Let's talk about Rolex, which has completely updated the dial, case, movement, and bracelet of the watch, which, nonetheless, fits a similar profile to the model 216570 Explorer II. Do the watches feel different on the wrist?
In a word, while it's clear that the latest generation Explorer II 226570 is fresh and overall improved compared to the previous model, many viewers will barely notice the difference between them. This might be good news for current owners of the 42 mm Explorer II, who might feel an emotional need to upgrade. These individuals can get the latest features by trading their models for new ones, but they won't experience a substantial difference in wearing. That said, if you have held back on purchasing the Explorer II (for reasons other than simple unavailability), Rolex may have addressed some of the complaints that a few people had with the previous generation 216570 Explorer II models.
For example, I'm particularly glad that Rolex decided to replace the somewhat glossy black hands and hour markers of the 216570 model with a white dial with matte hands and hour markers of the 226570 model with a white dial. This brings the look of the Explorer II back to the earlier 40 mm Explorer II 16570 model, which remains popular among enthusiasts today. That earlier Explorer II model focused on utility and readability, and it seems Rolex was inspired by this when making improvements to the first generation 42 mm wide Explorer watches.
Although the 226570 reference is also 42 mm wide, Rolex has changed the case geometry in several small ways, making its largest GMT watch fit more comfortably and proportionately. Not everyone will appreciate the larger wearing size, but the market has clearly shown that there is a growing demand for larger Rolex watches (even if 36 mm wide men's watches remain popular with many enthusiasts and users). I immediately felt the difference on my wrist when wearing the 226570 watch compared to the 216570 models, even though they are the same size on paper. The Oyster-style bracelet, in particular, is very well designed with a new clasp that closes a bit more securely and is also thinner on the wrist. One of the biggest improvements in modern Rolex watches compared to those released just 10 or 15 years ago is undoubtedly in the quality of the bracelets and folding clasp mechanisms. The Explorer II has a secure clasp lock and a small 'comfort extension' inside that opens the bracelet slightly, but it doesn't have the more complex micro-adjustment system of the Rolex Submariner and other diving watches.
At 42 mm wide, mostly made of matte steel, the Rolex Explorer II case is water-resistant up to 100 meters and features a sapphire crystal over the dial. Rolex has historically been cautious about using anti-reflective coatings, and the latest generation Submariner is actually the first to have more modern anti-reflective coating applications. I'm not sure if this has translated into the Explorer II models, but I will say that the lower level of shiny elements on the dials certainly helps with easier dial reading.
As I mentioned above, Rolex uses completely new dials and hands for this latest generation of Explorer II watches… even if most eyes won't notice. There are small differences in the dials, but it's not really worth mentioning beyond the no longer glossy hands and hour markers on the white dial version. The 226570 version with a black dial has steel-toned hands and hour markers, which are otherwise coated with Rolex's Chromalight luminescent material.
To remind those who don't know, the Explorer II is a watch that allows you to know the time of day if you can't see the sun (they were designed for cave explorers). The GMT hand can be used to indicate the time of a second time zone, although Rolex intends the GMT-Master II or Sky-Dweller to be more traveler-oriented watches. The fixed bezel of the Explorer II has 24-hour markers on it, and when the GMT hand is synchronized with local time, it acts as an AM/PM indicator. The models 226570 were released with the classic orange GMT hands that Rolex brought back in the previous generation models 216570.
In any case, the Rolex Explorer II 226570 models have the same GMT mechanisms as the GMT-Master II, which are the in-house automatic Rolex Caliber 3285, operating at a frequency of 4 Hz with a three-day power reserve. These 'Superlative Chronometer' watches have an impressive accuracy of just plus-minus two seconds per day. The movements include time with an independently adjustable GMT (24-hour hand) and a date window, which is easier to read thanks to Rolex's 'cyclops' magnifying lens on the crystal.
As someone who really wanted to love the previous generation of the Rolex Explorer II more, the 226570 fixes most of the issues I had with the previous generation, and I can easily say that I would wear the current version with a white dial. The black version has more subtle changes, but both new models of the Rolex Explorer II generation 226570 are impressive improvements and offer an even better wearing experience than the previous models.
The price of the Rolex Explorer II 226570 is $8,550 USD. Learn more on the Rolex website.