The Explorer Has Landed!

[Martin]

Nice, congratulations

[Dr Process]

Looks great! Wear in the best of health.

[Merlin69]

Congrats! Wear it in good health

[101031-28]

Congratulations!

[Lew Archer]

Originally Posted by myporsche

Congrats it looks great on you. It's almost even better you passed on the first from 10 yrs ago if it means you got the even better one now. If I remember correctly that first 36mm generation had the embarrassing issue with movement finishing. These new ones are a whole different level, I'm also a fan of the last 39mm version.

You mentioned two sales ladies was this Ben Bridge by any chance?

Thank you. Yes, as it turned out, I’m glad I passed on that Explorer years ago. Couldn’t be more pleased with this one. And, yes…Ben Bridge it was. In fact, a third sales lady helped me, too. She patiently sized the watch. All three were very pleasant to deal with, and quite cheerful.

[Lew Archer]

Originally Posted by Brich436

Congrats!

Vintage sized with all the modern features. I had to have one the minute I saw they came out!

Yes, that was exactly my reaction. Thank you!

[Lew Archer]

Originally Posted by HiBoost

I'm not a small watch guy in general but the fit looks absolutely perfect. What size wrist do you have?

Sent from my SM-G960U1 using Tapatalk

Thank you. If I’ve measured correctly, just under seven inches. My forearms are slender, too.

[myporsche]

Originally Posted by Lew Archer

Thank you. Yes, as it turned out, I’m glad I passed on that Explorer years ago. Couldn’t be more pleased with this one. And, yes…Ben Bridge it was.

I'm glad your enjoying it, I know the two ladies you speak of and they are AMAZING sales associates, congrats!

[Lew Archer]

Originally Posted by gnuyork

Congrats! I would love to try on (wishful thinking) the new 36mm to see if I can live with the size.

That last time I tried on the 36mm DJ it felt a touch small to me, but I came in wearing the Seiko SKX...so it's a matter of perspective. The first time I tried on the 36mm DJ I was wearing a vintage 36mm Seiko and it was less of a contrast.


I really need to see the Explorer, especially if it wears even smaller than the DJ or OP. I want to Love it, in theory, it's perfect.

Very true, your point about perspective. Your eye does need time to adjust.

I think many subtle elements influence how we, individually, see a given watch. Dial size, color, fonts, markers, etc.

Pictures can shape that too, depending on whether the shot is a closeup or not.

[Lew Archer]

Originally Posted by travisb

Congratulations!!
Did you thank your daughter for wanting to go to the mall?

Not yet. She’s not into watches at all and her eyes would first glaze over and then roll. She’d probably shake her head, too.

But, one day it will be hers and I’ll tell her then.

Thank you!

[Lew Archer]

Originally Posted by soflonative

Congrats!!!..looks fantastic!…you owe your daughter big time! Enjoy!

Yes, I do. She doesn’t know it, but one day I’ll give it to her.

[Lew Archer]

Thank you, all, for your kind comments and observations. Happy Saturday to all!

[Lew Archer]

Originally Posted by dannyp

To what generation OP/DJ are you comparing? I ask because, to my eye, while the more tapered lugs make the whole package smaller, they also make the watch itself wear larger. However the previous "11" generation OP/DJ 36 are indisputably larger, due to the much thicker lugs.

My wife has a 11 generation OP34 w/silver 3-6-9 dial and it actually appears at least as large as my Explorer.

I compared it to a blue dial OP, purchased new about four years ago, and a white dialed DJ, purchased new earlier this year.

Mind you, it’s a subtle difference and may turn on how my eye sees it. Once I wear any of these watches for a bit, it becomes less noticeable.

The jubilee bracelet of the DJ, which appears a bit wider than the Explorer’s Oyster bracelet, and its white dial, contribute to that overall appearance of being slightly larger. Emphasis on slightly.

[Lew Archer]

Originally Posted by JTL31

Looks fantastic on you. Wear it in good health! Be thankful for your teenage daughter!!
Always nice to see another Lefty here…

She’s a blessing, absolutely. Yes, we lefties have to stick together!

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by Lew Archer

I compared it to a blue dial OP, purchased new about four years ago, and a white dialed DJ, purchased new earlier this year.

Mind you, it’s a subtle difference and may turn on how my eye sees it. Once I wear any of these watches for a bit, it becomes less noticeable.

The jubilee bracelet of the DJ, which appears a bit wider than the Explorer’s Oyster bracelet, and its white dial, contribute to that overall appearance of being slightly larger. Emphasis on slightly.

Light dials always appear larger. And the DJ bracelet is wider, and tapers less. 20mm at lugs vs 19 on Exp.

The bracelet on the DJ (wider, less tapered, shiny center links) overall has more wrist presence, no doubt. But I think it also overpowered the watch a bit and the Exp watch head wears bigger as a result.

Your OP is just a bigger watch overall.

Quite a collection you’re building there

[Lew Archer]

Here’s that OP…

[Lew Archer]

Originally Posted by dannyp

Light dials always appear larger. And the DJ bracelet is wider, and tapers less. 20mm at lugs vs 19 on Exp.

The bracelet on the DJ (wider, less tapered, shiny center links) overall has more wrist presence, no doubt. But I think it also overpowered the watch a bit and the Exp watch head wears bigger as a result.

