Explorer II

In 1989 Rolex releases the Explorer II Ref. 16570, which had an impressive run of nearly 22 years before the 216570 was released in 2011. The 16570 iterated on the 16550 with the new caliber 3185 movement and a small but substantial change to the polar dial model. By replacing the silver outlined hands and indices with black, the legibility greatly improved by really accentuating the white dial. Also, the font used on the bezel numerals changed between the 16550 and 16570, which is just a matter of taste.

Rolex is the leading brand in Swiss luxury watches with iconic models such as the Datejust, Submariner, GMT-Master 2, Daytona, Day-Date, Oyster Perpetual, Sea-Dweller. Rolex enjoys an unrivalled reputation for excellence, performance and prestige. Pioneer of the wristwatch since 1905 when it was founded by Hans Wilsdorf in London, the brand is at the origin of landmark innovations in watchmaking, including the first waterproof wristwatch - the Oyster - and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism. Its watches have accompanied explorers and achievers around the world, from the top of the highest mountains to the deepest reaches of the ocean. An independent manufacturing company, Rolex designs, develops and produces in-house all the essential components of its watches. Rolex is privately owned by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation since 1945 and situated in Geneva. In August 2023 Rolex acquired its largest retailer Bucherer and now owns a direct distribution channel besides it global retail partnerships.