Changing Exp II dial and hands

[bbqBiker]

I'm a recent new black Explorer II owner (thanks DS Williams). I like the black but thought it would be cool to have the white faced option available too without having to buy both watches. I am curious to know how much a new white dial and hands set should cost? Also, is it a big deal (time and/or cost) for a watchmaker to swap those out? Thanks.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by bbqBiker

I'm a recent new black Explorer II owner (thanks DS Williams). I like the black but thought it would be cool to have the white faced option available too without having to buy both watches. I am curious to know how much a new white dial and hands set should cost? Also, is it a big deal (time and/or cost) for a watchmaker to swap those out? Thanks.

If you could source a dial from Rolex which I doubt in the USA, the dial hand change would not be a problem for any good watchmaker around a 1 hours work or less..

[slcbbrown]

The dial change is easy for a competent watch guy. I have no idea how easy or expensive it will be to purchase the white dial. For watches as common as DJ's, replacement and used dials can be had for $300 or less. I doubt that the white dial Exp II's have been around long enough to create a used market.

I think it's a good idea to have the two different dials for the Exp II. That simple change really changes the look of the watch. Why change the hands?

[AndersB]

Originally Posted by slcbbrown

Why change the hands?

The black dial goes with white gold hands and the white dial with black-painted hands.

[Jason71]

Personally, I don't think it is worth it. It is a great idea, but I just don't believe that you would have it done regularly enough to make it worth it. I would take the ~$700 and put that towards a white-dialed Exp II. Those can be had for less than $3k most often on the used market.

just my 2c

[ParisDakarBmw]

Finding the parts would be the tricky part. The watchmaker could do the rest with no problem.

I don't know that I've seen a white dial sold by itself on any major watch websites.

[cornerstore]

here are a couple of interesting ones
http://cgi.ebay.com/Rolex-Explorer-I...item19bfb9b4af

http://cgi.ebay.com/ROLEX-EXPLORER-I...item2c58da611d

[Cru Jones]

My AD here in Paris said, in an effort to sell the watch, that I could make the switch for under 400 euro (granted, I'd have to give up the white dial and white dial hands). The flexibility to change up the look of the Exp II is a strong sellin point, IMHO

[bbqBiker]

Thanks all for the valuable feedback. Actually, the genesis of my question was because I had found the pre-owned white "Swiss" luminova Exp ii dial/hands set available on ebay. Probably paid $50-75 more than I wanted to, but now I feel as though I have the best of both worlds (at least as it pertains to the Exp II.) Every few years, I can swap out white for black, then back again. Certainly this will make me even more mysterious and more interesting than I already am.....right? Whatever. I liked em both, now I have em both. Good times.

[bbqBiker]

Finally, the guy selling these seemed to know his Rolex Ps and Qs and has strong feedback from other high-end watch brand part purchasers. I asked him if this set would fit my Exp II with the newer 3186 movement and he said, "yes." Per the pictures, does anyone in-the-know here agree? (Paging down to the bottom of the ebay listing there are a few decent pictures.)

Great site, thanks for your gracious help. I look fwd to learning more and sharing when I can too. In the meantime, let me know if you need any middle market M&A advice or need any feedback per high-end bicycle frames/components...these I know!