The Rolex Explorer II

[beetleything]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

You got a great Rolex. The Rolex Expl. 2...............the stealth Rolex! You can swim w/ it....I don't wear watches in bath, shower, hot tub, steam room or sauna......but swimming...fresh or salt water no problems....I have 2 1655 Expl. 2's, both purchased new and they're bulletproof!
Had them renovated in 2005....
1973 Expl. 2 # 1655

1974 Expl. 2 #1655

I think the 1655 a great watch - but to have 2!!

What do you mean renovated?
The dials etc look very bright white - repainted etc?

Lovely.

[rvmeeker]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

You got a great Rolex. The Rolex Expl. 2...............the stealth Rolex! You can swim w/ it....I don't wear watches in bath, shower, hot tub, steam room or sauna......but swimming...fresh or salt water no problems....I have 2 1655 Expl. 2's, both purchased new and they're bulletproof!
Had them renovated in 2005....
1973 Expl. 2 # 1655

1974 Expl. 2 #1655

Bob -- Congrats on the two beautiful 1655's. Could you please elaborate on your "renovation" project? These examples look absolutely brand new, and the lumen material appears bright white. What's the secret?

[Mr. Greene]

I have an Explorer II orange hand and love the look. i should be getting it back from Rolex after some TLC in about another week.

[brigadoonb]

I love the classic!

[Roley]

I'm still looking for a 1655 with a straight second hand!

[E.Peynado]

3.0 M serial , all original

[Roley]

WOW!! Very nice E.Peynado!.

[Roley]

Originally Posted by E.Peynado

3.0 M serial , all original

OOPS!! Forgot to quote...but I'll compliment your 1655, straight second hand again.

[Mr. Greene]

I just got my orange hand back from Rolex after some desperatly needed work I know I probably lost some collector value but the watch was in pretty bad shape and I had them replace the hands and dial, along with the servicing and replacement of the bracelet. but it looks extremely good, like I assume it looked when my Uncle bought it originally. I just wish he saved the box. now I have the daily dilema of which watch to wear, the Exp, or the Sub.

[tep663]

my dad has a rolex explorer II orange hand and somebody tokk it in his house... waaaaahhhh!!!!! missed that watch.....most rolex lovers liked it compared to my M series explorer II hahaha...

[Brich436]

Hello everyone,

I have a question. I just received a new Explorer 2 white face as a gift and I noticed that my Exp 2 does not have the ROLEXROLEXROLEX inscribed on the inside of the inner ring of the dial. The photograph on Rolex's website shows this feature on the Exp 2.

Does anyone know when Rolex added this feature? My Exp 2 was purchased new from an AD in June of 2010.

Thanks

[wisguy]

Originally Posted by Brich436

Hello everyone,

I have a question. I just received a new Explorer 2 white face as a gift and I noticed that my Exp 2 does not have the ROLEXROLEXROLEX inscribed on the inside of the inner ring of the dial. The photograph on Rolex's website shows this feature on the Exp 2.

Does anyone know when Rolex added this feature? My Exp 2 was purchased new from an AD in June of 2010.

Thanks

Do you have the serial number? That will tell you the year of production and the answer to your question, should it have it or not?

[Brich436]

Originally Posted by wisguy

Do you have the serial number? That will tell you the year of production and the answer to your question, should it have it or not?

How do I determine the serial number? I think it's underneath the band at 6 o'clock. I'm not quiet sure how to take the band off of the watch?

[Brich436]

Originally Posted by wisguy

Do you have the serial number? That will tell you the year of production and the answer to your question, should it have it or not?

The serial number is Z706XXX

Thanks for the information.

[BL1]

Great and informative thread. I just joined today, have an E II with black face (need to research the numbers). Joined partly b/c I need a new clasp.

[DM101]

Originally Posted by Brich436

Hello everyone,

I have a question. I just received a new Explorer 2 white face as a gift and I noticed that my Exp 2 does not have the ROLEXROLEXROLEX inscribed on the inside of the inner ring of the dial. The photograph on Rolex's website shows this feature on the Exp 2.

Does anyone know when Rolex added this feature? My Exp 2 was purchased new from an AD in June of 2010.

Thanks

Earlier batch of Z series doers not come with this ROLEX ROLEX rehaut/engraving. Like this piece of mine... a studio shot of my EXPLORER 2

[mrhy]

photo.JPG

[rolley7]

My first was a 1655...but I sold it after 17 years!

[chris242]

LOVE my Explorer 2.. wear it every single day, even while commercial lobster fishing. stealthy, reliable, tough! its definetly stealthy... some of my own family member haven't even noticed I've upgraded from my previous Tag. does anyone know of any nicknames for the black dial EX2?

