[Rolex] A thorough comparison of the three generations of the Explorer II, old and new!

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Good evening everyone.

The Explorer II was born as the successor to the Explorer I. It has high visibility, robustness, and a design that can be used both on and off the job, making it one of Rolex's sports models that has gained strong support, especially from business people. A new model was released in 2021, but at first glance there is no big difference from the old model, and many people are wondering what has changed.

So this time, we will go back three generations of the Rolex Explorer II and compare them thoroughly (Ref. 16570, Ref. 216570, Ref. 226570)! If you want an Explorer II but are unsure which model to buy, or if you want to know the history of the Explorer II, this is a must-read, so be sure to read until the end.

Introducing the 3rd generation of "Explorer II"

First, we will introduce the three models we will be comparing: Ref.16570, Ref.216570, and Ref.226570.

Two generations ago, Ref.16570
Specifications
Case diameter 40mm Bezel stainless
Dial Black or white Luminous Tritium, Luminova
material SS bracelet SS
Waterproof 100m Drive system Automatic
Cal 3185or3186 Power reserve Approximately 48 hours

The long-selling model "Ref. 16570" was manufactured from around 1988 to around 2011. It is a popular semi-vintage model that has undergone many minor changes and changes its appearance with each passing year.

[Minor change points]
・Around 1995-1996: The bracelet buckle was changed from a single lock to a double lock.
・Around 1998-1999: The luminous paint was changed from tritium to Superluminova.
・Around 2000: Flash fit was changed to an integrated type.
- Around 2003: A crown engraving was added at the 6 o'clock position on the crystal to prevent counterfeiting.
・Around 2004: The holes on the lugs connecting the case and bracelet were removed.
・Around 2007: The movement was changed from "Cal.3185" to "Cal.3186".
- Around 2007: The inner ring was engraved with [ROLEX] and the serial number was added at the 6 o'clock position.
≪Dial 6 o'clock position≫
・Around 1988 to 1998: SWISS-T <25
・Around 1998-1999: SWISS
・From around 2000: SWISS MADE
[ Representative rare specimens ]
・"Center split" confirmed in early lots of "Ref.16570"
*Center split: The spaces between the letters "SUPERLATIVE CHRONOMETER" and "OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED" in the chronometer designation are aligned top and bottom.

For more information on center split specimens, please see the blog of appraiser Kaneko.

[Rolex][Rolex] A thorough comparison of the three generations of the Explorer II, old and new! </div> </div> <div class=

Previous generation Ref.216570
Specifications
Case diameter 42mm Bezel stainless
Dial Black or white Luminous Chromalight
material SS bracelet SS
Waterproof 100m Drive system Automatic
Cal 3187 Power reserve Approximately 48 hours

The "Ref. 216570" was manufactured from 2011 to 2021. Unlike the "Ref. 16570", no minor changes were made and the production period was short at just 10 years.

Current model Ref.226570
Specifications
Case diameter 42mm Bezel stainless
Dial Black or white Luminous Chromalight
material SS bracelet SS
Waterproof 100m Drive system Automatic
Cal 3285 Power reserve Approximately 70 hours

The current model, Ref. 226570, was released in 2021 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its birth. Rolex has a tendency to release new models on 50th anniversaries, and in the past has released the Submariner Ref. 16610LV and the Sea-Dweller Ref. 126600.

Spec comparison between "Ref.16570" and "Ref.216570"

First, let's compare "Ref.16570" and "Ref.216570".
The main specifications are as follows:

Reference 16570
Reference 216570
40mm Case diameter 42mm
stainless Bezel stainless
Black or white Dial Black or white
Tritium or Luminova Luminous Chromalight
SS material SS
SS bracelet SS
100m Waterproof 100m
Automatic Drive system Automatic
Cal.3185or3186 Cal Cal.3187
Approximately 48 hours Power reserve Approximately 48 hours

❶【Case and crown guard】

Case diameter

Reference 16570 40mm
Reference 216570 42mm
The biggest change is the larger size. The 42mm size means the crown guard is now larger, improving durability. This is a welcome change for those with larger wrists.

