Is the 24hr bezel really needed on ExploreII

[Zsprings]

Originally Posted by nikhsub1

After reading the OP's post a few times I still can't figure out how a sub bezel on an explorer 2 would help with sailing at night and bouys.

Here in good old UK, we are surrounded by water and when sailing at night around the coast, it requires a good lookout for marker bouys (we also have fog) A bouy has a pattern of lights (or occlusions) and there could be more than one in the sea area into which one is sailing. Those distinct first seconds marked on the Submariners bezel would be most helpful (especially when using a torch) to identify the frequency of the bouy 'lights' marked on a chart. Oh, and I did write in to Rolex in 2007, long before the new Submariner or new ExporerII came out!

[TswaneNguni]

Originally Posted by Zsprings

.. would help those sailing at night, exploring around coastal waters, to identify flashing light bouys and hopefully not go aground!

I think most are sleeping at night
Lying on the beach with a belly exploring "objects of interest "
..and the flashing light would be from a bar .

[Stan Cooper]

I'm really confused; there are 24 primary time zones globally, with many more half-hour time zones.

There are a number of watches on the market that have both 12 hour and 24 hour graduations on the dial as well as a 24 hour hand, and typically one or the other (12 hour or 24 hour hand) is adjustable independently of the other.

The Sinn 857 UTC VFR model is one such watch that includes a rotating "dive" bezel. The 24 hour hand and dial graduations are colored orange for easy reference to the second time zone.

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by Stan Cooper

I'm really confused; there are 24 primary time zones globally, with many more half-hour time zones.

[Tim Plains]

It seems the whole purpose of this watch flew over your head.

[Stan Cooper]

Originally Posted by Tim Plains

It seems the whole purpose of this watch flew over your head.

Perhaps, but my confusion was over the OP's repeated assertion that there are "just 12 time zones." There are 12 primary time zones east of the Prime Meridian (Greenwich) and 12 west of the Prime Meridian. That adds up to twenty-four unless there's some new math I'm not aware of.

Originally Posted by Zsprings

My point being, there are just 12 time zones and a traveller might only set the different time (either GMT or local time) in one of 12 different hours and will know if it night or day where they are presently standing.

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by Tim Plains

It seems the whole purpose of this watch flew over your head.

Or burrowed right under our feet. See that? See what I did there?

[G3Z]

The 24hr hand also helps find North.

[Harry-57]

Yes.

Or at least it is on my Explorer II. I can't speak for anyone else but it's a moot point really.

[Zsprings]

Originally Posted by Harry-57

Yes.

Or at least it is on my Explorer II. I can't speak for anyone else but it's a moot point really.

Glad for you that you managed to get one (hopefully a 226570 at AD price?)

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by Zsprings

Glad for you that you managed to get one (hopefully a 226570 at AD price?)

Thank you.

It's the 216570 Polar which I bought from my AD in February 2018. They had one in stock and they gave me a discount on the MSRP.



More recently I would have considered myself lucky to "only" pay the full MSRP! Looks like things have slowly started changing again for the better. Good.

I think they did a good job on the 22 although I miss the floating hands on the black dial version. I love my 21. I'd be happy to own either the 21 or 22.

[Zsprings]

[QUOTE=Harry-57;12319105]Thank you.

It's the 216570 Polar which I bought from my AD in February 2018. They had one in stock and they gave me a discount on the MSRP.

Looks a super watch, and let's hope those days of getting a discount at an AD return?

[BNA/LION]

Yes

[BLNR Nairobi]

Yes

[subtona]

Essential!

[Zsprings]

Originally Posted by subtona

Essential!

Just one word that the actor Patton might have said in the film Patton??

[alphadweller]

That would defeat the whole idea of a 24h indicator.

[Zsprings]

I learnt what a Spulunker is today (new one on me)!

All those news items we see about boys being trapped inside caves, there are always deep underground pools for rescue teams to dive through!

So come on Rolex, the '22' ExplorerII is now 42mm diameter, plenty of room at the edge of the dial for the 24 batons, the adjustable 24hr hand can relate to. Thus leaving room for a rotateable submariner (all metal) bezel, instead of the fixed 24hr bezel.

[douglasf13]

Originally Posted by Zsprings

I learnt what a Spulunker is today (new one on me)!

All those news items we see about boys being trapped inside caves, there are always deep underground pools for rescue teams to dive through!

So come on Rolex, the '22' ExplorerII is now 42mm diameter, plenty of room at the edge of the dial for the 24 batons, the adjustable 24hr hand can relate to. Thus leaving room for a rotateable submariner (all metal) bezel, instead of the fixed 24hr bezel.

