Rolex collection
Rolex Explorer II
5 references, 1 still in production. Open one for its full specification and dial versions.
- References
- 5
- In production
- 1
- Case sizes
- 39–42 mm
- Years made
- 1971–2026
About the collection
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.
References
| Reference | Model | Size | Dial | Caliber | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 226570 | Explorer II “Polar (white dial)” | 42 mm | — | 3285 | 2021– (current) |
| 1655 | Explorer II “Steve McQueen / Freccione” | 39 mm | Black | 1575 | 1971–1984 |
| 216570 | Explorer II “Polar (white dial)” | 42 mm | — | 3187 | 2011–2021 |
| 16570 | Explorer II “Polar (white dial)” | 40 mm | — | 3185 / 3186 | 1989–2011 |
| 16550 | Explorer II | 40 mm | — | 3085 | 1985–1989 |