Which do you prefer, the classic 36mm steel Oyster Perpetual or the sporty 36mm steel Rolex Explorer?
Looking to get my first Rolex and I am torn between these two models. The specs seem almost identical (movement, power reserve, dimensions), but the price of the OP is about $1K less. It seems like it comes down to the dial. Which direction would you go in?
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Hate the Explorer dial, but aware I’m in the small minority.
I would probably flip a coin on these 2, the clasp may be a deciding factor as they are different.
It would seem to depend on your use case…
If you arent obsessed with Mercedes hands and don’t need to see your seconds hand in the dark, I’d suggest saving $1K.
Go with the Oyster Perpetual. It's an absolute classic you will enjoy the rest of your life.
The modern Explorer is neither either nor there. It's too sporty to be a dress watch, too shiny to be a sports watch, not really faithful to the Explorer of yore. If you like the field watch look, there are many cheaper and better looking options, such as the Lorier Falcon, or the Sinn 556 A
From the point of view of somebody that has been going to the mountain for nearly 30 years, the new Explorer is great. Very comfortable and versatile too.
But the reasoning behind the modern Explorer is not that much about o explore mountains but life itself. But one has to experience this to fully understand this I guess :)
OP is the OG. Will never go out of style, goes with very formal attire, goes with beach attire, cheapest Rolex by far, retains value, recognizable but not ostentatious, much more easily re-sold.
I'm embarassed to admit that I can tell time way faster when there are arabic numerals...That is enough for me to prefer the Explorer.
Interesting how (as of writing this) it is really close!
I really like that, just goes to show both are great options and it's down to personal taste 😀
DJ36 is better than than both in my opinion. But between these two, I'd go explorer
OP just because you have a lot of colors to pick from if you aren't into black. I'm a little bias since I own a Blue 36mm OP and black dials don't excite me atm
In my opinion, if you will only get 1 Rolex, get the explorer. The mercedes hands is iconic.
If you think that you'll buy another sports model in the future. For example the Submariner. Then I'd say that the Oyster Perpetual is great for everyday use. Plus, the different type of hands makes your collection interesting.
Thanks for all the comments and votes. Really interesting how close the votes are.
My colleague is having this exact issue. But he is more firmly on the OP side. I would be too only because it's a more humble design. It's not as "loud" as the other designs that have everyone noticing what's on your wrist.
I really like the explorer design as well, but went with a microbrand that is more focused on being a tool watch.
The flip side is to just get a more obvious design like a date-just or GMT. This is probably the route I'll end up going if I ever make the plunge into Rolex.
I would go with the OP. It's the timeless design and 36 mm is a great size for something that can pull double duty as dressy or sporty. I think its a bit more versatile than the Explorer that way.
Another difference is the bezel. The OP bezel is more bubbly; whereas, the Explorer bezel is more angular
It's a small thing, but it definitely makes an impact on how the products feel. Dial aside, the OP feels dressier and the Explorer feels more utilitarian (and more in-line with vintage Rolex design).
This difference is more noticeable in person. Everyone has their own taste. I'm more of a sports watch guy. The first time I saw a modern OP in a boutique, I knew it wasn't for me.
I vote OP, even it would be more expensive then the Explorer.....OP = pure class, timeless, an honest watch......Explorer = Rolex mythmaking marketing