Your OP is just a bigger watch overall.

Quite a collection you’re building there

Here’s that DJ. I posted a picture of the OP separately. Your points are all good ones…

And, yes, the collection is shaping up nicely. That’s how I justify such watch madness!

(As the Jeff Goldblum line goes in “The Big Chill”, “rationalizations are more than sex…When was the last time you went a week without a rationalization?”)

[Rafeeq]

Wow, that's great, Lew--and nice-lookin' OP and DJ, too!

[Brich436]

I actually think the Exp 1 with black dial wears larger than the DJ36 (5 series) as the taper makes the head appear larger. It’s very close though!




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[dannyp]

Originally Posted by Lew Archer

Here’s that DJ. I posted a picture of the OP separately. Your points are all good ones…

And, yes, the collection is shaping up nicely. That’s how I justify such watch madness!

(As the Jeff Goldblum line goes in “The Big Chill”, “rationalizations are more than sex…When was the last time you went a week without a rationalization?”)

I’d forgotten how large old OP 36 wore, with its Exp-style dial but smaller sticks/numbers. And I didn’t realize the DJ was TT, which also seem to wear larger, since there’s more going on.

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by Brich436

I actually think the Exp 1 with black dial wears larger than the DJ36 (5 series) as the taper makes the head appear larger. It’s very close though!




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Hard to tell in pic. The other thing going on (I think) is that the Exp’s thicker clap makes it lay at a greater incline in that pic.

[Lew Archer]

Originally Posted by myporsche

I'm glad your enjoying it, I know the two ladies you speak of and they are AMAZING sales associates, congrats!

Yes, indeed! I'm happy you've had good experiences there, too.

[Lew Archer]

Originally Posted by Rafeeq

Wow, that's great, Lew--and nice-lookin' OP and DJ, too!

Thank you!

[Lew Archer]

Originally Posted by Brich436

I actually think the Exp 1 with black dial wears larger than the DJ36 (5 series) as the taper makes the head appear larger. It’s very close though!




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Interesting. So many things can influence how something looks, size wise. For example, that DJ has Roman numerals, which take up a bit more space on the dial then batons/sticks. Perhaps fluting, which accentuates the border around the dial more so than a polished bezel, makes a difference, too. Photographs can be deceptive, depending on where the watches are positioned in relation to the camera, and so on. But as you say, it's very close.

Also, comparing two similarly sized watches side by side, giving careful scrutiny to every possible dimensional difference, is one thing. That very process magnifies the differences, because we are consciously looking for differences. But, wearing a watch (which I do one at a time, thanks very much!) is another thing. In the course of a day, the little differences are less noticeable...because you're not scrutinizing the watch the same way, just wearing it, even using it to tell time! So, wearing those two watches one day to the next, they may seem more comparable in size appearance, overall.

[Lew Archer]

Originally Posted by dannyp

I’d forgotten how large old OP 36 wore, with its Exp-style dial but smaller sticks/numbers. And I didn’t realize the DJ was TT, which also seem to wear larger, since there’s more going on.

Yes, the old OP does ave smaller sticks and numbers, yet retains the 3-6-9, for a slightly overall larger appearance. There's a little less text, generally, too. I also agree about the two tone effect on the size appearance of the DJ. I think the two tone pattern brightens up both watch and bracelet, as does, in this case, the white dial, making it more visible and thereby appearing a tad larger.

It would be interesting to compare the current Explorer to a current 36mm OP with black dial and Oyster bracelet. That would reduce the variables, such as bracelet style, dial color, bezel type, perhaps even changes in production methods, etc.

[SemperFi]

It looks like a perfect fit for you. Congratulations!
Enjoy it in the best of health.

[Lew Archer]

Originally Posted by gnuyork

Congrats! I would love to try on (wishful thinking) the new 36mm to see if I can live with the size.

That last time I tried on the 36mm DJ it felt a touch small to me, but I came in wearing the Seiko SKX...so it's a matter of perspective. The first time I tried on the 36mm DJ I was wearing a vintage 36mm Seiko and it was less of a contrast.


I really need to see the Explorer, especially if it wears even smaller than the DJ or OP. I want to Love it, in theory, it's perfect.

Well, if you're ever in the LA area, look me up! You can try it on for size...

[Lew Archer]

Originally Posted by SemperFi

It looks like a perfect fit for you. Congratulations!
Enjoy it in the best of health.

Thanks very much. And, to all, again, much obliged for the positive replies...

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by Lew Archer

Yes, the old OP does ave smaller sticks and numbers, yet retains the 3-6-9, for a slightly overall larger appearance. There's a little less text, generally, too. I also agree about the two tone effect on the size appearance of the DJ. I think the two tone pattern brightens up both watch and bracelet, as does, in this case, the white dial, making it more visible and thereby appearing a tad larger.

It would be interesting to compare the current Explorer to a current 36mm OP with black dial and Oyster bracelet. That would reduce the variables, such as bracelet style, dial color, bezel type, perhaps even changes in production methods, etc.

Ask and ye shall receive…

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=804483

[Lew Archer]

Originally Posted by dannyp

Ask and ye shall receive…

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=804483

Thank you...I think that's very helpful, and shows the differences aren't mere optical illusions, but actually different dimensions.