6 days with the white Explorer II ......

[Blue Bull]

Have now worn,owned and enjoyed the white Explorer for 6 days.Some impressions :

The most striking features of this watch is the white dial and the ss fixed bezel.If you want a reference for the colour "white",just have a look at this dial,white in its purest form.The black surrounds and the slightly greenish tint from the Luminova,on the hourmarkers,give a very contrasty and three dimensional look to the dial.The black painted hour and minute hands ad to this contrast and leads to one of the most readable faces from Rolex.The red from the 24h hand,adding that little touch of colour.The white dial also reflects more light,compared to a black dial.This leads to a very bright looking reflection ring and cyclops.The cyclops shines like a diamond on top of the crystal in direct sunlight.This is one model where the cyclops fits the overall design.

I innitially had reservations regarding the ss bezel.I thought that it would disappear ,since it is surrounded by ss from the case and the bracelet.However,the angle is different from the case and bracelet.This leads to it "standing out" from the rest,in the way that light is reflected.The combination of the white dial and ss bezel,forms quite a complete picture.

Love the bracelet.I still believe that a brown or black leather strap,a red,grey or black Zulu strap will look fantastic,but wont beat the original.Something to experiment with in the future.For now,the bracelet stays.I love the smaller,more slimline clasp.

A triplock,would have been better than a twinlock crown.

Weight and feel is similar to a Gmt II.

Overall a very elegant and stylish watch.Sporty and eye catching and a watch that you will be very unlikely to grow tired of wearing.If you consider one,dont hesitate~ Highly recommended !!

[kcmo]

Where are your photos?

[JJ Irani]

Thanks, Chris.....nice review. Glad you're enjoying that beauty so much.

You're right about the fixed bezel, especially if you are NOT a "bezel fiddler"!!

The weight is 126 grams - just one gram lighter than the SS GMT-II. Yes, it's a very comfortable watch on the wrist and sits nice and low slung.....fits well under a shirt cuff.

Wear it well, my friend.

Cheers - JJ

[FloridaSam]

We need Pic(k)s

[Blue Bull]

Sorry,tired of "not a valid image file" and "file too big" when trying to load pics

Anyone have nice pics,please feel free to ad to this topic.

Mine is a very late D serial (D97XXXX) and the bracelet is OP6.That would be June 2006.The bracelet was manufactured a month after the watch.

The purchase price at the current exchange rate was $4250,bnib and AD.I think that was most reasonable.Our MSRP here is a high $5900.I got less 28% for cash

[ashu2289]

Nice review
And surely the white dial makes th watch stand out of the other Rolex sport models

[mike]

The white EXP II is a great watch! Nice score!!

[Solar]

I'd like the white Exp II to be my next watch. And I like the fact it has the twinlock crown. Less digging into the wrist. The GMT II is getting more wrist time than my SD............the GMT II/ExpII sizes are jsut right for me I find in terms of dial size, weight and wrist feel.

C

[roadcarver]

You can use photobucket to showcase your photos and don't have to use the board to upload photos instead just link it to photobucket.

Originally Posted by Blue Bull

Sorry,tired of "not a valid image file" and "file too big" when trying to load pics

Anyone have nice pics,please feel free to ad to this topic.

Mine is a very late D serial (D97XXXX) and the bracelet is OP6.That would be June 2006.The bracelet was manufactured a month after the watch.

The purchase price at the current exchange rate was $4250,bnib and AD.I think that was most reasonable.Our MSRP here is a high $5900.I got less 28% for cash

[subkrawler]

The white Explorer II has really been calling me too and I thought I would only own dive watches. I like it because of all the Rolexes, it's the only one that's purely a tool watch. No white gold hands or markers, no precious metal in the bracelet, nothing. It's pure utilitarian, high legibility, usefulness

I would like to see more utilitarian thinking in the Rolex sports line. White painted hands and markers on black dialed models and maybe even a white dialed Submariner w/ an orange or red sweep hand. That would be the ticket.

[Blue Bull]

Originally Posted by subkrawler

The white Explorer II has really been calling me too and I thought I would only own dive watches. I like it because of all the Rolexes, it's the only one that's purely a tool watch. No white gold hands or markers, no precious metal in the bracelet, nothing. It's pure utilitarian, high legibility, usefulness

I would like to see more utilitarian thinking in the Rolex sports line. White painted hands and markers on black dialed models and maybe even a white dialed Submariner w/ an orange or red sweep hand. That would be the ticket.

I you would like to see more utilitarian,you have the current model range,only.Its is clear,from Baselworld 2007,that Rolex is going bling-bling-bling ... I agree a white dialed GMT and Sub would be a nice alternative,BUT the hands should be kept black,perhaps a red sec sweep,no green,orange or any other sissy colour ...

Get the white 16570,great watch !!

