The 39mm Explorer was Perfect!!!

[Ketler]

36mm is classic...But 39mm suits my 8" wrist perfectly...

[TimeAZ]

SO happy that I bought the 39mm from our wonderful trusted sellers a few months ago! Back then, there was much chatter about how easy it was to pick up the explorer at an AD (wrong, false, and blatant lie coming from various posts around these parts). Such a small, marginal premium back then-- not going to be the case moving forward on the 214270.

[Ricky Rolex]

36mm just doesn’t fit the bill. Happy I’ve got a 39mm


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[Andrews148]

I love the move back to 36mm and would love to own one day.
Steel though - not that hideous two-tone thing.

[Godfather15]

RIP to the perfectly sized 39mm. The 36mm is just too small for a modern watch.

[Clockmeister]

Originally Posted by Godfather15

RIP to the perfectly sized 39mm. The 36mm is just too small for a modern watch.

I agree.
No one anticipated a 36mm Explorer. Actually much speculation on a 42mm Daytona.
Rolex has increased the OP and Sub to 41mm. And the Explorer 2 to 42mm several years ago.
I doubt Rolex hopes to increase Explorer sales by catering to the relatively small amount of “collectors”.

[Yellowfury]

Completely agree that 39 was perfect. I have 8.5” wrists. 36mm looks absolutely tiny.

[~JJ]

Happy to have a 39mm T-Rex! Zero desire for 36mm or a two tone.

[accountank2000]

I think 39 is a decent modern size - don't need 40+ when 'exploring', but 36mm is a bit dainty, from an era when watches were generally smaller.

A few years ago I tried on the Tudor BB36 which is their version of an explorer 1 - I found it too small for my taste, and ended up going with something chunkier and more colourful

[SaddleSC]

I have never been more relieved and excited. I have wanted to add the Explorer back to my collection for nearly 10 years after selling the MK1 T Rex. A couple weeks ago, I just had this uneasy feeling that the watch I considered to be perfect was about to be fundamentally changed so I pulled the trigger on a 39mm. I have owned the 36mm 114270 in the past but always felt I wanted a slightly larger watch for short sleeves and casual wear. The 39mm MKII is absolute perfection to my eye. It works in any environment with any clothing. I feel very grateful to have one of the last “perfect” Explorers ever made:) RIP 214270!

[cbalster]

The OP39 was perfect.

The Explorer 39mm was a bit polarizing as many felt the proportions were better on the 36mm.

[jakegdiazmd]

Originally Posted by cbalster

The OP39 was perfect.

The Explorer 39mm was a bit polarizing as many felt the proportions were better on the 36mm.

Yes, totally agree! The OP 39 was perfect! It was perfect bec of the upgraded size and the proportions were spot on.
The Explorer 39 however had the perfect size (39mm) but the scaling of the FLAT bezel to 39mm was slightly OFF (meaning the bezel width was slightly bigger)
The ROUNDED bezel of the OP39 appears shorter than the FLAT bezel of the Exp 1 39mm.
That’s the major difference.


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[Krash]

It’s a real head scratcher. I could see getting rid of the 39 if they were replacing it with a 41.


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[RolexEDC]

I actually got the 39mm in December 2020, sold it bc the dial was too big for me. Lookin forward to the 36!

[WatchNutcase]

Originally Posted by RolexEDC

I actually got the 39mm in December 2020, sold it bc the dial was too big for me. Lookin forward to the 36!

I passed one a 39mm last summer after trying it on at the AD. Proportions felt way off to me, large dial, long lugs, skinny bezel, not a great combo for my 6.5 inch wrist. The 36mm is perfect for my wrist size, I'm now seriously interested as well.

[89Sem]

I still want a white dial explorer but no desire for the 36mm

I’ll stick to my 39... size does matter lol (in this case, not for the new sub)

[WatchNutcase]

The 39mm was perfect for those with medium to large wrists, the new 36mm is perfect for those with medium to small wrists. Simple as that!

[Rocky Hockey]

Originally Posted by WatchNutcase

The 39mm was perfect for those with medium to large wrists, the new 36mm is perfect for those with medium to small wrists. Simple as that!

Exactly!

I’m right in the middle with a 6.75” wrist and have gone back and forth. It took me a little time to adjust to the 39 only because my eyes were so used to the 36 Explorer. After an adjustment period, my 39 is now a daily wearer. While I was considering a 114270 (as an addition), when I tried on a 36 OP it looked surprisingly small.

The 39 is very cool. It feels like a cross between a field watch and a pilot watch. It just works for me now and I don’t think I’d go back to the 36 if it meant giving up my 39.

It’s funny how your eyes adjust. I used to wear a 34 OP Date and considered it big at the time.

I’m glad Rolex brought back the 36. If my AD offered it to me I would take it as an addition (but not as a replacement.). It’s clearly a winner, but am surprised they cut short the life of the 39 when it was in relatively high demand.


