Rolex Explorer & Explorer II
Rugged field watch with 3-6-9 dial, and the Explorer II with fixed 24-hour bezel.
Introduced
1953 / 1971
Typical UK second-hand price
£5,000–£25,000+
Key references
| Reference | Notes |
|---|---|
| 1016 | Vintage Explorer. |
| 1655 | 'Freccione' Explorer II. |
About the Rolex Explorer & Explorer II
Named after the 1953 Everest expedition, the Explorer is Rolex's tough, legible field watch with its 3-6-9 Arabic numerals. The Explorer II (1971) added a fixed 24-hour bezel and orange hand for cave explorers distinguishing day from night.
Every reference by generation
| Reference | Years | Size | Calibre | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6350 / 6150 | 1953–1959 | 36 mm | A296 / 1030 | Early 'honeycomb' dials. |
| 1016 | 1963–1989 | 36 mm | 1560 / 1570 | Classic vintage. |
| 14270 / 114270 | 1989–2010 | 36 mm | 3000 / 3130 | White gold applied numerals. |
| 214270 | 2010–2021 | 39 mm | 3132 | Larger case. |
| 124270 | 2021–present | 36 mm | 3230 | Return to 36 mm. |
| 1655 | 1971–1985 | 39 mm | 1575 GMT | Explorer II 'Freccione'. |
| 16570 | 1989–2011 | 40 mm | 3185 / 3187 | Polar white or black dial. |
| 226570 | 2021–present | 42 mm | 3285 | Current Explorer II. |
Dial and face variations
- Polar
- White Explorer II dial.
- Gilt
- Pre-1967 gloss gilt.
Collectible versions
Gilt 1016 and orange-hand 1655.
What to check before buying
- Confirm the dial matches the reference era.
Serial number on Rolex: Older watches carry the serial between the lugs at 6 o'clock. From around 2005–2008 it moved to the rehaut (inner bezel ring), engraved and visible through the crystal.
Other Rolex models
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