The Explorer II faceoff
Which one would you wear if you own both? The black dial seems to get more wrist time but the Polar is my dream watch. Anyone else have two of the same dial and dealing with confusion? Watch crunchers, what do you have to say?
34 comments
Sort by
Angleechew
Watches, Meat and Whiskey
singapore
Member since
Last active: 41 min ago
7.00” / 17.78 cm
I don't own both, but when presented the option to buy I chose black. To me it's more universal, I wear this watch pretty much every day and the black does everything. Besides, everybody has a white Explorer II, black is far more uncommon and to me more interesting.
I don't own both, but when presented the option to buy I chose black. To me it's more universal, I wear this watch pretty much every day and the black does everything. Besides, everybody has a white Explorer II, black is far more uncommon and to me more interesting.
Lovely watch, and totally agree. The black has become my daily. I'm blessed by wife got me the Polar and twin bro gave me the black. I'm spoilt.
You are so lucky to own both!
I was torn between black 226570 (polar looks too big on my small wrist) and polar 16570. I chose black 226570 as I didn't feel completely safe taking old 5-digit to backpacking trips in the mountains (my intended use), where it faces elements like water, snow and extreme low temperature.
I hope to add polar 16570 to my collection someday for my adventure in cities.
B, as it is a field tool watch, ligibility is paramount.
I like both very much but I choose the white only because it’s unique among their GMT style watches.
I like both very much but I choose the white only because it’s unique among their GMT style watches.
I second this. I like both of them as well but I would pick the white over the black. The orange gmt hand on white just wins it for me
Tough one.. but, it would be the white for me (by a very minor slight edge).
There is something about the black-orange combo that doesn’t do it for me. Maybe it’s because of my deteriorating eyesight, but the white dial makes time telling slightly easier for me.
They’re both very nice! You are lucky indeed as people can’t get their hands on these watches at reasonable prices.
I would wear both on alternate days.
The white is a standout and black was too close to my Sub Date. I'd like to add a 1655...
You are so lucky to own both!
I was torn between black 226570 (polar looks too big on my small wrist) and polar 16570. I chose black 226570 as I didn't feel completely safe taking old 5-digit to backpacking trips in the mountains (my intended use), where it faces elements like water, snow and extreme low temperature.
I hope to add polar 16570 to my collection someday for my adventure in cities.
Love this story behind it. Thanks for sharing.
I like both very much but I choose the white only because it’s unique among their GMT style watches.
Totally agree. Few white dials
i am biased towards the black dial, simple and clean
I would wear both on alternate days.
That’s the plan for this week
Black dial for me, especially if it's true these don't have a lot of AR treatments.
Personally, I went for a Polar dial 226570. In my opinion the Explorer II is the only Rolex that doesn’t really look like a “modern” flashy Rolex and besides, I’m a sucker for a white/polar dial anyway 😅
Oh cool! So the ones with no AR are the older models?
Yeah I believe the 226570 was the first Explorer II to feature AR coating
The white dial version feels to be a much more considered and practical design than the black version. The true the spirit of the Explorer 2, while the black dial variant feels as if it’s there because there always has to be a black dial version of a watch to placate customers. The white’s is evidently more practical version because of its high contrast, but when broken down it makes even more sense.
Black on white is the most readable combination of contrasting colors.
White dials, in my experience, are the easiest to read in low light. This is probably supported by the fact that white reflects the most light of any color.
On the 226570, this is taken a step further by changing all the colors from polished to a matte finishing, increasing the contrast even more.
The white-dial 226570 is the heir to the Explorer 2 throne. Now if only Rolex will pretty please bring it all back down 40 mm… (and mean that number).
I was offered both when I went to pick up from the AD. I tried them both on several times and ended up going for the black as it most resembles the 1655.
The black dial is glossy too, so there's nice light play.
I have considered getting the polar dial also, but I think the white Seamaster would probably sway me more.
All of this is down to personal taste. I have very few white dial watches, so they clearly don't speak to me that much.
I was offered both when I went to pick up from the AD. I tried them both on several times and ended up going for the black as it most resembles the 1655.
