Explorer II ceramic - the next generation.

[RRP]

The photo below is a current Explorer II which I found whilst browsing eBay today, but due to the lighting in this photo the bezel is darker and if you squint a little you can see exactly what a ceramic Explorer II would look like and I must admit that it would be an absolutely gorgeous watch.

What are your thoughts on this? I personally think people would go crazy for this, waiting lists would be in line with the other ss sport models. Just what the explorer 2 needs to boost sales.

The Daytona had a 100% steel bezel and went to ceramic, with an option of black or white for the dial. So it’s not entirely unrealistic to expect the explorer to follow the same path, especially considering that it too has black and white dials.

Interested to hear your thoughts.

Richard

[bmrisko]

Thumbs down from me. Ceramic does not belong on the Explorer...if you want a GMT complication w/ a ceramic bezel, get the GMT Master II.

[JacksonStone]

Rolex Passion Report has been predicting this for the last few years. I'll believe it when I see it.

[RRP]

Originally Posted by JacksonStone

Rolex Passion Report has been predicting this for the last few years. I'll believe it when I see it.

Wow thanks. Those are awesome renders. To be honest the current Explorer II does nothing for me, it’s probably at the bottom of my list, a ceramic version however would be at the top of my list. Weird huh.

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by RRP

Wow thanks. Those are awesome renders. To be honest the current Explorer II does nothing for me, it’s probably at the bottom of my list, a ceramic version however would be at the top of my list. Weird huh.

I don't think it's weird. I like the metal version just fine, but there has to be some reason it continues to be one of Rolex's slower movers. I also think the ceramic version could look pretty sharp, especially the contrast on the Polar. I guess that means I'm in both camps. Either way, it's one of my favorite Rolex models. Every time this topic comes up, I keep wondering why Rolex would go to the trouble of putting the new bezel on a less popular model, but you make a good point that that could be a move to make it sell better. Still...I'll believe it when I see it.

[Onikage]

ExpII = Always been all SS with no coloured bits, gold or anything flashy about it. So I don't see it. You want a black bezel white numeral GMT it's the GMT.

[AK797]

This might be the first year where at Basel Rolex want to issue watches that won't sell like hot cakes and make a waiting list, they have supply problems enough.

[armybuck041]

I love it. One of the things that keeps me from getting another Exp II is the way the Bezel collects and displays battle scars. A Ceramic Bezel would be brilliant.

[RRP]

Originally Posted by Onikage

You want a black bezel white numeral GMT it's the GMT.

But the Explorer II isn’t even a GMT. Has nothing to do with it. The bezel doesn’t rotate and that extra hand has absolutely nothing to do with being a GMT or displaying an extra time zone. Heck, even a SkyDweller is closer to the GMT. The hand on the Explorer II is purely for telling you whether it’s A.M or P.M in your current time zone (ideally as you’re traveling through the jungle days on end and lose track of night and day) . There’s plenty of room in Rolex’s lineup for the GMT, the Sky-D and this.

[rebel_1]

They could not add Ceramic, keep the big orange hand, make the case 39 - 40mm, add a domed crystal and it would fly off the shelves IMHO.

[Seaswirl]

It looks awesome, and I’d be a buyer. Ive always liked the ExpII, but I’ve sworn off steel bezels after owning a 116520. This would eliminate that issue.

[Onikage]

Originally Posted by RRP

But the Explorer II isn’t even a GMT. Has nothing to do with it. The bezel doesn’t rotate and that extra hand has absolutely nothing to do with being a GMT or displaying an extra time zone. Heck, even a SkyDweller is closer to the GMT. The hand on the Explorer II is purely for telling you whether it’s A.M or P.M in your current time zone (ideally as you’re traveling through the jungle days on end and lose track of night and day) . There’s plenty of room in Rolex’s lineup for the GMT, the Sky-D and this.

I still think they'll keep it different enough (in looks) to the GMT to warrant leaving ceramic off it altogether. ExpIIs are for bumping around in caves for God's sake.

[kultschar]

In Ceramic above it looks even more cartoonish

[douglasf13]

Originally Posted by RRP

But the Explorer II isn’t even a GMT. Has nothing to do with it. The bezel doesn’t rotate and that extra hand has absolutely nothing to do with being a GMT or displaying an extra time zone. Heck, even a SkyDweller is closer to the GMT. The hand on the Explorer II is purely for telling you whether it’s A.M or P.M in your current time zone (ideally as you’re traveling through the jungle days on end and lose track of night and day) . There’s plenty of room in Rolex’s lineup for the GMT, the Sky-D and this.

The Explorer II initially didn't have a "GMT" hand, but it has had an independently set GMT hand for decades at this point.

Either way, using a ceramic bezel on the Exp II is against its ethos, since the entire point was to have a durable, fixed steel bezel that is sturdier for banging against rocks and whatnot.

[yxc145]

Originally Posted by RRP

The photo below is a current Explorer II which I found whilst browsing eBay today, but due to the lighting in this photo the bezel is darker and if you squint a little you can see exactly what a ceramic Explorer II would look like and I must admit that it would be an absolutely gorgeous watch.

What are your thoughts on this? I personally think people would go crazy for this, waiting lists would be in line with the other ss sport models. Just what the explorer 2 needs to boost sales.

The Daytona had a 100% steel bezel and went to ceramic, with an option of black or white for the dial. So it’s not entirely unrealistic to expect the explorer to follow the same path, especially considering that it too has black and white dials.

