16570 Explorer... Do you consider it one of the air/pilot watches?

[jlovda]

Originally Posted by franktehtank

I've always thought of the explorer II as Rolex's travel/adventure watch. For a few reasons:

- Rugged (aren't they all, though). More so with the tough and easy to replace steel bezel. Nothing to rotate on the outside and get jammed with sand or dirt. Waterproof enough for most anything you can throw at it, and a tough steel bracelet.
- Two time zones. When you're traveling, all you want to know at a quick glance is the local time, and your home time. No need to constantly flip between time zones with a rotating gmt bezel. Land in your new time zone, quick hour hand adjustment to local time and you're good to go
- If the GMT hand is set to local time, it can be used as a compass. Part of the adventure aspect.

A perfect description. I love my Exp II.

Originally Posted by Dr.Stu

And, the numbers on the bottom of the bezel, numbers (10-12-14-16) are flipped "rightside up" because they don't ever rotate, vs. a GMTs bezel on which all the numbers are arranged so that they are always upright at the top when the bezel is rotated.

I never noticed that tidbit of trivia. And I look at my watch a million times a day.