Watch reference library

Rolex Explorer II 226570

In production 2021 to present.

Specifications

Case size: 42mm
Case material: Oystersteel
Bezel: Fixed Oystersteel bezel with an engraved 24-hour scale
Dial: White (lacquered, often called Polar) or black, with an orange 24-hour hand
Movement: Rolex calibre 3285, automatic
Power reserve: About 70 hours
Water resistance: 100 meters
Crystal: Sapphire
Bracelet: Oyster bracelet, Oysterlock folding safety clasp with Easylink 5mm extension Part number, lug width and links

The story

Rolex introduced the first Explorer II in 1971 as the reference 1655, aimed at speleologists and cave explorers who could lose track of day and night underground. Instead of the GMT-Master's rotating bezel it used a fixed 24-hour scale and a large orange 24-hour hand, so the wearer could tell 7 in the morning from 7 in the evening. The 1655 gave way to the 16550 in 1984, and the line later grew from 40mm to 42mm when the 216570 replaced the 16570. The 226570, announced in April 2021, fifty years after the original, replaced the 216570 and kept its 42mm Oystersteel case, white and black dials and orange arrow-tipped 24-hour hand. Rolex gave the case and bracelet a subtle redesign and fitted the calibre 3285, the same movement used in the GMT-Master II, with the Chronergy escapement, a blue Parachrom hairspring and about 70 hours of power reserve, certified as a Superlative Chronometer to within minus two and plus two seconds a day. The Chromalight lume was also reworked to glow longer.

What to check before you buy

From the front the 226570 looks very close to the 216570 it replaced, since the size, dials and orange hand carried over and the case and bracelet changes are subtle, so confirm the reference on the warranty card and paperwork rather than judging by eye. The two dials are finished differently: the white dial uses black PVD-coated hands and markers, while the black dial uses polished hands and markers, so check that the hands match the dial they came with. The bezel is fixed, with the 24-hour scale engraved into the steel and filled with black paint, so look along its edges for knocks and wear the way you would on any steel bezel. On the bracelet, check that the Oysterlock clasp closes firmly and that the 5mm Easylink extension opens and closes as it should.

Buying or selling a 226570?

Moda is always buying. Text photos to (605) 521-2821 for a fast offer, or start on the Moda Watches page. For any deal with a stranger, Moda's middleman service inspects the watch before money changes hands. For live market pricing on this reference, Moda-lytics tracks real Rolex sales data.

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Common questions

What is the orange hand for?

It is a 24-hour hand read against the fixed 24-hour bezel. On the original 1971 Explorer II it let cave explorers tell day from night, an AM and PM indicator for people who could not see the sun.

What changed from the 216570?

The 226570 kept the 42mm Oystersteel case and both dials, but Rolex gave the case and bracelet a subtle redesign, reworked the Chromalight lume, and fitted the calibre 3285 with about 70 hours of power reserve.

Does the Explorer II bezel rotate?

No. Unlike the GMT-Master II, the Explorer II has a fixed steel bezel with an engraved 24-hour scale.