Rolex Explorer II: todas las referencias desde 1971 hasta la actualidad

The Rolex Explorer 2 is one of those watches that rewards research. A tool watch built around a fixed 24-hour bezel and a dedicated GMT hand, it was born in 1971 specifically for cave explorers who needed to distinguish day from night in total darkness. Over five decades and five distinct references, it has evolved from niche professional instrument to one of the most quietly desirable sports watches in the Rolex catalog. If you're trying to figure out which one is yours — here's the complete breakdown.

El lugar que ocupa el Explorer II en la gama de Rolex

The Rolex Explorer II often gets confused with two siblings. Versus the Explorer I: that's a cleaner, simpler watch — no GMT hand, no 24-hour scale. Versus the GMT-Master II: the GMT rotates its bezel to track a second time zone; the Explorer II's bezel is fixed, so the 24-hour hand tells you day or night at a glance, not what time it is in Tokyo. Same family, different purpose.

Explorer II: referencia por referencia

Ref. 1655 (1971-1985)

El original. Lo que lo hace reconocible al instante es el llamativo manecilla naranja de 24 horas, un sello distintivo que ha acompañado a la línea desde entonces. El mercado lo apodó «Steve McQueen», aunque McQueen nunca lo llevó puesto en público. No dejes que eso te preocupe: es un reloj realmente magnífico, independientemente del mito. Caja: 39 mm. Ancho de las asas: 20 mm. Los precios de los Rolex en el mercado secundario han aumentado significativamente debido a la demanda de modelos vintage; comprueba las cifras actuales en Chrono24 antes de comprar.

Ref. 16550 (1985-1989)

The rarest of the five references. Shortest production run, first to offer both white and black dials, and the reference that introduced sapphire crystal to the Explorer II line. It marks a genuine turning point in the model's history. Case grew to 40mm, lug width stayed at 20mm. Short supply and collector interest push secondary prices high — a very interesting investment timepiece, but worth verifying on Bob's Watches before you commit to purchase.

Ref. 16570 (1989-2011)

Twenty-two years in production, the longest run of any Explorer II and the direct predecessor to the 216570. Rolex refined it progressively throughout its run; the most useful identifier is the rehaut engraving that appeared post-2007. Case: 40mm. Lug width: 20mm. Secondary prices vary considerably by production year and condition. It's also the reference with the widest availability on the grey market. 

Ref. 216570 (2011-2021)

This reference is where everything changed. Case jumped to 42mm, crown guards got more pronounced, and — critically — lug width moved from 20mm to 21mm (most Rolex sports models sit at 20mm, which made this an unusual move). If you're buying used, this is the reference where aftermarket strap compatibility narrows. Secondary market pricing has been rising steadily as it moves further out of production.

Ref. 226570 (2021–actualidad)

The current Rolex Explorer 2 226570. Rolex refined the proportions of the 216570 for better visual balance and introduced Caliber 3285 — Chronergy escapement, 70-hour power reserve, significantly improved accuracy. The lug width changed again with this generation, this time to 22mm. For retail pricing and AD availability, check Rolex.com directly.

Verify all prices on Chrono24 and Bob's Watches before purchasing.

¿Por qué cambió la anchura de la lengüeta de 20 mm a 21 mm en 2011?

Cuando la caja del modelo 216570 pasó a medir 42 mm, unas asas de 20 mm resultaban visualmente inadecuadas: eran demasiado estrechas para la caja. Rolex optó por pasar a 21 mm para restablecer las proporciones, y esa única decisión transformó por completo el mercado de recambios.

The practical implication: vintage refs (1655 through 16570) run on 20mm straps, giving you access to virtually every aftermarket option available. Since 20mm is the most common size across sports watches. The 216570 needs 21mm and the 226570 needs 22mm, both with curved ends shaped specifically for the Explorer II case. That means you need an aftermarket strap built for the Explorer II. A smaller pool than 20mm, but the quality options are there. If you bought pre-owned without the original papers, the reference number is engraved on the case between the lugs at 12 o'clock, and the serial sits on the rehaut on post-2007 examples.

Esfera polar frente a esfera negra

This is the question that splits the community. The Rolex Explorer 2 white dial (Polar) reads better at a distance and has historically traded at a 10–15% premium over the black on the secondary market — verify current spread on Chrono24. The Rolex Explorer 2 black dial is more discreet, better for daily wear if you're not looking to announce the watch.

Un detalle que conviene saber: las esferas de principios de 1655 adquieren con el paso de las décadas una pátina natural de tritio; ese tono crema envejecido ha creado su propio micromercado dentro del mundo vintage. En cuanto a la combinación de correas, la tendencia es constante: el modelo Polar combina a la perfección con correas oscuras que aportan contraste (goma negra, azul marino oscuro), mientras que el modelo Black queda bien tanto con combinaciones tonales como con un acento cromático marcado, como el naranja —un guiño a esa manecilla original de 24 horas—.

Cómo funciona la función GMT de 24 horas

The Rolex Explorer 2 GMT hand completes one rotation every 24 hours. The fixed bezel is marked 1–24. Together, they tell you instantly whether it's AM or PM — useful underground, in polar regions, or anywhere light conditions are unreliable. This is not a dual time zone tool the way the GMT-Master II is. That watch has a rotating bezel to independently set a second city's time. The Explorer II's bezel doesn't rotate — it's calibrated for day/night orientation, not timezone math.

El Explorer II en la muñeca

What consistently surprises first-time Rolex Explorer 2 rubber strap converts is the weight. The Oyster bracelet on a 216570 or 226570 runs around 160 grams. A quality FKM rubber strap brings that down to roughly 35 grams. The watch feels completely different — more wearable, fresher to wear during hot temperatures  and less of a statement.

Polar dial owners make the switch to rubber more often than Black dial owners. The contrast between the white dial and a dark rubber strap has become the signature look for the modern Explorer II. Vintage ref owners (16570 and earlier) tend to preserve the original bracelet and use rubber selectively for travel. In summer, an orange strap picks up the orange details on the Polar dial nicely.

One technical note: the crown guards on the Explorer II are specific to this case — curved-end straps are not interchangeable with Submariner or GMT-Master II fitments. You need a mold made specifically for this case.

Cómo colocar una correa de goma en el Explorer II

Vintage references (1655 through 16570) take 20mm FKM vulcanized with a curved end. The 216570 takes 21mm, and the 226570 takes 22mm, both with a curved end and an Explorer II-specific mold.

On color: Polar dials take almost any tone well — high contrast options work best. Black dials pair most cleanly with matte black or strong chromatic accents. The original Oysterlock deployant clasp mounts directly onto quality aftermarket rubber, so you keep the factory closure. No modifications, full reversibility. Fitting an aftermarket rubber strap does not void your Rolex warranty, provided the original bracelet is preserved and the watch itself is unmodified. Keeping the original bracelet untouched also protects resale value when the time comes to sell.