Rolex Explorer II 42mm 226570 Watch Debuts For 2021

Rolex Explorer II 42mm 226570 Watch Debuts For 2021

For 2021 the major new Rolex watch release of interest to watch hobbyists will be this updated Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer II know as the reference 226570. It directly replaces the outgoing Rolex Explorer II 216570 – keeping the same 42mm wide form factor but offering many minor exterior upgrades as well as a modern-generation in-house made Rolex automatic GMT movement.

The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer II began life as a combination between the Rolex Explorer and the GMT-Master II. According to the story, Rolex developed the watch for cave explorers who used the GMT hand not necessarily to indicate the time in a second time zone, but rather as an AM/PM indicator. Why? Well as there is no natural light underground (and explorers could spend days down there) – knowing if it was day or night via your watch was certainly useful. To accomplish this, users simply need to synchronize the 24 hour GMT hand with the 12 hour time.

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The Rolex Explorer II has been popular over the last few years for a number of good reasons. It isn’t the least expensive Rolex Oyster Perpetual family watch, but it has traditionally been a good value and less than the more popular GMT-Master II or Submariner. The GMT-Master II had the fancier bezel and the Submariner had the fancier bracelet – while both of them feature ceramic bezel inserts. When Rolex upgraded to the 216570 from the previous generation Rolex Explorer II 16570, it made the case size 2mm larger (40mm – 42mm wide) and also marked a return to the “classic” orange-colored GMT arrow hand. The change in size helped visually separate the Explorer II from other Rolex sport watches, and thus helped carve out a new market for it, ideal for those who wanted something larger than the 40mm wide standard size which Rolex sport watches had been focused on for a number of years.

The 904L Oystersteel case of the Explorer 226570 is the same 42mm wide size as the outgoing model, but the case shape is a little bit different and I suspect it wears a little bit differently too. New parts are all around ranging from the bracelet, deployant, case, dial, and hands. Speaking of hands, the 226570 fixes what many people felt was one of the biggest problems with the 216570 – which was overly glossy hands – notably on the white dial model with its black-colored hands. For the 2021 Rolex Explorer 226570 with the white dial, Rolex marks a return to the more matte-finished black hands, similar in style to those that watch hobbyists enjoyed in the Rolex 16570 Explorer II model. While the Chromalight luminant name isn’t new, the 2021 Rolex Explorer and Explorer II uses a new, apparently brighter, formulation of this luminous material. It will be interesting to experience the new 2021 Chromalight in person.

Rolex offers the Explorer II 226570 with either the lacquered white or black dial – and matching orange-colored GMT hand. The white dial has matte black PVD-coated gold hands and matching applied hour markers, while the black dial variant has polished white gold hands and matching applied hour markers. The watches also have a window for the date, with the Rolex cyclops magnifier over the date window as part of the sapphire crystal.

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Unlike the Rolex GMT-Master II, the Explorer II has a fixed (not rotating) bezel, with the 24 hour markers etched into the steel and then painted black. The case is water resistant to 100 meters, and attached to the case is an updated three-link Oyster bracelet (it is broader than the previous bracelet) that I am personally excited to try on my wrist. The deployant doesn’t have a micro-adjust, but it does have the 5mm comfort extension link which can be folded out of the deployant clasp.

Inside the Rolex Explorer II 226570 is the still fresh Rolex caliber 3285 automatic GMT movement (same movement that is used in the current-generation GMT-Master II). The 4Hz frequency movement has about 70 hours of power reserve and is accurate to about 2 seconds per day. Like all Rolex movements, the 3285 is “Superlative Chronometer” certified, which means it have both a COSC Chronometer certificate as well as passes Rolex’s stringent in-house performance and accuracy testing standards.

2021 was never going to be a particularly prolific year for Rolex – no more so than at most other luxury timepiece brands who are keeping new releases “safe” during the pandemic. Rolex is currently going through a long-term upgrade cycle where each year some of their aging models get updates with new cases, movements, and sometimes styles. No one can quite predict which iconic Rolex watch will be next, but it is easy to identify which of their watches is in line for an update. The Explorer II had been in line for a while – though it isn’t Rolex’s most aging piece. This implies that Rolex uses a special formula or decision making process that keeps its fans and watch hobbyists on their toes.