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[peterp]

Originally Posted by Rocky Hockey

Exactly!

I’m right in the middle with a 6.75” wrist and have gone back and forth. It took me a little time to adjust to the 39 only because my eyes were so used to the 36 Explorer. After an adjustment period, my 39 is now a daily wearer. While I was considering a 114270 (as an addition), when I tried on a 36 OP it looked surprisingly small.

The 39 is very cool. It feels like a cross between a field watch and a pilot watch. It just works for me now and I don’t think I’d go back to the 36 if it meant giving up my 39.

It’s funny how your eyes adjust. I used to wear a 34 OP Date and considered it big at the time.

I’m glad Rolex brought back the 36. If my AD offered it to me I would take it as an addition (but not as a replacement.). It’s clearly a winner, but am surprised they cut short the life of the 39 when it was in relatively high demand.


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Close-up photos do not reflect true size / presence - they make the watch appear much bigger. Made such mistake once with 34mm - life lesson.

[Gary Busey]

i have the 39mm its perfect in my eyes. but watches are fashion, and Rolex is a trend setter. there is no good objective answer as to which is correct in terms of size. Fashion trends will determine this, and we are clearly going smaller.
But we are also going bigger hahahaah to 41mm on other models.
seems like this was a move catering purely to the purists....

[81911]

36mm is a huge regression. Y’all all taking about a 36mm when wearing Subs and GMTs 40 or 41mm with massive bezels saying a 39mm is too big. 😂😂 The 39’s are going to the moon like GME. 💎 🚀

[cbalster]

Originally Posted by 81911

36mm is a huge regression. Y’all all taking about a 36mm when wearing Subs and GMTs 40 or 41mm with massive bezels saying a 39mm is too big. 😂😂 The 39’s are going to the moon like GME. 💎 🚀

Actually the Explorer went to Everest, it was the Speedmaster that went to the moon. What's GME?

[JDR888]

Originally Posted by cbalster

Actually the Explorer went to Everest, it was the Speedmaster that went to the moon. What's GME?

Gamestop

[81911]

Originally Posted by cbalster

Actually the Explorer went to Everest, it was the Speedmaster that went to the moon. What's GME?

It’s just a phrase regarding the Value of GameStop stock.

[gnuyork]

Originally Posted by cbalster

Actually the Explorer went to Everest, it was the Speedmaster that went to the moon. What's GME?

Funny, I used GME profits to buy my Speedmaster.

Originally Posted by 81911

It’s just a phrase regarding the Value of GameStop stock.

No. It's the stock ticker symbol. Not a phrase regarding value.

[81911]

Originally Posted by gnuyork

Funny, I used GME profits to buy my Speedmaster.



No. It's the stock ticker symbol. Not a phrase regarding value.

I know what GME is. I’m clearly explains “going to the moon.”

[base615]

Originally Posted by 81911

36mm is a huge regression. Y’all all taking about a 36mm when wearing Subs and GMTs 40 or 41mm with massive bezels saying a 39mm is too big. 😂😂 The 39’s are going to the moon like GME. 💎 🚀

Those watches appear proportionally smaller because of the bezels.

[Nalk7]

Originally Posted by base615

Those watches appear proportionally smaller because of the bezels.

I disagree, the thin bezel makes the dial look larger and as a result the watch wears a bit larger than 36mm.

[1ScvReady]

Originally Posted by 81911

36mm is a huge regression. Y’all all taking about a 36mm when wearing Subs and GMTs 40 or 41mm with massive bezels saying a 39mm is too big. ���� The 39’s are going to the moon like GME. �� ��

Yeah but the dial on the 39mm is massive! When wearing it side by side with a 40mm sub the 39mm explorer actually looks bigger. I agree that the 39mm case size is good from a lug to lug perspective but the dial was simply too big. It's dial size is nearly the same, if not the exact same size as the 42mm explorer II and that's way to big for a no date 3 hand watch. I felt the 214270 39mm looked off on my 7'' wrist and I'm glad Rolex brought back some restraint by going against the trend of increasing watch sizes here. I think most people are wearing watches way too big for their wrists these days but if you got an 8''+ wrist then I say go for it. 6'3'' General Norman Schwartzkopf famously wore a 36mm two tone datejust and it didn't look bad on him.

[stateman]

Originally Posted by 1ScvReady

Yeah but the dial on the 39mm is massive. When wearing it side by side with a 40mm sub the 39mm explorer actually looks bigger. I agree that the 39mm case size is good but the dial was simply to big. It's the same dial size as the 42mm explorer II. That's way to big for a no date 3 hand watch.

Glad to see someone else reach that conclusion....wore a 214270 for a year and started out just loving it. But as time went by the dial proportions started to bug me...the relative size of the dial and the negative space on it eventually led to a sale. It’s really picky obviously...but once it got in my head...

Looking forward to seeing the 36mm