❷ [Dial/Needle]

24 hour hand

Reference 16570 red
Reference 216570 orange

"EXPLORER" text color

Reference 16570 White
Reference 216570 orange
Due to the larger case diameter, the hour and minute hands, 24-hour hand, and indexes on the dial have also become larger. The change in the 24-hour hand is a design reminiscent of the original Explorer II "Ref. 1655", and is a popular point.

Luminous

Reference 16570 Tritium or Luminova
Reference 216570 Chromalight
While Luminova emits a "green" light, Chromalight emits a bright blue light called "peacock blue." Chromalight's glow time is said to be twice as long as general phosphorescent paints, lasting for more than eight hours.

❸ [Bracelet/Buckle]

Bracelet (links inside)

Reference 16570 cavity
Reference 216570 Pure
The inside of the links has been changed from hollow to solid, improving robustness. Although it has the same double lock structure, the "Ref. 216570" uses a newly designed buckle that has excellent holding power and operability.

❹【Movement】

Movement

Reference 16570 Cal.3185or3186
Reference 216570 Cal.3187
The power reserve remains the same at approximately 48 hours, but the "Ref. 216570" uses a highly antimagnetic "Blue Parachrom hairspring", improving durability and precision.
Spec comparison between "Ref.216570" and "Ref.226570"

Next, let's compare "Ref. 216570" and "Ref. 226570".
The main specifications are as follows:

Reference 216570
Reference 226570
42mm Case diameter 42mm
stainless Bezel stainless
Black or white Dial Black or white
Chromalight Luminous Chromalight
SS material SS
SS bracelet SS
100m Waterproof 100m
Automatic Drive system Automatic
Cal.3187 Cal Cal.3285
Approximately 48 hours Power reserve Approximately 70 hours

❶【Case and crown guard】

Case diameter

Reference 216570 42mm
Reference 226570 42mm
Although the case diameter is the same, the lugs of the "Ref. 226570" are 1 mm thinner and the crown guard is shaped to give it a sharper impression. Similar changes can be seen in the "Submariner" "Ref. 126610LN" and the "Sea-Dweller Deep Sea" "Ref. 126660".

❷ [Dial]

Dial

Reference 216570 Black or white
Reference 226570 Black or white
The biggest change is to the dial hands. The black dial of the "Ref. 216570" has a so-called "phantom" design, where the bases of the hour, minute and 24-hour hands are painted black to make them appear raised, but on the "Ref. 226570" they are all the same color right down to the base.

Logo at 6 o'clock

Reference 216570 SWISS MADE
Reference 226570 Added a crown mark between SWISS and MADE
The "SWISS MADE" lettering at the 6 o'clock position has been changed to include a crown mark between "SWISS" and "MADE".

❸【Movement】

Movement

Reference 216570 Cal.3187
Reference 226570 Cal.3285
The new generation movement "Cal.3285" developed in-house by Rolex and installed in the "Ref.226570" has improved overall specifications such as magnetic resistance, precision, and stability. Also, it is worth noting that the power reserve has been increased to about 70 hours, which is a significant improvement compared to the previous model, which had a power reserve of about 48 hours.
summary

What did you think?

This time, we compared three generations of the Rolex Explorer II, and we hope you can see how it has evolved over the years.

Due to their simple design, they look the same at first glance, but each model has its own unique personality. The "Ref. 16570" has undergone many minor changes that change the look of each year, the "Ref. 216570" has a larger case size that emphasizes its impact, and the "Ref. 226570" is a 50th anniversary model that is equipped with the latest specifications and has made great strides in robustness, operability, and stability . Each model of the "Explorer II" has its own unique charm.

Please come and find your favorite model.

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