{"id":2890,"date":"2015-06-01T12:04:25","date_gmt":"2015-06-01T16:04:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rubberb.com\/blog\/?p=2890"},"modified":"2022-04-15T05:08:44","modified_gmt":"2022-04-15T09:08:44","slug":"technical-changes-of-the-rolex-explorer-ii-42mm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rubberb.com\/blog\/technical-changes-of-the-rolex-explorer-ii-42mm\/","title":{"rendered":"TECHNICAL CHANGES OF THE ROLEX EXPLORER II 42MM"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Rolex<\/a>
Rolex Explorer II 42mm<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Rolex Explorer II 42mm<\/strong><\/em><\/a>, the latest version of the 50 year old timepiece which was released in 1970.\u00a0 The current version is the reference 226570, which has received extensive technical and aesthetic makeovers since the original reference 1655 was released.\u00a0 The Rolex Explorer II is quite a bit different from the actual Explorer I which it derives its name.\u00a0 Most notably it it uses dots or dashes for its hour markers instead of adding the Arabic 3, 6, 9 around the dial.\u00a0 Also, it has a big orange hand which provides a GMT function.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rolex Explorer II 42mm<\/h2>\n

The reference 226570 came out in 2021.\u00a0 It replaced the more recent reference 216570 which had been in production since it was released on the 40th anniversary of the Explorer II, back in 2010.\u00a0 The 216570 featured the larger case with 42mm, replacing the previous 40mm case.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This also increased the hour markers which helped the timepiece become more visible both in daytime and at night.\u00a0 It retained the two models – the black dial and the white polar dial.\u00a0 It also changed the GMT arrow to an Orange tip, similar to the original reference 1655.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This was somewhat significant because in 1985 Rolex had released the reference 16550 which changed the GMT hand to a red stem and black arrow tip.\u00a0 It had been the same design for the next 25 years.\u00a0 The Orange stem and tip returned the Explorer II back to its historical roots.\u00a0 It also adds\u00a0 a more exceptional look to the timepiece and is practical since the GMT hand is unique compared to the regular hour and minute hands.<\/p>\n

The new reference 226570 retains the 42mm case of its predecessor and also has a nearly identical look.\u00a0 Both have steel constructed case, oyster bracelets, 24-hour bezels, and black and white dial options.\u00a0 However, the inside of the timepiece is powered by the caliber 3285 movement which has an enhanced 72-hour power reserve.\u00a0 This is a significant upgrade over the former caliber’s 48-hour power reserve.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The new 3285 movement replaces the outgoing 3186 movement and is made entirely in-house by Rolex.\u00a0 It is 15% more efficient, and according to Rolex, it is 2x more precise than the previous version – naming it a “Superlative Chronometer” which is an enhanced set of testing done by Rolex beyond the COSC testing that is done publicly.<\/p>\n

The movement is made from nickel-phosphorous which is less sensitive to magnetic interference.\u00a0 It features 10 patent applications and has fundamental gains in precision, power reserve, reliability, and resistance to shocks and magnetism.\u00a0 It has 31 jewels, a Chronergy escapement, Paramagnetic Oscillator balance and a Paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring.\u00a0 It beats at a 28,888 rate per hour.\u00a0 It still features the ability to automatically wind itself in both directions.\u00a0 It also has Paraflex shock absorbers to keep this a truly magnificent Explorer grade timepiece.<\/p>\n

The 42mm case is slightly thinner than the previous 42mm case.\u00a0 The lugs are also slimmer.\u00a0 The Oyster bracelet is also slightly wider at 22mm rather than 21mm.\u00a0 The hands on the Polar (white) dial Explorer are matte PVD-coated.\u00a0 This reduces reflection which could become important when scaling a mountain or other “explorer” activities.\u00a0 Rolex added the crown symbol between the words “Swiss” and “Made” at the 6 o’clock position.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

However, with these slight changes, the Rolex Explorer II at 50 years old appears to be quite a bit similar to the 40th anniversary model.\u00a0 Unless you are looking inside of it, or scrutinizing the features of the dial, it really wouldn’t strike the average observer as different in any way.\u00a0 This is good because people have truly come to love the new look of the Explorer II.\u00a0 The 42 mm case gives the timepiece a thicker feel which has been a popular movement in watch collecting.\u00a0 The larger hour markers and hands have excellent blue luminescence and tremendous visibility in both day and night time situations.<\/p>\n

The Explorer II is certainly a more pure Rolex timepiece.\u00a0 It is unfettered by Rolex’s gemologists encrusting it with diamonds or sapphires, or adding various design changes and precious metals on it.\u00a0 It is a truly tool watch which is a key feature that makes a Rolex a “Rolex,” rather than a mere showpiece.\u00a0 The Explorer II tempts the inner explorer in all of us to test the limits of the human experience.\u00a0 No matter if it is cave diving, mountaineering, or other activities, the Explorer II is the timepiece that will allow you to keep accurate time in 2 timezones and resist the ravages and punishment that may go along with these expeditions.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Rubber B has 3 strap options for the Rolex Explorer II 42mm<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Rubber B has added several strap options for the Rolex Explorer II 42mm. Pictured above is the Combat strap. This strap is available in both black and blue options. Rubber B also has its standard Tang Buckle series, and its Classic series which supports the original Rolex clasp. All Rubber B products are made in Switzerland of the highest standards and are made with pure vulcanized rubber. For more information visit our Rubber B page for Explorer timepieces here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Rolex Explorer II 42mm, the latest version of the 50 year old timepiece which was released in 1970.\u00a0 The current version is the reference 226570, which has received extensive technical and aesthetic makeovers since the original reference 1655 was released.\u00a0 The Rolex Explorer II is quite a bit different from the actual Explorer I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":2891,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_965142119634467_129078757170083":"","twitter_1583341160_1583341160":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[837,833,123,838,834,832,836,835],"class_list":["post-2890","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-concepts","tag-alternative-rubber-bands-for-rolex-explorer-42mm","tag-rolex-explorer-3187","tag-rolex-explorer-42mm","tag-rolex-explorer-ii-42mm-rubber-b-watchbands","tag-rolex-explorer-ii-luxury-straps","tag-rolex-explorer-ii-movement","tag-rolex-explorer-ii-rubber-watch-bands","tag-rolex-explorer-ii-watch-bands"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rubberb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2890","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rubberb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rubberb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rubberb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rubberb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2890"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/rubberb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2890\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22117,"href":"https:\/\/rubberb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2890\/revisions\/22117"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rubberb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2891"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rubberb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2890"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rubberb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2890"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rubberb.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2890"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}