Explorer II, which would you choose.

[GrantD]

A click bait question really as I already have a polar.

When the new 226570 came out I asked my AD to add me to the list for a black dialled one, a year almost to the day and I received the call that my watch had arrived. Now this should’ve been a great day but when I saw the watch with its shiney hands I was gutted but felt compelled to buy it, hey if I couldn’t live with it I could always flip it.

I was about to slap the card down when the manager asked if all was ok, I told him how I felt about the watch and he told me to hang on, 5 mins later he appeared with a new old stock 216570 and after checking them both out I settled for the …..



Which would you have chosen

[Srct]

I am a fan of the floating hands so it would be the 21 - nice dilemma to have - either are very underrated watches - Enjoy and congratulations

[Grapenut]

226570 for me as the proportions worked better on my wrist. Can't go wrong either way and the floating hands were a nice touch on the 216570.

[toneafficianado]

I have a 216570 and way prefer the narrower clasp on those.
Mine is polar though so the handset question doesn't apply. I prefer the newer more legible ones on the black dials.

[twalt77]

226570


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[Vesper Lynd]

I prefer the 16570 40mm.
Of those, like you, the 216570.

[harvey]

…I have the older polar reference but I would like the new reiteration.

[SeaDweller50]

I like the 226570 due to the increased bracelet size, slimmer lugs and the stunning gloss dial. Oh and the AR treatment.

The ultimate would’ve been to keep the floating hands on the latest reference seeing as they’re gloss too.

[jlovda]

216570 for me. Love the floating hands.

It's kind of irritating to see how long an AD will hold a watch in the safe waiting for the "right" whale to come along.

[brandrea]

Personally I think the ghost hands made that reference

[Cauhauna]

I own a 226570 polar
I wanted a 216570; I like the smaller bracelet

[CarlOver]

226. Size is great and the floating hands are just a bit off for me. There is no bad choice since many can’t even get one.

[VogelPhoenix]

I'd pick the old one, but would be happy with the new model as well (waiting for a call for that one, in fact).

[GrantD]

Ok so I went with my heart and got the 216750, I paid slightly less than the 226 retail but it’s BNIB with a 5 year warranty. It was only the little things that mattered to me that swung it but it was awesome to see them both side by side. Had it of been the polar (already have one) I think it would’ve been a different call.

My reasoning was, as I rotate the watches I have and keep them on a winder when not in use the new movement reserve was not an issue. Have it in my rootbeer and there does appear to be issues with some.

I prefer the thinner clasp of my subs to the fatter SD43.

I really like the ghost hands, unique to this model and really just preferred this model on the day.

To top it off, I got the watch I wanted and somebody else just got a call out of the blue, hope it’s someone on here.

[rmagoo57]

Congrats on your new "old" Explorer II. Amazing that you got to see and feel the difference before making your choice. Rare these days unless you go to a grey dealer with a lot of stock.

[MJ EXPLORER]

What a treat getting to pick between these two beauties! I would pick the older 216570 every day of the week. I think the floating hands is so cool and unique. It really fits the ethos of the Explorer II.

Now if it were the polar I’d go with the 226570 as I prefer the new look handset.

I wore the black 216570 for 5 years and think it’s one of the best watches ever made. I’m next up at my local AD for the polar!





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[Harry-57]

This one.



Of the two black dials, I much prefer the floating hands.

[DoctorA]

Definitely 226570

[Doood]

Tough choice. I have the 216570 polar. To me, the 226570 black looks better with the gloss black dial and non-floating hands, but more like jewelry. The 216570 black has a cool tool watch vibe with the matte dial. I have had great luck with the 31xx movements so 216570 for me, but the new generation is a stunner.

[samuel019]

216570 for me. Have a black dial. Love it.

Congrats

[cvo]

Tough choice! I prefer the floating GMT hand but also prefer the newer movement. Buy both would be the win-win.

[007_Omega]

The new watch is undoubtedly the better proportioned model; however, the matte black dial and floating hands on the previous model make that watch unique. The new iteration just seems to make manufacturing easier, as Rolex has done with a bunch of models by simply giving it a gloss black dial, not to mention standard white gold hands.

Which Polar do you have? Hopefully, you have the new Polar and then you can get the old Black dial. If you have an old Polar, maybe better to experience the new movement/case?

[watchwatcher]

Not even close. Never been a fan of the phantom hands, think they look MUCH better on the so-called 'straight' hands, but on the Mercedes hands, a non-starter. (IMHO)

So when the new model appeared, I couldn't flip my 216570 for it fast enough. And, as a nice bonus, I was blown away by the feel and looks of the wider bracelet, something I hadn't even counted on. There's a few other little tidbits like the improved power reserve and such, but the hands and the bracelet seal the deal for me.

Yeah, I know on the surface there's not much difference between the two, but, man, (to me) there's no comparison.

[GrantD]

Boom, thought I’d chuck a quick pic up. Those ghost hands really make this reference for me.

[Seddyspaghetti]

Originally Posted by GrantD

Boom, thought I’d chuck a quick pic up. Those ghost hands really make this reference for me.

Nice i prefer that one too!

[CyberPaol]

You did the right choice, imho.

I am exactly in your same situation: I've received the call for the new 226570 and there is already a 216570 Polar on my wrist.

I would have preferred the 216570 with phantom hands and matte dial...but I will pick up the 226570 and enjoy it as well, since I am an Exp II lover since 16570.

I hope to be able to add also a 216570 with matte black dial and floating hands one day...

[1978]

16570 white

[Jackie Daytona]

I would go 226570.

The slightly simmer lugs are nice and although only a bit thinner are noticeable.

The second part and my biggest problem with it all is the dial. I love the idea of the floating hands in the Exp. II but I feel Rolex messed it up with the 216570 Im particular with the matte dial and the dark part of the hands painted in high gloss. It just never sat right with me the difference in the sheen. It really felt the dial should have been gloss as well, although it was manufactured that way it felt like a defect.

[RoRoRo]

The new hands and markers are more cohesive

[amh]

The new one - it has many improvements over the old model.
- 70hr movement
- Thinner lugs
- Better hands (subjective)
- Wider bracelet