[leopardprey]

We need Pic(k)s

Yeah, his White Explorer II may look different than the other 100+ photos of a White Explorer II we have seen!

The only thing I do not like about the white explorer II, in low light conditions or all bacl conditions, the minute hand is harder to read than Rolex Black dial version.

[Blue Bull]

Originally Posted by leopardprey

We need Pic(k)s

Yeah, his White Explorer II may look different than the other 100+ photos of a White Explorer II we have seen!

The only thing I do not like about the white explorer II, in low light conditions or all bacl conditions, the minute hand is harder to read than Rolex Black dial version.

Chad,thanks for your input via PM.It played a major role in my decision to purchase this beauty !!

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Blue Bull

Chad,thanks for your input via PM.It played a major role in my decision to purchase this beauty !!

Don and I were at our AD this morning checking out the new SS GMT-II. I tried on a white Exp-II and fell in love with it. What a beauty!!

[leopardprey]

I tried on a white Exp-II and fell in love with it. What a beauty!!

Didn't you use to have a White Face Exp II many moons ago?

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by leopardprey

I tried on a white Exp-II and fell in love with it. What a beauty!!

Didn't you use to have a White Face Exp II many moons ago?

Yes, a couple of years ago....but now I somehow want it back!!

[leopardprey]

Be the perfect watch for you JJ, since you already have a dark faced Sub.

Also a completely different look and function than your Sub.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by leopardprey

Be the perfect watch for you JJ, since you already have a dark faced Sub.

Also a completely different look and function than your Sub.

Very true. I tried on the DJ again - the 116234. Love it like 99.9% - the 36 mm size still puts me off - just too damned small on my large wrist.

JJ

[dman]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

Very true. I tried on the DJ again - the 116234. Love it like 99.9% - the 36 mm size still puts me off - just too damned small on my large wrist.

JJ

What you mean is it gets swallowed by the fur coat on your arm?

[Ragu]

The Wht.Exp.II is a beauty and gets all my wrist time over all others.
Great Choice

[Blue Bull]

Originally Posted by Ragu

The Wht.Exp.II is a beauty and gets all my wrist time over all others.
Great Choice

Very well thought out collection,Ragu The classic black ss sports,the GMT II for a bit of colour and the beautiful white Explorer II,for even greater diversity and a star on its own !!

[mike]

Originally Posted by Ragu

The Wht.Exp.II is a beauty and gets all my wrist time over all others.
Great Choice

Land,Sea,and Air! Well done my friend!!

[Tools]

The white dial Exp II is a beautiful watch. The only thing that could possibly make it better would be what ?

Maybe a black dial ! Yep, that's it...

[Blue Bull]

Originally Posted by Tools

The white dial Exp II is a beautiful watch. The only thing that could possibly make it better would be what ?

Maybe a black dial ! Yep, that's it...

Depends what you already own.As a first Rolex or only Rolex,yes,the black dial may be an option.But,if like myself,already owning a SD and like Ragu,already owning a GMT and Sub,then the Expl II white dial, becomes the logical choice.Let me warn you,that white dial becomes quite addictive !!!

What would also be a smashing design would be a GMT II with pepsi bezel and white dial,just like those 150 limited run for Pan Am that now fetches 5 figure pricing amongst private buyers.
But sadly,the current GMT II is no more.... We now have a new one with a pottery bezel and "painted milky white"(Oh God, ......)numericals.

[ashu2289]

Originally Posted by Blue Bull

Depends what you already own.As a first Rolex or only Rolex,yes,the black dial may be an option.But,if like myself,already owning a SD and like Ragu,already owning a GMT and Sub,then the Expl II white dial, becomes the logical choice.Let me warn you,that white dial becomes quite addictive !!!

Thts a really good thinking n sounds perfect.
Well said pal

[Solar]

The more I see of the white dial Expl II, the more I think that will be my next watch.

Someone on the forum made the observation that in the sunlight, the white face is brilliant to the point that the cyclops glitters like a diamond.

I think that's an excellent description, and as a choice would offer a difference to the black dialed pieces I currently own.

My thought is, if I'm going to part with this kind of $$ for a watch, owing to my WIS-illness, then each choice should reflect something different than what I already have.

Besides, I truely believe that with the current blingification of the Rolex sports line, the Exp II will be phased out in 3 years or less. The Subs I believe will all come to have supercases, maxi dials and upgraded bracelets and clasps, along with ceramic bezels. But the Exp II wouldn't really take a ceramic bezel, its just too much of a departure, the silver colour is too difficult to do in ceramic, the shape of the Exp II bezel is more exposed to shock and as such might be the impact point for a cermaic-shattering force, and finally, its one of the slowest selling of the stainless steel sports line. So it will likely be phased out as the Milgauss comes more to the fore, and if Rolex introduces a Milgauss with date function, that would kill the languishing sales of the Exp II.

