Interesting chat with fellow WIS. Is EX II the most "under the radar" Rolex?

[TheVTCGuy]

Returned home last night from a business trip and while waiting for my flight noticed a gentleman in the executive lounge wearing a polar 16570. I struck up a casual conversation and he was very friendly and a little bit of a WIS. I showed him my EX II and comented he had "good taste in watches." He laughed and said some interesting things. He told me he picked the EX II because it quote: "looked nothing like a Rolex." He said, that anyone, even a non-Rolex enthusiast or owner could tell a DJ or a Submariner was a Rolex, but the EX II was indistinguishable. It was obviously important to him that the fact he was wearing a Rolex not be obvious, but for what reason, security, vainness, whatever, we did not get in to and I did not ask. It was a pleasant conversation and we went on our way.

It made me wonder a couple things, first, do you think the EX II IS the most... non-identifiyable Rolex model? And second, have you ever decided on a particular model because you felt it did NOT look like a Rolex? Just interesting things to think about on my five-hour cross country flight.

[Etschell]

cellini IMO but if we are going traditional oyster case rolex watches i would say the exp II fits that build.

[Chewbacca]

i disagree.

a date mag = rolex to most anyone who knows even an ounce about swiss watches.

i'd have to say OP, exp, Cellini or really any non date mag would be less recognizable to the lay person.

[Gerardus]

I think the EXII is not flashy and looks "steel", and therefor under the radar.

[mattty]

It's the bracelets that always give it away for me.

I get spot a rolly 25yards away

[actionkwj]

Originally Posted by mattty

It's the bracelets that always give it away for me.



I get spot a rolly 25yards away

Great note and I totally agree. The longer I collect watches I believe the oyster bracelet is my favorite Rolex feature. I often see offerings from other brands and think... if it only had a Rolex bracelet! And that's probably why grails for me are AP and VC because I love their amazing bracelets!


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[tommyhtown]

I would say Cellini.

[SL BRABUS]

Out of all my Rolex watches collection, EX II is one of my favorite watch because is very useful & under the radar compare to other Rolex Sport model.....

The lobster dinner draw more attention than my EX II......





Got to love the brushed bezel.....^^^......

Cheers...

[anothernewphone]

Cyclops is a huge giveaway. If we're talking "under-the-radar," that would go to Oyster Perpetuals, Air-Kings, or Explorers, even though they all have large coronet logos on them. Most people wouldn't identify them from 10 feet away like you could with a Datejust, Submariner, Day-Date, GMT Master II, or Explorer II.

[tomchicago]

Explorer I is moreso methinks.

[Micha]

Originally Posted by tomchicago

Explorer I is more so me thinks.

agreed

[Loevhagen]

Personally, I wouldn't recognize a Cellini from a mile away - so a Cellini is the true "under the radar" Rolex.

All SS sport watch Rolex are not under the radar at all.

This however, is:

[LegalEeze]

OP or Exp 1 are probably the most under the radar. But, the reason the Cellini can beat it, is because the oyster bracelet does give off the indication of being a Rolex to the trained eye.

[Porter]

Bought mine because I was in love with the white dial. Never thought about that. If it's under radar...Great!! I'll buy cheaper the black dial!!!
BTW. I love the Explorer.
Cellini is for me the most undetectable one!
Have a nice trip!!

"Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana". Groucho Marx.

[Loevhagen]

My experience from own collection of Rolex over 3+ years.

Got attention from others:
16618LB, 116613LB, 16610LV, 216570 White and 114060 with orange Everest strap

Never got attention:
114060 on bracelet, 14060, 16570 White, 116710BLNR, 16710, 16750 and 116520 White

So my take on this is; a watch having colors away from the norm - get attention. The rest? Not so much, as people do not recognize a Rolex - but the color / case / bracelet combo.

[Swearengen]

Classic proportions and under the radar - it has it all

[douglasf13]

I honestly don't think non-watch people notice any Rolex all that much, unless maybe it is yellow gold. My simple silver stick DJ got the most comments, because I think it has the classic shape and cyclops that people think of as a "Rolex."

Oddly enough, as I mentioned in another thread, the only time anyone has mentioned my 16570 was when I was wearing it on a Rubber B...and the guy was actually asking about the strap more so than the watch.

The funny thing is, although I frequently mention around here that the strap/bracelet doesn't matter, the guy asked if the Rubber B was made by Rolex, and I admit that I actually felt a little embarrassed to say it was aftermarket. Rolex needs to make those darn Oysterflex straps available.

[tomchicago]

Any cyclops gives 'em away.

[Loevhagen]

Originally Posted by tomchicago

any cyclops gives 'em away.

qft.

Cellini + cyclops = no.

[warrior]

Among Rolexes with the cyclops, I'd say exp II. However, I'd say Explorer I would be the most under the radar Rolex for models people
On TRF gravitate towards. Milgauss 2nd. Id say Celllini for general public. They're all under the radar.

[watchwatcher]

I agree, the EXP2 is under the radar. But, the most under the radar? I don't know.

I had never received one single comment while wearing one and then one day, both the grocery store check out clerk and my barber noticed and commented in the same day. Weird.

[Cru Jones]

No: cyclops and oyster bracelet.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

No: cyclops and oyster bracelet.

Yup any models without these or jubilee would be hard to spot for a civilian.

[Jim P]

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

No: cyclops and oyster bracelet.

[blue16613]

In general, I think metal color also make a difference in terms of "recognizability." SS/YG and YG Rolexes get spotted a mile away. SS, WG & PT less so.

All bets are off, of course, if it is a WIS who's looking.......

[aes7.5x55]

I think the Milgauss could qualify. I have only seen one in the wild. I think it's a model only an enthusiast would be familiar with.

[GB-man]

Agree with others the cyclops is a giveaway. Great watch though and more under the radar than a sub or gmt.

[jmolsberg]

Most under the Radar is the no date submariner 14060
The cyclops is a sure thing

[phillycheez]

The 1655 is the most under the radar and continues to be my most favorite Rolex model ever.

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[the dark knight]

I'm going to cut against the grain a bit here and say the most under-the-radar Rolex IS either the SS Sub or the DJ. And the reason I say this is because these two seem to be not just ubiquitous as heck among Rolex models, but are also often counterfeited, duplicated, homaged, whatever.

Kind of reminds me of that scene from the movie Da Vinci Code where the bank manager tries to help them escape and is stopped by a cop, and the cop asks if all truck drivers wear Rolex watches. So the bank manager just tells him it's a fake, and that's that.

I guess the theory is the Sub and DJ can kind of "hide in plain sight".