Explorer II 16570 - Cyclops Magnification

[Explorer2Fan1991]

Purchased my first Rolex few months back, a Polar Explorer II (16570). Got it form a reputable AD in NYC with a good used selection.

After being told the watch was pressure tested, the seal immediately had issues and I took it back and they replaced the crystal. Was happy that they stood behind the product.. until I started to compare the cyclops on the replacement crystal with other models from the era. They told me they replaced it with Rolex authentic crystal, but based on some photos / online reading, it seems to be an after market part.

Does the magnification seem low / should I be worried here? Any sense in pushing them to replace with authentic crystal, or am I on my own here? (When they sold me the piece they said all parts were verified as rolex / no after market replacements)

Thanks!

Link to Photo: https://ibb.co/yYyVtSN

[Adamj79]

It looks aftermarket to me as well as being off center.

[PBJ1925]

Can't a 100% tell by the photo but agree looks off center.

[jimcameron]

"Got it form a reputable AD in NYC with a good used selection."

It looks fine to me. If they are a Rolex AD I'd doubt they would use some Ebay crystal. What does your receipt say?

[Crazy Lugs]

That’s not even close to be properly aligned. I’d take it to RSC and have it done the right way .

[devildog2067]

The magnification is not even close to being right.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by Explorer2Fan1991

Purchased my first Rolex few months back, a Polar Explorer II (16570). Got it form a reputable AD in NYC with a good used selection.

After being told the watch was pressure tested, the seal immediately had issues and I took it back and they replaced the crystal. Was happy that they stood behind the product.. until I started to compare the cyclops on the replacement crystal with other models from the era. They told me they replaced it with Rolex authentic crystal, but based on some photos / online reading, it seems to be an after market part.

Does the magnification seem low / should I be worried here? Any sense in pushing them to replace with authentic crystal, or am I on my own here? (When they sold me the piece they said all parts were verified as rolex / no after market replacements)

Thanks!

Link to Photo: https://ibb.co/yYyVtSN

Back in the day, there was a period where the magnification was found to be less than the Rolex advertised standard of 2.5x.
Some people were having them changed at Rolex for rectifying the issue.
Shortly afterward, Rolex stopped advertising the magnification factor. Lol.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by Adamj79

It looks aftermarket to me as well as being off center.

Yeah, it sort of does look aftermarket.
But I have had an RSC incorrectly place the crystal out of alignment once when installing a replacement crystal at service.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by Crazy Lugs

That’s not even close to be properly aligned. I’d take it to RSC and have it done the right way .

There's a bit of a risk in doing that.
Especially in the crystal is non-genuine.

Perhaps it will be best to simply let it be and rely on a pressure test to verify the water resistance

[Andad]

If you purchased it from a Rolex AD I would ask them to send it to a RSC for a service quotation?

Do you have a warranty?

[Captain Scrumpy]

That magnification does look very low


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dontbeshort]

Dreadful job on that watch. Any “reputable” dealer should be embarrassed to sanction that work.

[SN13]

The 16570 was my first rolex and the one I took the most photos of.... that cyclops is terrible.

[DLRIDES]

Magnification should be x 2.5, the crystal is wrong and the AD knows it ! That’s a cheap aftermarket crystal. Being an AD, I would return and demand it be corrected by RSC, if they refuse, name names on social media and forums.

[Polarexplorerii]

For sure it's not centered...

[GGGMT]

Here’s a real cyclops and crystal.

OP, Name the “reputable AD.” I doubt it’s an AD because that cyclops would not come out of an AD.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[gtahe416]

Any “reputable” dealer should be embarrassed to sanction that work.

[afmars]

Aftermarket crystal installed incorrectly.

[spacedinvader]

Doesn’t a service crystal have a laser etched “s” where the crown usually is?
Magnification looks very wrong.

[Explorer2Fan1991]

Appreciate all the feedback. Have confirmed my suspicions - Clearly not a Rolex crystal / poor installation and alignment.

After pressing them to confirm that crystal is authentic/rolex as they told me, response I got was "Confirmed that it is the correct crystal for that model per Rolex crystal spec sheet". Are these guys trying to lie and hope i won't notice .. or are they truly clueless??

Either way, giving them one more chance to make right before mentioning shop by name. But can confirm they are an AD (listed on Rolex website), and have a used selection at their shop in NYC that is a well known re-seller of collector/vintage rolex's. Online reviews of the shop are very good, which makes the situation even more bizarre.