Again, the rotating bezel can somewhat easily pop off, thus defeating the entire purpose of the Explorer II’s fixed bezel vs. something like the GMT.

[AJMarcus]

Originally Posted by douglasf13

Again, the rotating bezel can somewhat easily pop off, thus defeating the entire purpose of the Explorer II’s fixed bezel vs. something like the GMT.

Bingo.

[DJ2020]

Originally Posted by Zsprings

I learnt what a Spulunker is today (new one on me)!

All those news items we see about boys being trapped inside caves, there are always deep underground pools for rescue teams to dive through!

So come on Rolex, the '22' ExplorerII is now 42mm diameter, plenty of room at the edge of the dial for the 24 batons, the adjustable 24hr hand can relate to. Thus leaving room for a rotateable submariner (all metal) bezel, instead of the fixed 24hr bezel.

Or a 24 hr scale on the dial and a rotating 24hr bezel. Like the glycine airman had. Track 3 time zones then!

[amh]

Originally Posted by Zsprings

Back in December 2007, I wrote to Rolex SA Geneva, including my mock up drawing of an ExplorerII with 12 hour adjustable hand, but wihout the 24 hour bezel. Instead, with a rotateable graduated bezel as found on Submariner 16610. My point being, there are just 12 time zones and a traveller might only set the different time (either GMT or local time) in one of 12 different hours and will know if it night or day where they are presently standing. The addition of the rotateable Submariner bezel would help those sailing at night, exploring around coastal waters, to identify flashing light bouys and hopefully not go aground! This feature is not found on any YachtMaster.
I got a very nice letter back January 10th 2008 from Rolex SA , double signed, and noting my suggestions had "....been studied with great interest....." I was ready to buy, but it didn't happen : crying:

Yeah, I'm sure they did

[Zsprings]

Originally Posted by amh

Yeah, I'm sure they did

Are you sure the waste paper bin is not full of tissues discarded after crying about not getting that hyped up 'grail' watch you want sooo badly ??

[AJMarcus]

It is if you want a classic spelunkers tool watch. In cave exploration you don’t want to chance losing your bezel.

[rgwarden]

If something isn’t broken why on Earth fix it… the Explorer II is an extraordinary watch just as it is. Particularly the 16570. Perfect size, proportions, and functionality. Just my opinion.

[Guybrush]

Originally Posted by rgwarden

If something isn’t broken why on Earth fix it… the Explorer II is an extraordinary watch just as it is. Particularly the 16570. Perfect size, proportions, and functionality. Just my opinion.

Don’t think anyone is questioning whether it’s an extraordinary watch. Not about fixing—about improving, perhaps. I’d say it’s a bit on the large size for anyone with a wrist under 7.5”. (Have seen pics of people with smaller wrists wearing them and most don’t look well fitted.) Not saying they’d stop offering 42mm—I think the giant watch trend may be fading a little, but I don’t think it’s disappearing anytime soon. They could do what they do with several other models and offer multiple sizes.

The spelunking thing is a theme, of course, but I highly doubt it’s how all but a tiny (probably statistically insignificant) percentage of owners use the watch. And again, having the 24hr scale in lumed paint on the dial would be a more practical way to go, in that case.

Love the watch just as it is. Doesn’t mean it’s perfect, and there’s no harm in pondering how it could be even better.

Edit: I’m aware that the 16570 is 40mm. Even that’s a touch large for most wrists. Imagine 37 or 38mm but with the current style orange 24hr hand. Good stuff.

[Zsprings]

Originally Posted by rgwarden

If something isn’t broken why on Earth fix it… the Explorer II is an extraordinary watch just as it is. Particularly the 16570. Perfect size, proportions, and functionality. Just my opinion.

There you go, 226570 is 42 mm, but you say 16570 is perfect size, proportions and funtionality (I don't add head bangers symbols I do not like them and think it's being unkind).

I don't dislike the nipple hour markers on the dial, but they are just as found on the GMT, Submariner, Yachtmaster37 and Submariner! Rolex has come up before with better batons....the gold plated shallow triangle dipped into a middle line to give a precise point for the pointed hands to relate to!

[Zsprings]

The present Explorer II (42mm) looks the same to me as an enlarged GMT (40mm), but fitted with an all metal 24hr bezel. I cannot see the ExII ever having the nickname 'polar' because the other version has a Black dial.
Let's hope it never ends up with the nickname 'spelunker'!
Great calibre 3285 with 70hrs reserve and the tiny 'crown' between swiss and made.

[Jackie Daytona]

Yes. It is necessary and the spirit of the model as a whole.

[LC23]

learning new things everyday