Explorer II vs Sea-Dweller 43

[Sonos]

Have both love both.

SD 43 wears slightly heavier but gets more wrist time on my 7.5 wrist. Difficult to chose between them. Once you have the bracelet set up correctly on the SD43 it is super comfortable. I removed one link and left in the extension after trying three options at the Rolex service centre. The extension is part of the watch and once you have it set up and balanced correctly you don’t notice the size and extra weight.

ExplorerII (black) is an amazing piece. Wears super thin and light but carries loads of presence. Love the orange contrast on the black.

Both stunning pieces and I imagine the red text will be discontinued soon on the SD43 and new Explorer next year.

[Texex]

I've spent some time with the SD43 (traded my BLNR with my cousin for a month) and I own the EXII in white. The interesting thing is that the SD43 wears smaller regarding how it looks on the wrist but wears larger in how it feels. The SD43 found every doorway I walked through, It felt very tall to me.

[dr.fiddy]

Have both. SD43 gets worn 10 times more often than the EXP2...

[DoctorA]

SD43 gets my vote
They’re both beautiful but if you’re choosing only one, I’d go with the SD43

[sheldonsmith]

I have owned the Explorer II for over five years and it was a great watch. Additionally, I own both the 116600 and 126600 and they too are great watches, but of all of them, I gravitate to the 126600.

On my 6 ⅝” wrist, the Explorer II fit well, but only after I installed a Glidelock clasp to the bracelet. In my experience with Rolex, perhaps the greatest comfort feature is the case back. Raised casebacks found on diving watches just fit me better. With flatter casebacks, I found the crown digging into the back of my wrist because the bracelet was too loose, or too tight, depending on the Easylink configuration. I found the same malady with flat caseback GMT’s as well. With a Glidelock clasp, I could quickly adjust the bracelet to make the watch fit better and not get the back of the hand crown digging; the tighter the fit, the more comfortable it wears.

I found the same is true with the DSSD, SeaDweller 4000, and the SD43. A raised case back, combined with making easy bracelet adjustments makes all the difference in comfort.


Case back height difference between the SD4000 and Explorer II

The DSSD was perhaps the most comfortable feeling watch I’ve owned, but I flipped it because it was just too damn tall and it looked like a pocket watch on my 6 5/8” wrist.

The SD43 is my go-to now with the improved/increased curvature of the end links, and the weight distribution between the watch head and bracelet.


126600 curved end link (left); 116600 endlink (right)
The 116600 endlink has a very similar curvature to the Explorer II.
More Picts and verbiage at https://www.minus4plus6.com/SD4000.php


The Explorer II larger dial is purpose built for legibility, but I found that the larger face and hands luminescence blended together at night. The smaller hands on the SeaDwellers are a bit more crisp, and are deeper into the watch case giving the hands more contrast (well, actually, it’s not that the face is deeper into the case but rather the rehaut is almost 90 degrees to the watch face, and thicker, over the Explorer II whereby it is closer to 45 degrees to the watch face and thinner).

So, long story short, I’d go with the SD43...

-Sheldon

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by sheldonsmith

I have owned the Explorer II for over five years and it was a great watch. Additionally, I own both the 116600 and 126600 and they too are great watches, but of all of them, I gravitate to the 126600.

On my 6 ⅝” wrist, the Explorer II fit well, but only after I installed a Glidelock clasp to the bracelet. In my experience with Rolex, perhaps the greatest comfort feature is the case back. Raised casebacks found on diving watches just fit me better. With flatter casebacks, I found the crown digging into the back of my wrist because the bracelet was too loose, or too tight, depending on the Easylink configuration. I found the same malady with flat caseback GMT’s as well. With a Glidelock clasp, I could quickly adjust the bracelet to make the watch fit better and not get the back of the hand crown digging; the tighter the fit, the more comfortable it wears.

I found the same is true with the DSSD, SeaDweller 4000, and the SD43. A raised case back, combined with making easy bracelet adjustments makes all the difference in comfort.


Case back height difference between the SD4000 and Explorer II

The DSSD was perhaps the most comfortable feeling watch I’ve owned, but I flipped it because it was just too damn tall and it looked like a pocket watch on my 6 5/8” wrist.

The SD43 is my go-to now with the improved/increased curvature of the end links, and the weight distribution between the watch head and bracelet.


126600 curved end link (left); 116600 endlink (right)
The 116600 endlink has a very similar curvature to the Explorer II.
More Picts and verbiage at https://www.minus4plus6.com/SD4000.php


The Explorer II larger dial is purpose built for legibility, but I found that the larger face and hands luminescence blended together at night. The smaller hands on the SeaDwellers are a bit more crisp, and are deeper into the watch case giving the hands more contrast (well, actually, it’s not that the face is deeper into the case but rather the rehaut is almost 90 degrees to the watch face, and thicker, over the Explorer II whereby it is closer to 45 degrees to the watch face and thinner).

So, long story short, I’d go with the SD43...

-Sheldon

Really well laid out post Sheldon. Thanks for sharing this, I’m certain that will help the OP

[CaptT]

Mad respect for the review(s), Sheldon, and the lengths you go to compare. I love the 116600; it was the first Rolex I really fell for, despite having owned a 116610 previously. I’ve also developed a real appreciation for the 216570, which wears differently and imo primarily due to the L2L length and height differences. But its fun and refreshing. Same could be said for the 126600, though the wider bracelet really makes this watch for me. Ultimately a person has to try them on and see what resonates, what feels right.

