Rolex 2021 Releases - Explorer doesn't change much, thankfully. Explorer fans get what they want.

INTRO

Nobody loves a good bandwagon more than me, so lets go!

All this talk of ceramic bezels from the pundits and then Rolex releases a murky shadowy image, is the bezel ceramic, is it steel, the hype train is at full speed.

Im so happy that Rolex have not tinkered with the Explorer range. TBH, it’s the only part of the Rolex line up that excites me and the watches are perfect as they are. I am delighted that the Explorer 1 has reverted back to the 36mm version. That was always the version I wanted but now with modern specs, bracelet and clasp. So lets take a closer look, beginning with the Explorer 2.

Explorer 2 226570 update.

I’m just so happy that the Explorer 2 retains the steel bezel dating back to 1971 and that all ceramic predictions were wrong.

Created in 904L Oyster Steel, there is little to no change here from its predecessor. Even the diameter remains at 42mm but if experience tells us anything with Rolex, we may need to get the watch in hand to discover its true dimensions. The 41mm sub released last year turned out to be 40.3mm. The watch remains slim at 12.5mm

The polar retains its white lacquer dial with black PVD coated hour markers, minute and hour hands and thankfully, the GMT hand remains Orange matching the Explorer 2 inscription as it has done since 2011.

The lume has received an upgrade however, with Rolex reporting that it last longer in dark conditions but is more brilliantly white in daylight. I have always loved these qualities in a good lume. These aspects, together with the blackened hour markers will make the watch extremely legible during the day and night.

The big difference with the new explorer 2 is that it gets the COSC Certified 3285 movement that was introduced in the GMT Master 2 in 2018. The movement brings the power reserve up to 70 hours which is becoming standard across new Rolex watches. The 3285 increases resistance to magnetism thanks to the Chronergy escapement and parachrom hairspring. The movement also improves resistance to shocks, again thanks to its parachrom hairspring (infograph – up to 10 times more accurate when subjected to shocks) & paraflex shock absorbers.

Other differences are more difficult to discern. It definitely adds a coronet between the swiss and made at 6, the lugs may be slightly more svelte and possible the inscriptions are a tad more bold.

The watch has a 100m depth rating and sapphire crystal with cyclops and date at 3’O’Clock. Priced at €8,200.00. The explorer 2 actually represents good value if looking for a GMT complication compared to the GMT-Master 2 priced at €9,350.00.

Also worth mentioning that recent versions of the explorer 2 currently command prices above retail on the secondary market. I see no reason for that to change and we can expect the usual carry on with Rolex pricing. So that means that if there isn’t a rush to get the explorer 2 for its new movement, then you can still expect waiting lists at AD’s just to get it at rrp.

Explorer 1

The explorer 1 has had quite a significant change in that it reverts to its original 36mm diameter. I love that they have done this. The 36mm was always the one that I wanted but now it gets the much improved bracelet, the 5mm adjustment and the 3230 movement that adds the 70 hours of power reserve and all of the good stuff mention above.

I have to be honest though, what the hell is the story with the 2 tone.

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