Rolex · 11 listed

Rolex Explorer for sale in NYC

Explorer references in 36, 39 and 40mm, including the 114270, 214270 and 124270, plus Explorer II models with the orange 24-hour hand, from the 16570 to the 42mm 216570 and 226570.

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Made for expeditions

Rolex launched the Explorer in 1953, the year a British expedition reached the summit of Everest equipped with Oyster Perpetual watches. Its black dial with large 3, 6 and 9 numerals is built to read at a glance in poor light. The Explorer II followed in 1971 with the ref. 1655, adding a fixed 24-hour bezel and an extra 24-hour hand for cave explorers and polar researchers who could lose track of day and night.

Sizes and versions

The Explorer stayed at 36mm for decades. In 2010 Rolex moved to 39mm with the 214270, then returned to 36mm in 2021 with the 124270. A Rolesor version with a yellow gold bezel and crown, the 124273, joined in 2021, and a 40mm model, the 224270, arrived in 2023. The Explorer II measures 40mm in the five-digit 16570 and 42mm since 2011, with white and black dials on each generation.

References to know

The 114270, a 36mm model with the calibre 3130, is a favored modern Explorer from the 2000s. The 214270 is the 39mm version; its 2016 update brought longer hands and lumed 3, 6 and 9 numerals. The 124270 uses the calibre 3230. In the Explorer II line, the 16570 was made from 1989 to 2011 with the white Polar dial or black. The 216570 brought the 42mm case, a large orange 24-hour hand inspired by the 1655 and the calibre 3187. The 226570 of 2021 uses the calibre 3285.

Buying advice

On the 214270, check whether the dial is the early version with short hands and unlumed numerals or the later update, since buyers have preferences and prices differ. On the 16570, Polar dials and hands can age to slightly different tones, so look at them together in daylight. Check for a clean bezel, even lume, a bracelet without stretch and a clasp that closes firmly. Ask for service records and confirm the reference and serial match the papers. A simple watch shows every sign of wear, so condition drives value.

Prices are listed on every watch. Call or text to see Explorer and Explorer II pieces in person by appointment in the Diamond District in Midtown Manhattan.

Questions

Rolex Explorer questions

Explorer or Explorer II: what is the difference?

The Explorer is a time-only watch with a 3, 6 and 9 dial, sized from 36mm to 40mm. The Explorer II adds a date, a fixed 24-hour bezel and an orange 24-hour hand that can show a second time zone or separate day from night. It is 42mm in current form. The Explorer is simpler and dressier; the Explorer II is a tool watch with more presence.

Is the 36mm Explorer too small?

Not for most wrists. The 36mm Explorer has a broad dial and a narrow bezel, so it reads larger than its size. It suits wrists up to about seven inches very well and has a long history at that size. If you prefer more dial, the 39mm 214270 and the 40mm 224270 offer the same design in a larger format.

Polar or black dial on the Explorer II?

The white Polar dial is the classic Explorer II look and gives sharp contrast with the orange hand. The black dial is more understated and pairs easily with anything. Both use the same case and movement. Polar dials tend to be in higher demand, so the black version can be the better value. Choose by how you plan to wear it.

Is the Explorer a good first Rolex?

It is a strong choice. The Explorer has a clean, legible dial, a robust Oyster case rated to 100 meters and no date or rotating bezel to complicate it. It works with a suit or outdoor gear. Its price, usually below the Submariner and GMT-Master II, makes it an accessible way into the Rolex sport models.

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