Stephane Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Rolex Explorer II - 16570 Dear All, Here is the second step in building a genuine modern Rolex collection. By-Tor often said that this watch is under estimated. After a long hunt, he put his hand on a great version. His review is here! My first Explorer II was a white dial one I got from eBay back in June 2006. I never really liked it. It was seized when going for a repair trip to Asia. I second BT's statement about this watch. I wanted to get a Noob Explorer to check it out again. I got it from Narika 6 weeks ago. My Noob Factory Explorer II is here After wearing the Noob Explorer for some weeks, I decided to hunt a genuine one, with a black dial. It is a great watch, even the Noob one. Preambule Once again, I'm not saying reps are bad, they are not. Wanting some genuine now is a normal evolution. My first experience with the genuine Sea-Dweller is so sweet, I really wanted a "Super" Explorer II. (My genuine Rolex Sea Dweller 16600 - Review and pictorial is here) Watch ID This is a P serial again from the year 2000/2001. It was originally purchased in Hong Kong on November 23rd 2000. I have no history of this one though. I might be the 2nd owner or the 10th, who knows. It's the lug holled case and lumi dial. I got it from SubGmt.com and can only recommend this company for Europeans. I wish we could buy in the US as the market is much more interesting but for us, Europeans, it's a big risk. It came with the papers but no box. I have a genuine box and booklet set from Tomy. Henrik from SubGmt confirmed it will match the year 2000 Explorer II. So, this a complete set again. :thumbsup: The dial Here again, the obvious difference with our reps is that the genuine dial shines a lot. It reflects the loupe like a mirror. Look! The printing, the hour markers and the hour hand. Everything is beautifully finished. The hour markers are wider and surrounded with white gold. The hands The hands are quite accurate on our reps, at least size wise. What is an instant flaw is the quality of the lume. The hour hand is on the bottom, followed by the gmt hand (the Red one). The correct stack thus. Please take the time to notice the height of the hour markers on the previous photo! Here too you can see how the hands and markers are reflected by the dial. The date & Date Window The printing of the date is very good, but, as I already noticed on the 16600, the date is sometimes not perfectly centered. The date window and the cyclop: great surprise. It's the first time I have a genuine cycloped Rolex and the loupe over the date is really helpful. It does his job: the date is readable I guess the material used is better than on our reps or it's the construction maybe. The bezel The engraving is deeper than on our reps in my opinion. Here is a photo that shows the position of the hours and the separators. It's perfectly aligned all around the watch by the way. The crown and crown guards When fully screwed, the crown is higher than the crown guards. Yes, the crown is really small but surprisingly it is also very easy and smooth to handle. The face of the crown and guards. Look at the crown position, that is of course another flaw on our reps. The caseback Let's see the inside...nothing sexy on the outside. No sticker anymore! And here we go: 2180 (why is that, no idea). It is 2220 on the Sea-Dweller. The Crystal, the rehaut, the rehaut tickness Like the Sea-Dweller, and I guess all the genuine Rolex, the crystal sits higher above the bezel than on our reps. The rehaut is not that deep and a little conical. Very little conicall though, slightly visible at 8 o'clock - 16 gmt. It shines a lot that rehaut. Makes me remember that Tribal did a great job on my 16610 MBW by polishing it! Thanks my friend. Under certain angles, the rehaut tickness creates a black circle around the crystal. Under a loupe, there is no black paint though, believe me. The bracelet Here I could copy paste my 16600 review (and will do so in fact ). The genuine bracelet is smooth, very well finished and gives a solid feeling even with the hollow mid links. The end links. The clasp and midlink. Again, look at the pin to size the bracelet into the clasp. There is a cavity to receive a sizing tool which avoids scratches on the side of the clasp. The reference of the bracelet. The printing is very crispy. The lume This picture has been taken in full auto mode (as you can check the second hand doesn't move). It was resized in Photoshop and I used the AutoColor and AutoContrast functions only. When I walk into a darker area of my house, I can see it glow although I never "charged" it! And if my wrist passes under a light for a couple of seconds, the markers glow right away too, even if the room is fully lightened! The GMT function I'm very fortunate to own a booklet of the Explorer. Before reading it, I explored the Explorer II and here is what I discovered. When you pull the crown on the first notch it's the hour hand that moves (the white one). The GMT does not, the date does not. The hour hand "jumps" to the next hour each time you turn the crown. It does not sweep to the next hour. It jumps. Then I tried to go to the second notch to see what happens. It's the minute hand that moves and take the GMT hand with her…very confusing isn't it for a newbie. So, how can you set up the date? It took me a while as the date doesn't change with a quick set nor does the GMT hand. In fact the date changes when you turn the hour hand (first notch) clockwise (logical) or anti-clockwise (oh oh). This means that you can go to the next day or the previous day using the hour hand! The movement The movement doing this weird GMT function is the 3185. I should bring it to a watchmaker to evaluate if it's worth a service considering the lack of information about this watch. Oh, by the way, if Ziggy comes to Paris as he recently said, this baby might travel on the Thalys soon. Conclusion I am very happy to wear this Explorer II. It's a "bargain" in a way. The genuine doesn't seem to have more success than the rep. I saw some without papers at around 2.000 €. With papers, if you are patient, you can find one for 2.500€. Of course, in the US, you should be able to find it cheaper than that even. I sincerely hope you enjoyed this very underrated watch! Thanks for looking and reading. Cheers Stephane Visit my other Rolex, the 16600 (The Super Super Sea-Dweller): Rolex Sea Dweller 16600 - Review and pictorial of a genuine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elprimerozen Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Once again a superb review! Great watch great job man!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingkitesurf Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 I know Henrik he resides in the Netherlands. He has very nice stuff. You are a lucky guy. Nice watch wear it in health... The watch still remains on my favorites list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seadweller4000 Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Awesome post and pics! I enjoyed the read a lot. Thank you for your effort doing that. Hope I will see that watch in person on the GTG... Wear it in good health! