How Big Does the Explorer II Polar Wear?

[Cru Jones]

Originally Posted by BogdanS

When I bought my first Explorer 2 on May 2020, I had the opportunity to handle both black and white before at my AD.

I went with the Polar mostly because of the hype. Tried to bond with it for a while with no success and a year later got the chance to buy the black as well.

I would now let the Polar go but I’m stuck with if for life, it’s got my boy’s name and birth date on the card, his first document.
Now considering adding a black dial to it and let the 22 series go instead.

Conclusion to myself: can’t get wiser just by education (TRF reading), it’s trial and error.


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Is he getting a document or a watch you love and prefer and want him to have?

Just a thought….

[BogdanS]

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

Is he getting a document or a watch you love and prefer and want him to have?

Just a thought….

Good point. That’s why I will try to add a black dial to the white 21 series.


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[Cru Jones]

Originally Posted by BogdanS

Good point. That’s why I will try to add a black dial to the white 21 series.


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Sounds like a good plan.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

This seems like a question from someone seriously considering an Explorer II.

always appreciated the watch

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[noshame]

Wow, thank you fellow members. I never thought this thread would get 60+ replies. Just shows how willing our community of watch lovers are at helping others.

I know I need to try one on, and I will ... just find it interesting how many different views and perspectives there are on how the 226570 Polar wears and fits. From "it wears substantially larger than my 6-digit Sub" to "even though its bigger than my Sub, it sits flatter and is more comfortable on the wrist", and everything in between. Thank you!

[173rdabn]

I have a 216570 Polar and it's fine. Don't overthink it and enjoy.

[Stephe]

My friend bought the watch last year and it turned out too big for him. I guess this Rolex is for people on the big side.

[Ibiza]

I tried it on and it had lots of presence. It's not one that hides on your wrist

[StanCho]

Visually, it wears bigger than BD version. I went with BD after trying both (6.3-6.5 wrist).

[tagesol]

It actually wears bigger but you can only know better when you’ve tried out one, I own both but the Polar doesn’t get more wrist time.

[fishingbear]

I too have a 7.5” wrist with no size issues at all. The 42mm ExpII sits low on a flat wrist and is super comfortable. Highly recommend the polar, it’s such a different sports reference from Rolex.

[shedlock2000]

There’s a few things to note with the 6 digit EXPIIs:

Firstly, the 216570 wears differently to the 226570. This is because of the different bracelet width and the different clasp.

Secondly, the EXPII is more ‘top heavy’ than the 116710 etc.; it’s not thicker, so I assume this comes from the increase in mid case weight. As a result, it does flop about a bit more if you wear your watch loosely or change size due to temperature (I find that the watch can be both tight in a morning and floppy on the wrist in the evening).

Thirdly, the white dial is noticeably bigger than the black dial of the 6 digit subs or GMTs — the black bezels help to hide the size of these watches, but the large expanse of dial is tricky on the EXPII (especially on the white dial) and it wears much larger than the black due to optics of the dial. The black dial EXPII also wears smaller as noted above.



Contrarily to others here, I find the EXPII to be less comfortable than my GMT and sub were and also less comfortable than my 5 digit references. I do not put the watch on and forget it; I’m constantly fiddling to make it sit right.



I also find myself thinking that it’s quite large on my 7.7” round wrist when I look directly at it, but not when I see it in the mirror or on a photo/video.





If I could get a 116710 from a dealer instead of the 226570, I probably would. I think it’s a better size for me and has greater functionality. I am very rough on my watches and I never broke the bezel on my 116710 (though I did squash the clasp badly while fitting an engine into a Range Rover). The EXPIIs are supposedly tougher, but I find they scratch very easily — especially on the non-crown side of the watch, which catches everything (because it’s top heavy and flops about if you wear it slightly loosely). The marks you see are after only 2 months of wear — my Omega 2234.50 has zero case marks after 12 months of hard wear and the same case size.



Finally, I find that mine likes to sit towards the far side of my wrist and I have to roll my wrist further round than I do with the other watches. This again is due to a slight top-heaviness, which seems to pull the watch around to the predominantly-down-side of the wrist; and due to the length of the case, which sort of prohibits the watch from rolling with the skin as you turn your wrist. This in itself is a bit irritating, to be honest, and is the only watch I’ve ever had that does it.



In short, I think it looks ok for size when viewed by other people, but that it looks large when I look at it. This is likely due to the dial optics as mentioned before rather than any other reason:



But it looks much bigger than other 42mm watches on the wrist:




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[1William]

Nice review and great pictures. Thanks.

