Rolex
Rolex Explorer II 16570
“Polar (white dial)”
The Rolex Explorer II (reference 16570) is a 40 mm stainless steel watch. It runs on the automatic caliber 3185 / 3186 and is water resistant to 100 m. It was made from 1989 to 2011.
Specifications
Case
- Reference
- 16570
- Nickname
- Polar (white dial)
- Collection
- Explorer II
- Case size
- 40 mm
- Thickness
- 11 mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Water resistance
- 100 m
- Bracelet / strap
- Oyster, stainless steel bracelet
Dial and bezel
- Bezel
- Fixed steel 24-hour bezel
Movement
- Movement
- Automatic
- Caliber
- 3185 / 3186
- Frequency
- 28,800 vph
- Jewels
- 31
- Functions
- Date, GMT
Production
- Production
- 1989–2011
Dial versions
This reference was made with these dials and finishes.
16570 Black Tritium
Tritium; SWISS T<25
16570 Black Luminova
Luminova; SWISS Only
16570 Black SWISS MADE
SWISS MADE; Super-LumiNova
16570 Polar
Polar; Tritium; SWISS T<25 · “Polar”
16570 Polar
Polar; Luminova; SWISS Only · “Polar”
16570 Polar
Polar; SWISS MADE; Super-LumiNova · “Polar”
How it compares within the Explorer II family
Side by side with other references in the same collection, from the catalog.
About the Explorer II family
The Explorer II was introduced in 1971 with ref. 1655, a watch for cave explorers and polar researchers that adds a 24-hour hand and a fixed 24-hour bezel so the wearer can tell day from night. The first version had a large orange 24-hour hand.
The ref. 16550 of the mid-1980s made the 24-hour hand independently adjustable, which turned the watch into a practical second time zone, and offered white or black dials. The 16570 carried on until 2011, when the 42 mm ref. 216570 brought back an orange hand. The current ref. 226570 of 2021 uses caliber 3285. White-dial versions, often called Polar, and black-dial versions trade as separate variants, and dealers note the dial colour first.
Quick answers
- What size is the Rolex Explorer II 16570?
- The Rolex Explorer II 16570 has a 40 mm case, 11 mm thick.
- What movement does the Rolex Explorer II 16570 use?
- It uses the automatic caliber 3185 / 3186.
- How water resistant is the Rolex Explorer II 16570?
- It is water resistant to 100 metres.
- Is the Rolex Explorer II 16570 still in production?
- No. It was made until 2011.
- When did the Rolex Explorer II 16570 come out?
- It was introduced in 1989 and made until 2011.
- What is the Rolex Explorer II 16570 made of?
- The case is stainless steel. Bracelet or strap: Oyster, stainless steel bracelet.
- Which dials was the Rolex Explorer II 16570 made with?
- The catalog lists 2 dials: Black, White.
- What is the Rolex Explorer II 16570 nicknamed?
- Dealers and collectors call it the “Polar (white dial)”.
In the glossary
Catalog facts checked October 2026.