The black dial is glossy too, so there's nice light play.
I have considered getting the polar dial also, but I think the white Seamaster would probably sway me more.
All of this is down to personal taste. I have very few white dial watches, so they clearly don't speak to me that much.
This is what makes me love the black one so much. But Rolex also has very few white dial sports watches.
The white dial version feels to be a much more considered and practical design than the black version. The true the spirit of the Explorer 2, while the black dial variant feels as if it’s there because there always has to be a black dial version of a watch to placate customers. The white’s is evidently more practical version because of its high contrast, but when broken down it makes even more sense.
Black on white is the most readable combination of contrasting colors.
White dials, in my experience, are the easiest to read in low light. This is probably supported by the fact that white reflects the most light of any color.
On the 226570, this is taken a step further by changing all the colors from polished to a matte finishing, increasing the contrast even more.
The white-dial 226570 is the heir to the Explorer 2 throne. Now if only Rolex will pretty please bring it all back down 40 mm… (and mean that number).
Thank you for this. Super helpful
I was offered both when I went to pick up from the AD. I tried them both on several times and ended up going for the black as it most resembles the 1655.
The black dial is glossy too, so there's nice light play.
I have considered getting the polar dial also, but I think the white Seamaster would probably sway me more.
All of this is down to personal taste. I have very few white dial watches, so they clearly don't speak to me that much.
Kind of a tangential note, but I think if I wanted a Rolex with a lot of light play I’d go for the 36 mm two-tone palm motif dial. I’d want to wear it a lot. I like fidgeting with the light play on my Pagani design lefty GMT’s jubilee bracelet, so having a whole watch with that kind of play would be fun.
Lovely!!! Absolutely agree. What do you think of the two tone explorer
Kind of a tangential note, but I think if I wanted a Rolex with a lot of light play I’d go for the 36 mm two-tone palm motif dial. I’d want to wear it a lot. I like fidgeting with the light play on my Pagani design lefty GMT’s jubilee bracelet, so having a whole watch with that kind of play would be fun.
The light play is more of an added bonus on the black Explorer II. The white was just too flat for me when I had them side by side.
If I was drawn to the white version more, I'd get both as they do offer a very different wearing experience.
Own neither, white dial is iconic, but for me the black dial is more legible as the applied indices pop more.
I was offered both when I went to pick up from the AD. I tried them both on several times and ended up going for the black as it most resembles the 1655.
The black dial is glossy too, so there's nice light play.
I have considered getting the polar dial also, but I think the white Seamaster would probably sway me more.
All of this is down to personal taste. I have very few white dial watches, so they clearly don't speak to me that much.
I can appreciate a glossy black, but I’ve always felt that watch market is heavily saturated with them. So for me, a black-dial watch really has to stand out and have something interesting going on to grab my attention.
When it comes to white dials, I really appreciate the crisp, bright, clean look.
Lovely!!! Absolutely agree. What do you think of the two tone explorer
It’s not my cup of tea. I like the regular 126270 too much and I think two-tone doesn’t work well with oyster bracelets. It’s too stark. I prefer the more sophisticated approach a two-tone fluted Date-Just offers.
My favorite two-tone watch is this version of the 1675 Rootbeer GMTMs. I know Rolex fans would accuse me of heresy, but if I ever somehow found a lost Spanish treasure or something lol, and bought this, I would look into seeing whether or not I could get fully solid-links version of the bracelet.
https://amsterdamvintagewatches.com/shop/rolex-gmt-master-1675-3-rootbeer/
https://www.vintage-portfolio.com/wp-content/uploads/a3296-rolex-gmt-root-beer-4.jpg
I voted for the polar which I own so I’m biased. I prefer the look of it to the black dial Explorer II. I’ve got it on today too
I'm torn between black and white. How is the poll shaking out? I can't see the results without voting.
I voted for the polar which I own so I’m biased. I prefer the look of it to the black dial Explorer II. I’ve got it on today too
Love it!!! Thanks for sharing
I'm torn between black and white. How is the poll shaking out? I can't see the results without voting.
Polar winning by a long shot of 80%