Ironstark, am I on the mark??????????

I never really understood why the Exp II is one of the slow sellers, I can only guess that its due to the fixed bezel, which is a limitation that would push a buyer who wanted the second time zone feature towards the GMT II.

But it has such a cool history, I dunno.

Just my 2 cents,

Chris

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Solar

The more I see of the white dial Expl II, the more I think that will be my next watch.

Someone on the forum made the observation that in the sunlight, the white face is brilliant to the point that the cyclops glitters like a diamond.

I think that's an excellent description, and as a choice would offer a difference to the black dialed pieces I currently own.

My thought is, if I'm going to part with this kind of $$ for a watch, owing to my WIS-illness, then each choice should reflect something different than what I already have.

Besides, I truely believe that with the current blingification of the Rolex sports line, the Exp II will be phased out in 3 years or less. The Subs I believe will all come to have supercases, maxi dials and upgraded bracelets and clasps, along with ceramic bezels. But the Exp II wouldn't really take a ceramic bezel, its just too much of a departure, the silver colour is too difficult to do in ceramic, the shape of the Exp II bezel is more exposed to shock and as such might be the impact point for a cermaic-shattering force, and finally, its one of the slowest selling of the stainless steel sports line. So it will likely be phased out as the Milgauss comes more to the fore, and if Rolex introduces a Milgauss with date function, that would kill the languishing sales of the Exp II.

Ironstark, am I on the mark??????????

I never really understood why the Exp II is one of the slow sellers, I can only guess that its due to the fixed bezel, which is a limitation that would push a buyer who wanted the second time zone feature towards the GMT II.

But it has such a cool history, I dunno.

Just my 2 cents,

Chris

Good post, Chris....and right on the button.

The Exp-II is a superb watch....and who gives a damn about the fixed bezel. In fact, I much prefer the fixed bezel as I'm certainly no "bezel-fiddler"!!

[Blue Bull]

Originally Posted by Solar

The more I see of the white dial Expl II, the more I think that will be my next watch.

Someone on the forum made the observation that in the sunlight, the white face is brilliant to the point that the cyclops glitters like a diamond.

I think that's an excellent description, and as a choice would offer a difference to the black dialed pieces I currently own.

My thought is, if I'm going to part with this kind of $$ for a watch, owing to my WIS-illness, then each choice should reflect something different than what I already have.

Besides, I truely believe that with the current blingification of the Rolex sports line, the Exp II will be phased out in 3 years or less. The Subs I believe will all come to have supercases, maxi dials and upgraded bracelets and clasps, along with ceramic bezels. But the Exp II wouldn't really take a ceramic bezel, its just too much of a departure, the silver colour is too difficult to do in ceramic, the shape of the Exp II bezel is more exposed to shock and as such might be the impact point for a cermaic-shattering force, and finally, its one of the slowest selling of the stainless steel sports line. So it will likely be phased out as the Milgauss comes more to the fore, and if Rolex introduces a Milgauss with date function, that would kill the languishing sales of the Exp II.

Ironstark, am I on the mark??????????

I never really understood why the Exp II is one of the slow sellers, I can only guess that its due to the fixed bezel, which is a limitation that would push a buyer who wanted the second time zone feature towards the GMT II.

But it has such a cool history, I dunno.

Just my 2 cents,

Chris

I was I who made those observations regarding the cyclops shining like a diamond.This is due to the refection of light from the white dial through the cyclops.This is one model in the Rolex range that benefits from the inclusion of the cyclops in the design.What I did not say in my original description is the following ...

I think the following are unique for the white dialed Rollies.In the right lighting conditions,shadows are thrown on the white dial from the cyclops and hands.This ads to the spectacle of depth and contrast ..

Just like the Blue TT Sub dial which never looks the same,due to the colour change under different lighting conditions,the same is true for the white 16570.Here its not so much a colour change but changing of contrasts,which makes this design become "alive"

As for this model being "unpopular" at the sales point ... Many Rolex owners own only one Rolex.Thats a fact.The black dialed sporties being the first choice.I personally would also go that route,BUT,if you already own a black dial,the white 16570,should be the next one.It is a great design.Stylish,elegant,subdued,yet very eye catching,all at the same time ..

I agree,if going the multiple Rolex route,then each one should be significant in difference.Otherwise,whats the point ?? Significant difference,also keeps boredom at bay and assures wristtime for all.

The white dial 16570,comes HIGHLY recommended.

[Tools]

OK, you've talked me into it !

My next watch will be a white dial.........................................maybe

[Blue Bull]

Originally Posted by Tools

OK, you've talked me into it !

My next watch will be a white dial.........................................maybe

Since you have a TT Sub,you have many options if you want to go the ss route.A white dial Expl II,is only one of them.