Explorer-II review!!

[buz-lh]

Those are two beauts,JJ.

[AGENT4734]

JJ, thank you for the great review on the Expy II. After reading your excellent review I went out and purchased my first Rolex, a Explorer II with a white dial! Rolex should give you some type of a kick back for making all of us CRAZY for these watches! Thanks again JJ!

[omer_mah]

Hi Guys
I own Omega and I have decided to buy a Rolex. I was going to buy DateJust but not like it once I put it on. The jeweler suggested that I should try Explorer II. I loved it and is very very nice.
My Omega Constellation is Automatic SS White. I am not sure if I should buy Black Dial Explorer or White. I have not actually seen Black Dial Explorer II. I am in Darwin, Australia and they do not have any rolex dealer here :(.
Any comments, if I should go to another white dial but different watch or should I buy Black Dial Explorer II.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by omer_mah

Hi Guys
I own Omega and I have decided to buy a Rolex. I was going to buy DateJust but not like it once I put it on. The jeweler suggested that I should try Explorer II. I loved it and is very very nice.
My Omega Constellation is Automatic SS White. I am not sure if I should buy Black Dial Explorer or White. I have not actually seen Black Dial Explorer II. I am in Darwin, Australia and they do not have any rolex dealer here :(.
Any comments, if I should go to another white dial but different watch or should I buy Black Dial Explorer II.

Omer,

Thanks for your PM....but you might want to start up a new thread so these guys can see it better and try and help you out.

Good luck - JJ

[tandrup]

JJ - great review. This one and a couple of other posts have already convinced me that the White Explorer II is going to be my next purchase.

Question: Both JJ's and a couple of other posts mentioned that the White Exp II is typically very available and that you can get a good discount at an AD on it - what % have you guys typically been able to get? 10-15%? or even more?

[sea-dweller]

Great review !

[BiG JeEzY]

Originally Posted by tandrup

JJ - great review. This one and a couple of other posts have already convinced me that the White Explorer II is going to be my next purchase.

Question: Both JJ's and a couple of other posts mentioned that the White Exp II is typically very available and that you can get a good discount at an AD on it - what % have you guys typically been able to get? 10-15%? or even more?

You will not be disappointed when you take Expy home for the first time and strap on it your wrist. I know I wasn't, I'm so happy everyday that I own the Explorer II and its definitely a keeper for me.

About discounts, the typical percent is about 10-15% as you have mentioned. This is a great value in my opinion and you take him a brand new Rolex. The ADs here in the Bay Area usually don't offer discounts on SS models but they can waive the sales tax for you which is around 8%.

[J. Martin Tensuan]

Great review, JJ! Got an Explorer II with a white dial myself and I absolutely love it. One question though - you said its actual diameter is 39 mm? Why is it listed with a diameter of 40 mm?

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by J. Martin Tensuan

Great review, JJ! Got an Explorer II with a white dial myself and I absolutely love it. One question though - you said its actual diameter is 39 mm? Why is it listed with a diameter of 40 mm?

Well, I've actually measured it with a Vernier caliper and found it to be 39 mm. I think it's the FIXED bezel that gives it the slightly smaller diameter as compared with the rotatable bezels of the GMTs and SUBs.

JJ

[J. Martin Tensuan]

Thanks, JJ! I am a new member and am grateful for any info -- especially from seasoned owners like you. Actually, my Explorer II is my first Rolex. I considered an Omega Seamaster GMT White Dial before but held back as I've always wanted the Explorer II White Dial.

I also own Omegas ( a PO Chronometer, 45.5. mm and a Speedmaster), Tags (Carrera Twin Time Automatic and Series 2000 Automatic), a Raymond Weil (which I find a bit too dressy), an Oris (Tonneau Classic), a Buler (Ocean Conqueror), a couple of working Swatches and even a Casio G-Shock Frogman.

Anyway, my obvious favorite is my Explorer II. Glad I held back on the Seamaster GMT -- the wait was worth it!!!

Looking forward to more of your reviews!

[mchenrytl]

Well, after reading this review and seeing one at my local AD I finally bought one. It's my first Rolex and I just love the white face. I think you can really dress up or down this model so it's very versatile. Now, I just need to do the link re-arrangement.

I have seen the Exp II's with the RRR chapter rings/inner bezel markings. They are coming out and your AD can get one for you if you like it. For me, they had one in stock without the markings and were willing to deal on it so it made sense for me not to get an updated one.

Now if they came out with an Exp II with the new 3186 movement that's in the GMT IIc then I would want to upgrade.

-Troy

[fmferro]

good review

[tphan]

Great review. Thanks!

The EXPII white face is my low profile watch when big bosses visit.

[kelsod333]

Hi,

Great review! BTW...I own this watch and am curious as to what kind of crown mechanism the EXPII has since there is a solid line under the Rolex symbol on the crown as opposed to the three dots of a triplock or no dots of a twinlock? Is it either of these or something entirely different?

Thanks for your help anyone.

[BiG JeEzY]

Originally Posted by kelsod333

Hi,

Great review! BTW...I own this watch and am curious as to what kind of crown the EXPII has since there is a solid line under the Rolex symbol on the crown as opposed to the three dots of a triplock?

Just curious. Thanks for your help anyone.

Dave

Welcome to the forums kelsod333!

The Explorer II has a twinlock crown. The line under the crown indicates that its a twinlock. They are guaranteed water resistant to a depth of 330 feet or 100 meters. The twinlock is also smaller than the triplock.

On the Submariners, you would see a crown with three dots under the crown and that is indeed the triplock.

[Trurolexer]

Good review JJ. Yeah I love my Expy II!!!

