Old Explorer II Meets New Version

[w4rmk]

Here is a photo of my newly acquired ExpII next to my DJ. They are ready for any occasion :-)

[COBill]

I really like the new Exp II in white, no qualifiers.

What eventually turned me off about the GMT IIc is the green GMT hand is virtually invisible against the black face in low light.

[InTime]

42mm is a nice size. love orange

[hoops10]

Love my polar 16570 and would not consider parting ways with it. Newer model is to large for my wrist and I don't care for the thicker hour and minute hand. Also do not care for the orange wording on the newer version.

[bhall41]

Originally Posted by hoops10

Love my polar 16570 and would not consider parting ways with it. Newer model is to large for my wrist and I don't care for the thicker hour and minute hand. Also do not care for the orange wording on the newer version.

+1. While I love the Explorer II (especially the polar dial) I personally prefer the older 40 mm case size, as I also have small wrists. Also, the proportions of the current model look a bit off to me.

[Rockland]

Originally Posted by drster

I just sold my GMT IIc so I can get the new white ExpII. I had the Exp II and the GMT IIc and thought the GMT was nicer. Extra timezone, ceramic bezel. But it just didn't wow me. Got bored quickly. Now I'm looking for an Exp II. I like the bigger size and great lume. i'm pretty careful with my watches so I feel the Exp bezel will hold up fine. I don't need any more timezones than 2.

What is the purpose of having multiple timezones anyway? Are you able to be in 2 time zones at once? Why not just change the hour hand if you travel? Am I just being stupid. Someone explain this benefit and help me.

[Goose]

I use my Breitling and Rolex GMT watches to check the time for my support team members based in Asia.

Same for my Polar 42mm when I get it ;)

[JGX]

Originally Posted by Rockland

What is the purpose of having multiple timezones anyway? Are you able to be in 2 time zones at once? Why not just change the hour hand if you travel? Am I just being stupid. Someone explain this benefit and help me.

I'm a pilot and all aviation times are referenced in UTC (or GMT) no matter where in the world you are. The ability to always be able to refer to a timepiece displaying both local and UTC is invaluable.

Furthermore, the ceramic bezel allows me to set destination (and/or point of origin) times and have them as a reference as well.

09:00 UK (at the moment because we're on BST) will be 16:00 Hong Kong Time but it will be 08:00 UTC in both places.

Simple stuff but very useful when you need immediate reference to these times.

Hope that helps.

[GradyPhilpott]

[kymwatchlog]

I pulled the trigger on the black dial altho I think the white looks fantastic on the posters (but not so in person).

Nevertheless the new ExpII rocks whatever the dial color!

[w4rmk]

Both the white and black are so nice, getting both colors is the best solution, except for the hit to the bank account. The ExpII was one of the more overlooked models before the size upgrade and its nice to see that now it's getting the attention that it always deserved. I find very few people recognize it as a Rolex, until they notice the iconic date window. The original version is still just as relevant and is generating renewed interest from buyers who try the new one and then decide they'd like a smaller size or less expensive alternative.

[Mort1]

Bought the old white Explorer 2 last year after the new one was presented at Basel, 42 is to big for me so i had to get it before it was sold out - next GMT2C...

[glimmer]

I used to own the 40mm Polar and sold it last year. I just received the 42mm version a few days ago. On the first day of wearing it took a little bit of getting used to...such a bigger (apparently) dial, bigger indices and bigger hands. It's so much bigger than a regular 42mm watch. Somehow the lugs make it look bigger.

After a few days I am a believer. It is truly a nice, nice watch and I hope to have it for many years to come.

[Maxfli]

Originally Posted by snowpea

Let's not kid ourselves if they were the same price I would bet more people would purchase the new Exp 42

Well, I know one person who would.

[Hairdude1]

Explorer II all the way!

[Island Dreamer]

Originally Posted by kymwatchlog

I pulled the trigger on the black dial altho I think the white looks fantastic on the posters (but not so in person).

Nevertheless the new ExpII rocks whatever the dial color!

Agreed. I just picked one up from OCROLEXGUY a few days ago and glad I did. I really like the bracelet.

Island Dreamer

[Jack Sparrow]

I'm pretty psyched to be getting a black dial myself pretty soon.
Can anyone who has a new Exp II and a Sub-C or a DSSD tell me if I'm going to miss the glidelock? That's my only concern.

[Vallhalla68]

Exp II 216570 is one tough watch

[sea-dweller]

Nice photo "side-by-side".

[Adam K.]

Originally Posted by Jack Sparrow

I'm pretty psyched to be getting a black dial myself pretty soon.
Can anyone who has a new Exp II and a Sub-C or a DSSD tell me if I'm going to miss the glidelock? That's my only concern.

I wouldn't miss it. I mean, I LIKE the Glidelock adjustment range, but I've never found the versions with Easylink to be lacking...and, I appreciate the fact that these clasps are much shorter than those of the Glidelock which take up quite a bit of "real estate" on my pretty slim wrist. Guys with really wide wrists will of course feel differently.

[MYK]

I've always preferred the 16570 over the 216570, until I met the new version in real life. You gotta love the fat hands! Especially in white.