An under-the-radar sports Rolex for the rest of us

This is my original review of the 16570 Rolex Explorer II from 2010

First Impressions and Aesthetics
I had originally been eyeballing the new ceramic Submariner, but then I came across rolexforums.com and user pictures of the Explorer II. The official Rolex website does not do this watch justice, and really, it is treated like an afterthought in their collection. I fell in love with the white dial and the simple contrast provided by the red GMT hand. I also really liked the understated stainless steel bezel and how it looked much sleeker than the Sub C.

When I first saw it at the store, I'll have to admit it looked a bit plain sitting next to its more well-known sports Rolex brethren. I then put it on my wrist which brought a smile to my face, and the rest, as they say, is history.

I particularly like the easy readability of the white dial. I am a fan of the engraved rehaut and I think the engraved serial number along the six o'clock edge is a nice touch. The brushed stainless steel is beautiful in its own right and I also like how the brushed bezel is a different "coarseness" than the bracelet, lending it a slightly different texture and appearance. The contrast with the polished bracelet and case sides is subtle but lends a touch of elegance to the Exp II's otherwise workman-like appearance.

Crown and adjustment
I won't go into the particulars on how to adjust this watch as it is fairly typical for a rapid-set hours GMT watch. When tightened down, the Rolex insignia is properly aligned, pointing at the 12 o'clock position. My understanding is that overtightening of the crown can actually damage the threads and so I've made a habit of "snugging" it down as opposed to really cranking or torquing it down tight. The crown releases very smoothly and pops into position one quite easily. It takes a bit more pulling to get it into position two but nothing I deem out of the ordinary. The operation is very smooth and the tactile and visible feedback from adjusting or winding this watch is very satisfying; especially the lack of "play" on the watch hands as adjustments are made.

Bracelet and fit
Complaints about the bracelet on the 16570 are fairly common and probably its most oft-mentioned drawback. It definitely does not seem as substantial as it should be given the watch's pricepoint. However, I trust that this bracelet has worked for Rolex in the past and they felt little need to change it (for now) as it has served its purpose well.

My left wrist measures 6.5" in diameter and I have the bracelet in a 7+5 link configuration (seven links on the 12 o'clock side, five links on the 6 o'clock side). I have the micro-adjustment on the clasp set at the third innermost setting and this has given me a great fit with very little movement of the watch up and down the wrist while not being too tight. Theoretically, it seems I could probably go with a 6+5 configuration with a "looser" microadjustment setting, but I think that I'd have problems with the watch constantly migrating towards the 12 o'clock side of my wrist due to the way the bracelet clasp is designed. In any case, my current configuration is just right and very comfortable.

Every day use and comfort
The 16570 is very comfortable to wear, and I now wear it more on a variety of NATO straps than the bracelet. I have added other watches to my collection over the years, but this watch still gets the most wrist time. For a while there, large watches were all the rage, and I’m glad things have come back down to earth. I think 40 mm is probably the perfect size for my wrist.

Final thoughts
A watch is a watch, but it is the owner's experiences that gives the material things in life an immaterial character. It already holds a lot of sentimental value for me as it is a (early) 10th wedding anniversary gift from my wife and also commemorates my first contract signing for a position after I finish my interventional cardiology training in June 2011. To say the least, I am very happy with my polar Explorer II and it is a watch I'm sure I'll have for the rest of my life.