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tribal Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Nice watch my friend I think some more Gens and you are in the wrong forum Just kidding, a damm nice review like allways and great Pics... Wear it well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephane Posted January 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Once again a superb review! Great watch great job man!!! Thank you very much :thumbsup: I know Henrik he resides in the Netherlands. He has very nice stuff. You are a lucky guy. Nice watch wear it in health... The watch still remains on my favorites list. Your recent gen is no bad either Awesome post and pics! I enjoyed the read a lot. Thank you for your effort doing that. Hope I will see that watch in person on the GTG... Wear it in good health! Sure. If you come, you will even wear it Nice watch my friend I think some more Gens and you are in the wrong forum Just kidding, a damm nice review like allways and great Pics... Wear it well Hey Trib, I stil have more reps you know...:smile: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwoTone Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Excellent Pictorial/Review Stephane! Thanks for taking the time... Double T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWG Technical Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Fantastic reference post, thanks for taking all the time to do this up for us. Great job! RG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mezzanine Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Very nice, Stephane! If I were going to go for a gen modern rolex, it would probably be the Explorer II. I actually just saw a vintage bezel for an Explorer II going for 2500, so the vintages are not cheap... I'd love to get a gen bezel for my vintages- I'm not sure the teeth are cut as sharp on the MBW bezels...haven't been able to determine that. The difference you've described between the gen and rep bracelets are almost cause enough to upgrade to gen...the pics really capture some of the finishing differences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brook0 Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Fantastic review, as usual. You are a ture asset to this forum, please keep a little time for your old rep friends. Thanks for taking the time to put this together I am sure it is not easy to get those great pictures! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P4GTR Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Congratulations Stephane, thank you for sharing. Wear it in good health sir. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuDro Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 WOW! Thanks for this great review! After reading your review, I've fallen for my gen Explorer II again...Your piece puts mine to shame. Mine shows the scars from being my daily beater for about 4-years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrandazzo Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Well done Stephane! Thank you for the review!!! P.S. I still hate/envy you for the gmt 2....sea-dweller....and now for the explorer 2 !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrgod Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Excellent and enjoyable post! :smile: Explorer II is an understated Rollie. When I worked offshore in the North Sea I saw two black dial Explorer IIs, on the wrists of high-paid directional drillers! Strangely it was the only Rolex model I noticed offshore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FxrAndy Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 That is some collection Stephane, nice going, is your visa gettin warm yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephane Posted January 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Excellent Pictorial/Review Stephane! Thanks for taking the time... Double T More than welcome Double T. Thanks for reading it and comment it. Fantastic reference post, thanks for taking all the time to do this up for us. Great job! RG Very nice encouragement Ziggy, and very much appreciated. It's the less that I can do being lucky enough to have a gen to commpare too. Merci beaucoup! Very nice, Stephane! If I were going to go for a gen modern rolex, it would probably be the Explorer II. I actually just saw a vintage bezel for an Explorer II going for 2500, so the vintages are not cheap... I'd love to get a gen bezel for my vintages- I'm not sure the teeth are cut as sharp on the MBW bezels...haven't been able to determine that. The difference you've described between the gen and rep bracelets are almost cause enough to upgrade to gen...the pics really capture some of the finishing differences. Thanks Mezzanine. I would really recommend that one as a first choice. It's amazing how nice it is. Fantastic review, as usual. You are a ture asset to this forum, please keep a little time for your old rep friends. Thanks for taking the time to put this together I am sure it is not easy to get those great pictures! Wow, these are very kind words too Brook. I sincerely think that I am only giving back what I received from RWG when spending time on those threads. Congratulations Stephane, thank you for sharing. Wear it in good health sir. The seller said: "You will keep it for a life time. Probably untill the son of your son is born and in age of wearing it". I hope I will stay in good health long enough indeed too see that happen. WOW! Thanks for this great review! After reading your review, I've fallen for my gen Explorer II again...Your piece puts mine to shame. Mine shows the scars from being my daily beater for about 4-years. I love signs of wear...I'd love that mine shows more scars already. I guess it will take some time to achieve the finish of yours Well done Stephane! Thank you for the review!!! P.S. I still hate/envy you for the gmt 2....sea-dweller....and now for the explorer 2 !!! Oh, so sad to hear that. You mean the GMT II I got from RepAustria ? How can I help you? Excellent and enjoyable post! :smile: Explorer II is an understated Rollie. When I worked offshore in the North Sea I saw two black dial Explorer IIs, on the wrists of high-paid directional drillers! Strangely it was the only Rolex model I noticed offshore. Excellent story Chrgod. Maybe Rolex should use that story in their booklet instead of the "Speleologists will find the 24 hours feature interresting" How much speleologists use Rolex's Explorer II? Probably 0.001 % @ ALL: thank you for your interrest in my thread. I hope it's helpfull Cheers Stephane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephane Posted January 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 That is some collection Stephane, nice going, is your visa gettin warm yet? ...cash Andy, only cash. Coins of belgium francs I saved since I was a kid! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrandazzo Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 That Gmt gen dial.... and the one on Explorer 2 :wub: That font....those letters... I should stop reading this thread filled with genuine rollies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
By-Tor Posted May 4, 2008 Report Share Posted May 4, 2008 This great pictorial deserves a bump. ExpII is such a great watch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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