Even though the Rolex Explorer II might seem like a niche piece, its bold size, handsome looks, and comparatively unpretentious guise have made it very popular with enthusiasts who might not even own another Rolex watch. The 2021 black or white dial 226570 Explorer II watches offer even more reason to enjoy this “more humble” Rolex Oyster sports watch for those who haven’t enjoyed a Rolex Explorer II in the past, or who for whatever reason prefer the looks of the older 40mm wide models more than the outgoing “chunky” larger 42mm wide models. With the 226570 Rolex has really refined some of the minor issues with the 216570, and helped strengthen the appeal of the original spelunking watch… for a new generation of cave-dwellers. It also happens to cost what a Rolex Submariner Date was listed at just a few years ago. Price for the reference 226570 Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer II watch is $8,550 USD. Learn more at the Rolex website here.

Introducing The New Rolex Explorer II Ref. 226570

That would be the in-house caliber 3285, the same movement currently found in the GMT-Master II. The Explorer II and GMT-Master II used to share a movement (3186) before the brand increased the former’s size to 42mm in the last generation (resulting in the creation of the 3187 to compensate for the larger case). This movement features the best that Rolex currently offers: Chronergy escapement, 70 hours of power reserve, blue Parachrom balance spring and Paraflex shock absorbers. In short, this movement is more efficient, more accurate, more robust, and lasts longer without the need for winding.

2021勞力士新錶｜Rolex新一代Explorer及Explorer II登場！定價又是多少？

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2021勞力士新錶｜Rolex新一代Explorer及Explorer II登場！定價又是多少？

2021勞力士新錶｜Rolex新一代Explorer及Explorer II登場！定價又是多少？

Rolex Explorer II Ref. 226570 先說Explorer II，大家預期新錶換上陶瓷錶圈或換上新GMT指針，現實是新Explorer II繼承了標誌性的精鋼錶圈及GMT橙針（筆者個人認為這個組合更正宗）。驟眼看跟上代Explorer II看似差不多一樣，但其實新錶有重大細節改動！

細心一看，你會發現白色漆面款的Explorer II，圓點時標外框是啞黑色（matte black），就連時、分、秒針也一樣，而新的黑面Explorer II則維持金屬邊框設計。

另一細節是錶殼左右兩邊經過微調，加強光線反射度，不只錶殼線條更流麗，在陽光下亦更閃耀矚目！而oyster三格錶帶也一樣微調過，稍稍加闊，令整體比例更好。機芯方面，新Explorer II當然也換上新心臟，搭載的是3285機芯，足72小時動力儲備。

新錶同樣有黑色或白色錶面選擇，尺寸為42mm，跟上代一樣。你會選黑面還是白面？

大家都知道新一代的Daytona，白面比黑面款更受追捧。不知今回有啞黑色設計的白面Explorer II，會否一樣比黑面Explorer II更搶手！來到大家最關心的定價，新Explorer II價錢為$66,400，令你即時有入手衝動嗎？

Rolex Explorer Ref. 124270 & Ref. 124273 另一新錶Explorer除了有精鋼錶款，更首次帶來two-tone金鋼型號！

Rolex Explorer Ref. 124270 更震撼的是，大家都知道現役的Explorer尺寸是39mm，現在新錶一下子下修至36mm！而且Explorer Ref. 214270更同時停產。如果你熟悉Explorer，你會知道它面世時的錶殼直徑正是36mm，新錶Ref.124270正是回歸元祖錶尺寸！定價自然是大家最關心的問題，這枚Explorer Ref. 124270價錢為$50,000，並搭載有3日動存的3230自動機芯，絕對是勞力士極親民的入門錶款！

Rolex Explorer Ref. 124273 至於金鋼版Explorer同樣是36mm錶殼，錶圈、時標框、錶冠及鏈帶中央鏈格為黃金，也一樣用上新機芯3230，定價為$84,500。

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