[sherwin]

Originally Posted by mchenrytl

Well, after reading this review and seeing one at my local AD I finally bought one. It's my first Rolex and I just love the white face. I think you can really dress up or down this model so it's very versatile. Now, I just need to do the link re-arrangement.

I have seen the Exp II's with the RRR chapter rings/inner bezel markings. They are coming out and your AD can get one for you if you like it. For me, they had one in stock without the markings and were willing to deal on it so it made sense for me not to get an updated one.

Now if they came out with an Exp II with the new 3186 movement that's in the GMT IIc then I would want to upgrade.

-Troy

same i would love to have an expyII with the 3186 movement and a standard oyster bracelet MINUS the chapter ring (thus losing the serial # on the ring)

OR

i suppose i could easily live with a expyII with 3186 movement on a ss jubilee

[kelsod333]

Thanks for the explaination Big Jeezy!! I appreciate you taking the time to answer my question.

[BiG JeEzY]

Originally Posted by kelsod333

Thanks for the explaination Big Jeezy!! I appreciate you taking the time to answer my question.

You're very welcome. I'm glad I was able to help. That is what this forum is about, keeping a very friendly and helpful atmosphere. At the same time, we can get wild and funny too.

Hope you enjoy your time here, as well all share an interest for watches.

[gtwatson]

Originally Posted by BiG JeEzY

Welcome to the forums kelsod333!

The Explorer II has a twinlock crown. The line under the crown indicates that its a twinlock. They are guaranteed water resistant to a depth of 330 feet or 100 meters. The twinlock is also smaller than the triplock.

On the Submariners, you would see a crown with three dots under the crown and that is indeed the triplock.

Is the following an urban legend? Someone told me that the bar under the crown stood for a gold bar and was on all gold Rolex watches. I've always wondered what the bar and dots stood for.

[DSJ]

Originally Posted by gtwatson

Is the following an urban legend? Someone told me that the bar under the crown stood for a gold bar and was on all gold Rolex watches. I've always wondered what the bar and dots stood for.

Yes, that is not true. Twinlock crowns have the solid bar or two dots, whereas Triplocks have 3 dots.

[kelsod333]

I have a question about the position of the Rolex crown on the winding crown (hope that makes sense) on the ExpII. On my Z series EXPII when the crown is fully screwed down the Rolex Crown symbol is pointing up to the 12 o'clock position. That is, if you were looking at the watch from the side the crown symbol would be laying on it's side with the top of the crown points pointing to the right.
I've seen pics of other Rolex's where the crown is upside down when fully screwed it. Does it vary based on model or year or what? Is there a proper position the crown should be in? I got my watch new from an AD in February so it must have come from the factory this way.

I hope my question makes sense. Thanks for your help anybody.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by kelsod333

I have a question about the position of the Rolex crown on the winding crown (hope that makes sense) on the ExpII. On my Z series EXPII when the crown is fully screwed down the Rolex Crown symbol is pointing up to the 12 o'clock position. That is, if you were looking at the watch from the side the crown symbol would be laying on it's side with the top of the crown points pointing to the right.
I've seen pics of other Rolex's where the crown is upside down when fully screwed it. Does it vary based on model or year or what? Is there a proper position the crown should be in? I got my watch new from an AD in February so it must have come from the factory this way.

I hope my question makes sense. Thanks for your help anybody.

While your question does make sense, it's an age old question. It would be virtually impossible to align two crowns in an identical manner. The threads on the stem have to match up with the threads inside the crown.....and to attain that perfectly each time is well nigh impossible.

So you would have to be very lucky to get a crown perfectly lined up straight.

JJ

[kelsod333]

Thanks JJ for the very quick reply :)

I just noticed on the picture you posted of your EXPYII that your crown seems to point 180 degrees opposite of mine (your's toward 6 O'Clock). Mine does in fact point perfectly to 12 o'clock and I'm glad as you say, that it at least points perfectly in one direction. As anal as I am it would probably drive me nuts if the crown was pointing in some funky direction like at 8 o'clock or something like that. But that's just me.

Thanks again!!

[mouse]

I have just purchased my first Rolex after previously owning Omegas. I have a black face Explorer 2. I must say its a really comfortable watch, much lighter than my Planet Ocean. I wish I found your review before I bought it, but I can confirm this is a great all round watch, either for everyday use or for a special occasion. I think this could be the first of many Rolex watches, wife permitting!

[DSJ]

Originally Posted by mouse

I have just purchased my first Rolex after previously owning Omegas. I have a black face Explorer 2. I must say its a really comfortable watch, much lighter than my Planet Ocean. I wish I found your review before I bought it, but I can confirm this is a great all round watch, either for everyday use or for a special occasion. I think this could be the first of many Rolex watches, wife permitting!

Welcome to TRF Mouse! I too have the black (Noir dial). Great Rolex! JJ had one too, here's a couple of his pics (which are better than mine)!

[netmaster]

Does the black dial make reading time easier than the white one?
And how can the rotating bezel of GMT-Master II help you with the third time zone?

[timackerman]

I have to say, I really like the black face when compared to the white face Explorer II

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by netmaster

Does the black dial make reading time easier than the white one?
And how can the rotating bezel of GMT-Master II help you with the third time zone?

Both dials are very easy to read.....and, yes, the rotating bezel of a GMT-II will facilitate arranging for a third time zone.

JJ

[BiG JeEzY]

Originally Posted by netmaster

Does the black dial make reading time easier than the white one?
And how can the rotating bezel of GMT-Master II help you with the third time zone?

I personally find reading the time to be easier in most lighting conditions on my white dial Explorer II than on my black dial GMT Master 1.

This is because there is more of a contrast of the hands on the white dial (black painted white gold hands on white dial) than there is on the black dial (white gold hands on black dial). More contrast usually gives better readability.