no date oyster perpetual vs explorer 1

[ismelllikepoop]

Dumb question, but what's the difference between an oyster perpetual and a 36mm explorer 1 besides a fluted bezel? Started looking at 36mm watches after hodinkee's recent article on datejusts, and noticed some of the watches are very similar to each other. Heck even the 3/6/9 air-king looks the same as an explorer except it's 34 mm, but is considered a different line. Anyways tried searching the forums but the search function here is hard for me to use.

[Malak]

36 mm OP with black dial has pink indices.

[jshepard]

The explorer has one dial, the OP has a variety of dial choices. The explorer has Mercedes hour hand, OP does not. As you stated explorer is bigger, you also have a 39mm choice for the explorer. The explorer says "EXPLORER" while the OP doesn't (obviously). I'm sure someone else will fill in with the movement differences if any.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by ismelllikepoop

Dumb question, but what's the difference between an oyster perpetual and a 36mm explorer 1 besides a fluted bezel? . . . .

Paint.

[T. Ferguson]

Don't know for sure but I'd suspect resale is better on the Explorer.

[landroverking]

I like the "paint". How true.

[rusty427]

The 116000 is basically a 36mm Date Just with out the date, the bracelet is toned down by being all brushed, no easy link and engraved crown on clasp. The hands and dials are more inline with the Air King. Movement cal 3130. All class and perfectly balanced for all occasions. IMHO.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1403910004.133911.jpg

[Old Expat Beast]

The Oyster Perpetual is the ancestor, or progenitor, of all the current Rolex Oysters, from Air King through Explorer and up. So there is bound to ge some visual similarity in varying degrees.

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by ismelllikepoop

Dumb question, but what's the difference between an oyster perpetual and a 36mm explorer 1 besides a fluted bezel? Started looking at 36mm watches after hodinkee's recent article on datejusts, and noticed some of the watches are very similar to each other. Heck even the 3/6/9 air-king looks the same as an explorer except it's 34 mm, but is considered a different line. Anyways tried searching the forums but the search function here is hard for me to use.

Hour hand on the EXP is mercedes style. Newer EXP has improved shock resistance (calibre 3132 movement) in comparison to the OP (calibre 3130 movement). I believe that the EXP also has brighter lume. Other than that the differences are simply cosmetic. As pointed out the OP is 36mm as opposed to the Air King which is 34 mm.

[joe100]

Minor movement differences and some paint. In the case of the AK, a 2mm difference. If you take a look at the Rolex line, they all make sense. The OP, DJ, Date and AK fill the 36mm date/no date 34mm date/no date gaps and the Explorer fills the no/date hole in the 39mm category. Think of it more as a sport model.

It's hard to figure a stainless oyster-cased Rolex as anything more than a sport model, but some consider the OP, Date, AK as dress models but they're more of a hybrid. Depends on the dail really

[Wesley Crusher]

Do the newer OP and AKs have chromalight or are they still using the green lume?

[elcompa]

I think also that the non date OP has lime on the Arabic numbers and the Explorer only has lume on the sticks in between the Arabic numbers (not the numbers).

Oh yeah, it comes in many colors (not just black like the Explorer 1). I think it is also a few hundred dollars cheaper than the Explorer 1.