Rolex Explorer II 16570

The Rolex Explorer has never been accused of being staid, wimpy or dainty.  Worn by scientists and (you guessed it) explorers into some of the more inhospitable regions on the planet, the Rolex Explorer was from its birth designed to buck the presumptions of what a wristwatch could bear.  

Rolex has long been the watch of exploration and early on, Rolex technicians subjected their timepieces to the worst Mother Nature could conjure; whether traversing the English Channel, breaking land-speed records or climbing Mount Everest, there's a good chance Rolex was involved.

The Explorer line traces its origins to the famous mountain and Sir Edmund Hillary's successful ascension of it in 1953, but numerous historic moments were marked by the presence of the Explorer and its descendent, the Explorer II. Ed Viesturs, the only American to climb all 14 of the globe's eight-thousander peaks (and the fifth person to ever do so without supplemental oxygen); Jean Troillet, the Swiss/Canadian who set the speed record for climbing the Matterhorn (at 21-years-old nonetheless) and was the first person to snowboard down Everest; and Alain Hubert, world-renowned Polar explorer who achieved a world-record cross of the Antarctic continent, all proudly wore the Rolex Explorer II on their expeditions. 

White-dialed Explorers tend to be divisive executions for collectors, but were no less appreciated by those that wore them into the wild. The most notable is a white-dial Explorer II worn by Carlo Bondavalli on his expedition in 1987, where he became the first (along with Swiss TV cameraman Fulvio Mariani) person to reach the geomagnetic North Pole.   

This watch, a Reference 16570 Explorer II, is the modernized expression of Bondavalli's Explorer. Hailing from circa 2000, it's driven by a Calibre 3185 movement, which offers the wearer a distinctive feature: the hour hand can be set independently from the minute and 24-hour hand, allowing the wearer to quickly change time zones or use the 24-hour hand and fixed bezel to keep track of a second time zone.   

So many times, the more modern offerings from Rolex get mistreated, their cases polished over and over, leaving little surviving original metal. This example, coming with its original inner and outer boxes, booklets and hang tags, is in very nice condition, showing just the right amount of wear and no signs of over-polishing. And whether paired with its solid-end-link Ref. 78790A bracelet with flip-lock clasp, a sporty leather strap or a more utilitarian NATO-style strap, this sturdy timepiece is sure to be your go-to for everything from backyard BBQs to extreme adventures.  

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Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.