[calibre1]

Hi, I am just curious about the material used to make the hands and black rim around the luminova dots. Are those white gold painted black or just stainless steel painted black?

Also what's the dial made of...what's behind the white paint?

That would be interested to know.
Thanks ! Cheers!

[tomchicago]

Originally Posted by calibre1

Hi, I am just curious about the material used to make the hands and black rim around the luminova dots. Are those white gold painted black or just stainless steel painted black?

Also what's the dial made of...what's behind the white paint?

That would be interested to know.
Thanks ! Cheers!

x2

[Tools]

Originally Posted by calibre1

Hi, I am just curious about the material used to make the hands and black rim around the luminova dots. Are those white gold painted black or just stainless steel painted black?

Also what's the dial made of...what's behind the white paint?

That would be interested to know.
Thanks ! Cheers!

The dial is painted brass, the same as most other Rolex Dials..

The hands and hour markers are 18k gold, painted black... (and red)

CurvedHand3.JPG

[calibre1]

Originally Posted by Tools

The dial is painted brass, the same as most other Rolex Dials..

The hands and hour markers are 18k gold, painted black... (and red)

Thanks Larry

That is very interesting indeed.
From your picture, the sides and unpainted portion of hands does looks silver-ish.

I actually thought that the hands and hour markers were the same as those in the submariners i.e white gold but painted in black and red.

Correct me if I am wrong.

Thanks a lot Larry!!

[Fab75]

I also love my explo 2

[JCSA]

I love the white dial it´s a classic,as for the Daytona SS.My collection is no 4 Rolex´s two white dial and two black,Daytona SS,Exp. II,Submariner and a GMT II.

[capote]

According to Rolex.com the EX2 was introduced 1971, and that must have been the 1655. When was the 16550 and 16570 introduced?

[edbsbc78]

Thanks Larry,
Great article on Explorer II.
I have a 16570 Black dial, and after all theses years, i still find myself staring at it in awe of its "beauty."
Cheers!

[rvmeeker]

I, too, have attempted to discern the chronological time-line for, and the exact differences between, the various Explorer II models. I understand that the original 1655 was introduced in 1971, but the exact model-year dates for the 16550 and 16570 are unclear to me. I'm pretty sure that the sapphire crystal was introduced in 1986, but don't know if this was on the 16550 or the 16570 model. Finally, I've seen references to D, G, M, N, V and Z-Series (and probably others). Do these series designations simply refer to the year of manufacture, or are there specific features that distinguish one series from another? When did the orange 24-hour hand change from orange to red? When did the bracelets change? When was the super luminova paint added? When was the rehaut inscription added? I've searched the forum and web for clear answers to clear up this confusion, but have failed to find any definitive model and series historical time-line. Can anyone enlighten me?

Mucho Mahalo,
Roger
Kapoho, Hawaii

[capote]

Originally Posted by rvmeeker

I, too, have attempted to discern the chronological time-line for, and the exact differences between, the various Explorer II models. I understand that the original 1655 was introduced in 1971, but the exact model-year dates for the 16550 and 16570 are unclear to me. I'm pretty sure that the sapphire crystal was introduced in 1986, but don't know if this was on the 16550 or the 16570 model. Finally, I've seen references to D, G, M, N, V and Z-Series (and probably others). Do these series designations simply refer to the year of manufacture, or are there specific features that distinguish one series from another? When did the orange 24-hour hand change from orange to red? When did the bracelets change? When was the super luminova paint added? When was the rehaut inscription added? I've searched the forum and web for clear answers to clear up this confusion, but have failed to find any definitive model and series historical time-line. Can anyone enlighten me?

Mucho Mahalo,
Roger
Kapoho, Hawaii

I can only answer a few of those questions - I'm not a full blown WIS yet. There are no official data as to when a certain series was produced but fans has but together lists online. The 1655 is the only model with an orange arrow shaped 24-hour hand. The 16550 has GMT shaped red hand but it is still fixed to the hour hand so it is a 24-hour hand. The 16570 has the same movement as the GMT 16710 so the 24-hour hand is actually an independent GMT hand. For the new model coming out this year 216570 the original 1655 hand has made a comeback, with a larger case and a new movement, 3187.

I think the change from tritium to luminova took place around 1998. The engraved rehaut started around 2007 on the EXP2 I think. For the 16570 there was also an updated movement 3186, for the models with the engraved rehaut and possible in some without the rehaut.

[rvmeeker]

Thanks, Daniel. I really appreciate your response. Can anybody else shed light on what distinguishes one series from another? D vs. M vs. V vs. Z, etc. To be honest, I'm not even certain whether the letter designations are even chronological, as I believe that JJ mentioned that the V-Series (apparently the latest) has the 3186 movement.

Roger