[007_Omega]

The Explorer II, especially polar, appears bigger than the SD43 due to the much bigger dial. The Explorer II is actually a pretty thin watch and the SD43 is a thick beast so it will be heavier.

Don't have enough experience with the Explorer II but I have heard it is very comfortable. The SD43 isn't what I'd call very comfortable.

[TswaneNguni]

Have the DSSD ,SD43 and white and black Expl II 42mm

Have large wrists .

DSSD,since 2011,the Rolex that gets the most wrist time in the collection.Love that watch !

SD43 silghtly "smaller wearer"

Expl II ...42mm the perfect size for the design .

Really not a huge difference in feel between the 42mm and SD43.

A lot will depend on wrist size .

[NorcalBlue]

Lucky enough to own both and are my only two watches. The Exp. 2 wears quite a bit smaller than the SD43. The SD43 is quite a bit taller or at least it feels and looks like it.

[thekman]

Sd43 ftw!

[captJON]

it wears different, personally i would rather wear polar white explorer as i don't like ig watches

[Vinnee]

You can have both. I think the only difference is the weight.

[Sonos]

You only notice the difference in the weight if you are swapping watches daily. Wear the SD43 for a few days and you don’t notice anything different.It is so comfortbake when sized correctly.

The SD43 is just perfect in its appearance and proportions.

The quintessential Rolex dive watch.

Everyone has a sub.......

[truecolours888]

I have both X2 (40mm 16570 black dial) and DSSD (44mm Deep Sea Deep Blue 116660). I will choose based on the occasions. The more comfortable would be X2 but if you wear DSSD daily and if you swap X2, it almost feels like you are not wearing it.

[johnwigan]

Originally Posted by chloebear

Gents,

I'm thinking about adding the new Sea-Dweller 43 to my collection. I've been wearing an Explorer II (216570) for years, so I'm used to a larger watch. But can anyone comment how the two compare on the wrist? Does anyone have accurate dimensions, weight, thickness numbers they can share? Comparison pictures - if anyone has both - would be super helpful. The more details the better.

Thanks in advance!

Mike

You need to go and try it on and see how it feels. Heavy and thick but only you know if it suits you and your wrist.

[Paka]

Originally Posted by Vinnee

You can have both.

Not from AD. You can have neither.

[Smobews]

Originally Posted by 1William

I own the Polar Explorer II and the black dial Explorer II as well as a SD43. The two models are very different, in a good way. The Explorer II is thin and sits very flat on my wrist which is 7.5-7.75, depending on the weather. The SD43 is everything in a Rolex diver I could want, size, glide lock, red text, bezel and even the cyclops. It is a hard either/or for the watches and both get a lot of wrist time. My experience with larger watches is that the bracelet sizing has everything to do with wear and comfort. Once you get then SD43 set up right you will not have an issue with the size or weight. As an addition to an already nice collection I would say go for it.

Totally agree. They are two different beasts, and I get excited rewearing each because of the contrast in wrist feel.

FYI, the 126600 and the 226570 have the same bracelets but different clasps.

[RCC watches]

I like the look of the SD43 but every time I see it in person, the dial and hands seem dainty compared to the Exp2. Does it seem that way on wrist ?

[Vesper Lynd]

If it is for daily use, the Explorer ll is more comfortable.

[gnardex]

Hi, this is a "comparator" of watches, you can insert SD and Exp2
A member of this forum created it

(but there is not the weight, just dimensions)
https://lugtolug.org

probably you will have look at the weight in google
it depends on the number of links removed
but roughly an estimate could be 30 grams more for sd43
(150/160 for exp2 vs. 180/190 for sd43)

I have the SD43, not Exp2 but I tried it several times.
To me, sd43 has perfect proportion
Exp2 too large (dial larger than sd43, or at least looks larger on my wrist).
I wear sd43 daily

[Sthe]

Hard to choose, I'd probably want both but choose to get the Exp II before the SD43.

[Matt129]

For only a 1mm difference in case size they wear very differently. I love the SD43. I took out the divers extension which made it much more comfortable on the wrist, but others have said they found it more comfortable with the extension, so there is some personal preference there. It is an absolute tank... in a good way. As I get older I will give watches away to my son and nephew, but the SD43 might just be the one I keep until the end.

[PBJ1925]

Naturally to each their own but I preferred the Exp2 between the two in terms of how it sat flatter on my wrist.

[Lamontsanders]

Owned both. Explorer II is far more comfortable. Both are great.

[DJFanUK]

This

Originally Posted by Sonos

You only notice the difference in the weight if you are swapping watches daily. Wear the SD43 for a few days and you don’t notice anything different.It is so comfortbake when sized correctly.

The SD43 is just perfect in its appearance and proportions.

The quintessential Rolex dive watch.

Everyone has a sub.......

[ntb1001]

I just got a SD43 today and I love it. I’ve had an Explorer 2 before, and for me the size of the SD43 is better.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Daytonaman799]

I have both and they ar every different. The Exp II is more comfortable and the dual time function is great. The SD 43 is a presence watch…you KNoW it’s there but I love the heft, history and engineering. It’s like wearing a bank vault on your wrist. I wore one of my EXP II’s as my daily for years, it’s taken a backseat now to a Day Date but the SD 43 is one of my weekend, beach watches.

[Gerry62]

Sd43 is my favorite Rolex currently in production. He wins over all

[Malum]

Of all my Rolex and other watches my SD43 is on my wrist 90% of the time . I asked my AD for An Exp. II , I really love the watch and can’t wait to acquire but I’m afraid it’s going to be an all out battle between the two .