Interested to hear your thoughts.

Richard

that would be a GMT II

[bmrisko]

Originally Posted by RRP

But the Explorer II isn’t even a GMT. Has nothing to do with it. The bezel doesn’t rotate and that extra hand has absolutely nothing to do with being a GMT or displaying an extra time zone. Heck, even a SkyDweller is closer to the GMT. The hand on the Explorer II is purely for telling you whether it’s A.M or P.M in your current time zone (ideally as you’re traveling through the jungle days on end and lose track of night and day) . There’s plenty of room in Rolex’s lineup for the GMT, the Sky-D and this.

Uhhh, what? You can easily use the Explorer's GMT hand to track a 2nd time zone.

[Coffes4closers]

I’d pick up a white one in a heartbeat. My only hesitation to snagging one has always been the fact that I bang up bezels pretty hard, and they look pretty rough once the bezels are scratched up

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by RRP

But the Explorer II isn’t even a GMT. Has nothing to do with it. The bezel doesn’t rotate and that extra hand has absolutely nothing to do with being a GMT or displaying an extra time zone.

That was certainly the case with the original design, where the hour hand was not independent of the 24-hour hand. However, once Rolex allowed the hour hand to move independently, that effectively made it a watch for telling time in two different time zones, which makes it a type of GMT watch. The official brochure even lists "Second time zone" as one of the Exp. II's functions. The rotating bezel on the GMT-Master II actually allows for calculating time in a third zone.

[nikesupremedunk]

I've been wanting a white dial but don't care for the current 42mm. It does look great with the ceramic bezel though and I would consider getting one.

[watchwatcher]

Eh...I think if Rolex does a ceramic bezel it will need to look better than that.

[Matteo E]

I like the look but agree it’s contra to the intended use. Perhaps a bezel of something more durable and less brittle than ceramic? That would give it a fresh look and still maintain its tool functionality.

[oldsalt]

The orange hand does tell a second time zone... you set it first and then adjust the normal hour hand to where you currently are...and there ya' go... two time zones... my orange hand is set for Hawaiian time....works for me. so if you want GMT ... just set the orange hand to GMT and that's what it tracks....

cheers

[Onikage]

Originally Posted by oldsalt

The orange hand does tell a second time zone... you set it first and then adjust the normal hour hand to where you currently are...and there ya' go... two time zones... my orange hand is set for Hawaiian time....works for me. so if you want GMT ... just set the orange hand to GMT and that's what it tracks....

cheers

In the guy's defence I believe he meant the Orange hand was never intended to be set independently as a function of the watch. That it shares a movement with the GMTII just means you can. The 24hr hand was indeed fixed to show the time on the hands in the past and the rotating bezel was the only way to track timezones solely on the GMT. I'm sure this is what he was referring to and bombarding the chap with how to set a 3185/6/7 movement isn't going to teach him anything.

[oldsalt]

Originally Posted by RRP

But the Explorer II isn’t even a GMT. Has nothing to do with it. The bezel doesn’t rotate and that extra hand has absolutely nothing to do with being a GMT or displaying an extra time zone. Heck, even a SkyDweller is closer to the GMT. The hand on the Explorer II is purely for telling you whether it’s A.M or P.M in your current time zone (ideally as you’re traveling through the jungle days on end and lose track of night and day) . There’s plenty of room in Rolex’s lineup for the GMT, the Sky-D and this.

I don't feel anybody was bombarding (your term) him... just pointing out the error of his statement.... I bought my Exp II because I could use it to track two time zones.... just sayin'

cheers

[sensui]

I think it'd be redundant....it'd be like making a small GMT @ 40mm and a large GMT @ 42mm (albeit without the bezel being rotatable).....I still would prefer and think Rolex would stick with the stainless bezel per heritage.

[Rocket_Man]

Personally I think if they made a ceramic bezel it would breathe new life into the Exp II. I'd like to see and and I'd like to see it back to 40mm in size. A polar dial with a black ceramic bezel would be a great combo and in keeping with the way Rolex has transitioned sports bezels to ceramic over the years.

As to redundancy, no more or less redundant than their dive watch line. I think a 40mm Exp II would wear smaller than a GMT, be lower in cost, and keep its niche in the Rolex line up.

[Speed]

No.

Just no.

[Raza_actual]

Originally Posted by nikesupremedunk

I've been wanting a white dial but don't care for the current 42mm. It does look great with the ceramic bezel though and I would consider getting one.

I think the 21mm lugs of the 42mm makes it wear a bit funny. And I like a bigger watch, but I found something off by the 42mm Explorer II. I find myself browsing 16570s, even though that would be basically the smallest wearing watch I've owned.

Personally, I'd like to see a stainless steel Coke bezel GMT or a black bezel GMT with a red GMT hand instead of the green. I would be all over one of those; until then, I think the 16570 is my next purchase. Unless I cave and buy a Suunto Core this weekend. But digitals don't count.

[No SUBctitute]

Originally Posted by RRP

1. But the Explorer II isn’t even a GMT.

2. That extra hand has absolutely nothing to do with being a GMT or displaying an extra time zone.

3. The hand on the Explorer II is purely for telling you whether it’s A.M or P.M in your current time zone

Uhhh.....alrighty then. A lot of Explorer II owners are gonna be might disappointed.

[No SUBctitute]

Originally Posted by Rocket_Man

I'd like to see and and I'd like to see it back to 40mm in size.

This