watch form that dealer... I am assuming that all the dealers on this forum, import their watches form China (or whereever)

then go on to tweak the watch to make it more believable and then go on to sell it, correct?

or do the dealers on this forum build from scratch?

I have been pondering this question for a while and any clarification would be appreciated!

Cheers

Robb AKA Flamemax

[itreeman]

I'd love to see pics of your EL version as well

I got mine with the correct hand stack from Eddie Lee and I love it! From what I can tell only 3 things stand out:

1 - crown is a little thick (I bought a gen crown and tube and am waiting for RBJ to do the mod)

2 - crown guards need to be filed down (This one I will do myself)

3 - the arrow on the GMT hand is a little too big. You will really only notice this after looking at a gen in person

Anyway, I love mine as a daily beater. There is no bezel insert or pearl to fall out, scratches and nicks only make it look better and with a little treatment you can waterproof it to 5 atm easily!

Good luck

[who]

On a side note - you state it is form China, that is very possible, bur perhaps one of you fellas can enlighten me...

Ya'll say I got this watch form that dealer... I am assuming that all the dealers on this forum, import their watches form China (or whereever)

then go on to tweak the watch to make it more believable and then go on to sell it, correct?

or do the dealers on this forum build from scratch?

I have been pondering this question for a while and any clarification would be appreciated!

Cheers

Robb AKA Flamemax

Most dealers either send out your watch directly from China or they ship them oversea and then resell it to you. Only one or two dealer will make improvement on the watch himself before send it out to you; the best example is daivdsen, he mainly focus on Pam.

I believe your watch is never been touch or improve by the seller....it just the same watch when they finished it in cn.

Many dealers do offer "improve" version of the watch they carry....some is worth and money some is not. Homework is the key to get the most value.

I attach a pic of my old exp2 which have swiss eta inside.....you can see the eta marking on the top of the pic. Hope you have it in yours.

Btw....post a pic of your watch (new thread) Let's see what is it.

[flamemax]

@Who

As soon as I get some half decent pics I wull post them in this thread.

I have some pics now.. but they did not come out very well.

I think you misunderstood what I said about the movement, there are no (zip, nada, zilch, zero) markings that I could see on the movement. None at all. Everything is grey-metal color, no bronze or gold colors. The spacer is white plastic. That's all the info I could get from looking at it.

No ID

No Brand

No Model number

any thoughts?

Kindest ergards,

Robb AKA Flamemax

[who]

if it doesn't look like my pic....and has no marking whatsoever, what else can it be?

Chinese movement then

[JJFlash]

Even tho the movement may be ETA, the GMT gearing is an Asian add on.

Man does that gearing look feeble, very poorly attached, hard to believe it evens works!

That said all six of my ETA 2836's with this add on GMT continue to work perfectly out of the box for years now.

Looks butt ugly like it will quickly fall apart, but they continue to work.

[flamemax]

This is a link to some pics I uploaded.

I know they are bad and I apologize for that.

I will do bettere on the weekend in some daylight.

<a href="http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002261671865977155"><img border="0" src="http://aycu29.webshots.com/image/13108/2002261671865977155_th.jpg" alt="Free Image Hosting at allyoucanupload.com"/></a>

[flamemax]

@ JJFlash: Are you saying that because you beleive that is the movement that I have in mine?

How would I tell if there are no markings.

Dumb question time: Are there any models that are known to not have markings?

Thanks!

[flamemax]

couple more pics;

[chrgod]

Sorry to say, but that looks like an old version, with BIG crown and old, fat datefont.. The GMT-hand seems to be nice and slim though.

Here are two I bought from Andrew a year ago.. An Explorer II and a GMT-Master II, both with the modified Hour hand ETA-Movement.

[TeeJay]

Hello,

I received the Exploere II yesterday.

The dealer is a local fella I found here in Montreal, he imports from Japan, so I do not think

the watch was built by any dealer on this forum . This is my first "replica" purchase, and

I really wanted to see it before I bought it, that is why I purchased locally.

First thing I noticed is that the X in ROlex does not line up with the L of perpetual.

Second thing, the magnifier bubble is a "very little bit" offset.

I'm not crazy about the bracelet, seems a bit chinsy.. edges are sharp, and I do not

like the way is fastens (clips).

Hand stack is as follows from the face up --> GMT, hour, minute, seconds

I beleive the correct hand-stack should be hour, minute, GMT, seconds? right?

I made an attempt at pictures last night, but the did not come out so well.. (I do not have a light box)

I will make another attempt on the weekend in the sunlight, and post as soon as I have some good pics.

Oh, the other thing is that the grown seems a bit thick, it is above the crown guards by about 1.2 to 2mm.

The Bezel is the comon one io assume as the font is not as bold as the gen. The little black triangles on the bezel are

in the right location however.

The settings are as follows --> C0 wind, C1 date, C2 GMT, C3 hour- minute

Kindest regards,

Robb AKA Flamemax

The details you've mentioned not being too keen about, are the kind of things that one must expect or tollerate to a degree when purchassing a replica product. You're not buying a genuine Rolex for cheap, you are buying a copy of a Rolex. Standards will not be as high. However, I have heard people make similar complaints about genuine Rolexes, (like the second hand not lining up perfectly on each second marker) and got laughed out of the AD, because their expectations of the product, were excessive to what the manufacturers consider 'acceptable variations' in the manufacturing process. I would be the first to agree, it is not 'perfect', but, you are not paying 'perfect prices' so really have to accept that certain details might not be all you would hope they would be.

With regards to the bracelet, owners of genuine Rolexes also complain that the bracelets feel 'tinny' and 'cheap'. Another member of the forum said that he was disgusted when he tried on a gen Rolex, because the bracelet felt exactly the same as his rep Rolex.

Other that those things, and the fact you can actually set your GMT hand, it sounds like you have a very nice watch, wear it well

[Bizkit]

Well heres mine......pick it apart, hate it, love it..

Ill take all reviews.........