[OG1982]

Originally Posted by bluestreak

Here are both on my 7.25 inch wrist in similar poses. And here’s they are side by side on my desk.

Hope this is helpful

The Exp II is too big for you!

[OG1982]

The 216570 Polar was the first Rolex I bought. Loved it, but too big for my 7.25 inch wrist.

My 124060 (no date Sub) on the other hand fits me well.




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[watchwatcher]

Originally Posted by noshame

More specifically, do any of you feel like your Sub/GMT fits you perfectly, but your Explorer II might be a tad too big for you?

No. Not even remotely.

EDIT: Just saw you posted this thread ender. Words cannot express how true this statement is: Conclusion to myself: can’t get wiser just by education (TRF reading), it’s trial and error.

[Bobcat Sig]

I find the six-digit Exp II Polar looks big. It does not wear big. I find it quite comfortable. I love my 21-series.

[bluestreak]

Originally Posted by Ollie1982

The Exp II is too big for you!

Originally Posted by Ollie1982

The Exp II is too big for you!

I don’t really think so. Wrist shots make the watch look big. Here it looks fine.





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[shedlock2000]

Originally Posted by bluestreak

I don’t really think so. Wrist shots make the watch look big. Here it looks fine.





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Yeah, from a bit away the watch looks fine! If you love it, it doesn’t matter what others think!


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[shedlock2000]

Originally Posted by tifosi

A lot of that is a function of wide angle lenses on camera phones.

I have tried on the 6 digit Polar and it was too large for my liking. I own/have owned a few 11 and 12 series Subs. 5 digit Polar is the way to go.

What size and shape is your wrist, Russ? That looks spot on for you!

[Tri-Tip]

I have a 40mm Sub and a 42mm Explorer II (Polar), and for quite a while, I felt the Exp II was too large, but lately, it's been getting more wrist time than the Sub. Fits comfy on me.

[Mr Ben]

I’m amazed at some of these photos. My wrist is 7 inches and the watch sits snug and flat - if I look straight down at it I can see 2 links either side as they curve round the wrist.

When I bought mine, I tried it on assuming I’d love it but it would be too big. I was actually surprised how small it was coming from omega/ tag. So I’d say try it on.

I’m amazed to see people with 7 inch plus wrists with an overhang. I must have very flat wrists or some people are very round!

[CarlOver]

I prefer the Polar Exploerer II since I feels the no date 41 Sub feels a bit small. Worst is 7 1/8” wrist.

[drc73]

7.5 inch wrist here. In reality it does not wear as big a people say. I daily a sub 41 and the Exp II 42 is a little bigger but just as comfortable if not more comfortable than the sub. It’s actually starting to get more wrist time than the sub. It is a comfortable watch.

[Twisted Vicar]

6.75 wrist here. I don’t think it looks too big

[Kevin of Larchmont]

Two days ago I picked up a black 226570 to go with my polar 216570. Predictability the black appears smaller but surprisingly the orange pops more than on the polar. I haven’t done any compare and contrast between the two regarding subtle differences in fit but they both seem to fit similarly on my 6.75” wrist. On both I have four links on the 6 side and seven on the 12 side with the Microadjust at the tightest setting, this keeps it planted on top of my wrist without rolling. The Easylink stays closed unless it gets hot. If I could only keep one I’d keep the black hands down but I’m going to rock them both for awhile and see what shakes out.

[OG1982]

Duplicate post

[OG1982]

Originally Posted by drc73

7.5 inch wrist here. In reality it does not wear as big a people say. I daily a sub 41 and the Exp II 42 is a little bigger but just as comfortable if not more comfortable than the sub. It’s actually starting to get more wrist time than the sub. It is a comfortable watch.

It might not wear big for you, doesn't mean it doesn't wear big for others with a similar size wrist.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

So for what it’s worth I took a more detailed look at the 226 and the 216 side by side. The 216 with the narrower bracelet and clasp definitely wears larger than the 226; the narrower bracelet and wider lugs make the transition to the case more abrupt. It’s not a dealbreaker for me in the least even with my Girl Scout wrist but they are noticeably different side by side and I thought that was relevant to the conversation. I’m going to keep them both as I find the contrast between the references interesting and if the 32XX in the 226 goes wonky as I’m assured it will then I’ll have a 31XX as an Explorer II backup.

[B2 Stealth]

Go Big or Stay Home! My daily beater. Unbeatable legibility. Must have in any collection. Polar is oh so nice!