[rmagoo57]

Originally Posted by Explorer2Fan1991

Appreciate all the feedback. Have confirmed my suspicions - Clearly not a Rolex crystal / poor installation and alignment.

After pressing them to confirm that crystal is authentic/rolex as they told me, response I got was "Confirmed that it is the correct crystal for that model per Rolex crystal spec sheet". Are these guys trying to lie and hope i won't notice .. or are they truly clueless??

Either way, giving them one more chance to make right before mentioning shop by name. But can confirm they are an AD (listed on Rolex website), and have a used selection at their shop in NYC that is a well known re-seller of collector/vintage rolex's. Online reviews of the shop are very good, which makes the situation even more bizarre.

Stick to your guns! That crystal makes your watch look like a joke. Cut and paste these reply's and send it to them. Also send them a couple examples of a correct crystal. Good luck!

[DLRIDES]

Originally Posted by Explorer2Fan1991

Appreciate all the feedback. Have confirmed my suspicions - Clearly not a Rolex crystal / poor installation and alignment.

After pressing them to confirm that crystal is authentic/rolex as they told me, response I got was "Confirmed that it is the correct crystal for that model per Rolex crystal spec sheet". Are these guys trying to lie and hope i won't notice .. or are they truly clueless??

Either way, giving them one more chance to make right before mentioning shop by name. But can confirm they are an AD (listed on Rolex website), and have a used selection at their shop in NYC that is a well known re-seller of collector/vintage rolex's. Online reviews of the shop are very good, which makes the situation even more bizarre.

2.5 x magnification ! Refer to GGMT photo.

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by devildog2067

The magnification is not even close to being right.

Not the best cyclops shot, but I think you can tell that yours is off the charts.

Take it to RSC and have it done right and also get an estimate for whatever else is wrong and present the bill and the estimate to your dealer.

Even if they tell you to get lost, you'll at least have the right part.

[teabags001]

It is real. I had my crystal replaced by Rolex. Took 4 months to fix. Attached is my paperwork. I contacted RSC and there were issues with the cyclops for this year. It had the etched crown and everything. They assured me that this was not an aftermarket crystal.

I was not happy to see the poor quality. My watch is a 1999 for reference.

I also had a DJ2 with the same issues. All of my watches are 100 percent authentic. And not modified in any way.


Hope this helps OP.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[77T]

Side by side comparison (as best I could do quickly on iPhone) shows watches from 2 different years and s/n ranges.

But very close magnification.

The AD who sold and then serviced the OP’s watch may have procured inventory from even a different era so hard to say more. By that I mean Rolex has crystals produced for older models in modern era and the plastic cyclops could vary by their supplier.

I’d be concerned like OP but pictures need the s/n’s leading 4 characters (like A934...)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Explorer2Fan1991]

Originally Posted by 77T

Side by side comparison (as best I could do quickly on iPhone) shows watches from 2 different years and s/n ranges.

But very close magnification.

The AD who sold and then serviced the OP’s watch may have procured inventory from even a different era so hard to say more. By that I mean Rolex has crystals produced for older models in modern era and the plastic cyclops could vary by their supplier.

I’d be concerned like OP but pictures need the s/n’s leading 4 characters (like A934...)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Leading characters are U890. Let me know if that helps.

Interesting side by side .. I still think the magnification on mine looks worse, although only slightly when compared to the above. Vs. most other photos I can find online of the ~1999 vintage (i.e. Swiss Only) the cyclops magnification seems very low, not to mention alignment issues.

[Explorer2Fan1991]

Adding a few additional photos. Would appreciate any final thoughts before reaching out to the dealer again. Thanks everyone!!







https://ibb.co/z4KVRTw
https://ibb.co/m4JwD3C
https://ibb.co/8P5ZgK9

[SN13]

Ugly... so ugly

[VanPatten14]

I would suggest looking for the laser-etched crown above the 6 o'clock mark. If it is a service crystal it should have an S inside the crown.

https://millenarywatches.com/rolex-l...tched-crystal/

[Explorer2Fan1991]

Originally Posted by VanPatten14

I would suggest looking for the laser-etched crown above the 6 o'clock mark. If it is a service crystal it should have an S inside the crown.

https://millenarywatches.com/rolex-l...tched-crystal/

Does not have the 'S'.. Does this mean that it is not a service crystal, or perhaps just older before they started putting the 'S' on the service crystals?


Thanks!