All the negatives and “missed opportunities” you mention are positives for me for this specific model. It’s the last all-out tool watch in Rolex’ lineup, and by just updating the movement instead of new funky colours, ceramic bezel or whatever desktop and coffeeshop Rolex reviewers find attractive, it strengthens just its heritage and purpose.
This is my favorite polar review, I have seen it many times, I love that watch and when many people including my wife see an odd or ugly watch I only see a beautiful tool watch very masculine and a perfect watch for vacation under the radar
The model is legendary the way it is and so they have emphasized that by not doing any dramatic changes on this timeless contemporary timepiece for the model 50th anniversary. Nice video, thanks
It is my favorite Rolex. I own a black 216570 and polar 226570. But I prefer the black dial of 216570 with black lacker base. Now, with the Rolex craze, although it is not most sought after but starts be noticed. Finally I'm happy that nothing happened change for 50th anniversary. Because next will be a ceramic bezel that would ruin it.
Love the black dial 😍😍 to me (even if I own the GMT Master ii) it’s the perfect traveling watch as you have the nice orange GMT hand and it’s not shiny/bling like the GMT’s
Doing "nothing" with its design *is* showing it love and the respect it deserves. I wish they did that in the 80s too honestly. That being said, a 50th variant with a different color gmt hand could have worked I suppose
New movement, thinned out lugs, wider bracelet, matt black hands and indices, thicker text, coronet, internal AR coating. Refinement, that’s what Rolex does. Btw it’s not a “GMT hand” it’s a 24 hour hand. It was designed for Spelunking, the exploration of caves. The hand is to allow the wearer to differentiate between night and day while in a cave. A GMT hand is designed to track Greenwich Mean Time, or alternately a second time zone as determined by the user. The explorers 24 hour hand could be used to track GMT or another time zone, but that is not it’s intended purpose.
@@saodavi6267 yes you can use it like a gmt hand, but it was it’s intended purpose when the watch initially came out. I was trying to educate people to that fact. Learning a little history about a watch might open your eyes in this hobby. This is the main problem with people that collect Rolex watches.
One of the big changes Rolex made to the 2021 Explorer 2 that nobody seems to have noticed yet is that the hands on the polar is now matte black instead of glossy black.
The biggest change for the newest black dial Explorer II, in addition to losing its iconic shadow hands, is that it no longer has a matte black dial. It now sports a glossy black dial.
Little changes makes a great difference man. The 50th anniversary has better proportions, in the same way that the new Sub is better than the old ceramic reference. Not agree with you this time. Anyway, great video, as always.
Whoa nice one. The footage was actually the previous exp ii? Really fooled me. No wonder you didn't talk about the dimensions like you usually do. Nice vid, Hafiz!
i wish it was smaller. i also have a 6.5 inch wrist, and this watch size is at the maximum of what i can wear. i know i can go vintage but i prefer the modern references for everything else but size
Own this watch and am happy with it. Try this , make believe the older model had a green gmt hand and now the 50 th has an orange hand and wallah Nirvana
@@ameza357 You can play semantics of whether or not it's officially a micro-adjust or not but point is, you can adjust the size quickly and without a tool. That's better than most. Don't get it though because of that, I'll enjoy mine very soon.
@@jimlittle5769 I know what you are saying. But the micro adjustment triumphs the easy link hands down. The yatchmaster on rubber clasp was upgraded with it whenever it went to 42mm. You would think the revised explorer would have received it also.
@@ameza357 yeah, they seem to want to only do that for the divers, or at least their more expensive items (along with the Sub). Do they have that on anything but divers? Maybe the Daytona too? I know they don't on my Milgauss or GMT II.
The Milgauss also changed it’s form over time the lightning bolt second hand is the only thing that remains the same for the original Milgauss. Even the Daytona has evolved and changed it’s basic look over time. Look at a Paul Newman and today’s ceramic version. These watches are distant cousins. The size is my only issue with the Explorer II. I do agree with the fact that Rolex passed on an opportunity to evolve the watch. Rolex is conservative. And what can we really expect from this brand?
First off, thanks for another excellent quality video as always! The BLNR has been my grail watch as long as I can remember and I'm on the list for it. However, I've added the Explorer II polar to my wishlist and made it my option #1. Mainly for how discreet it is. At this stage in my career, the "under the radar" Rolex is exactly what I'm looking for.
Rolex essentially perfected the Exp2 with the 226570, save for not including the GlideLock clasp (which they should include on ALL of their sport models) and not luming the numbers and markers on the bezel. I'm glad they kept the steel bezel. Ceramic would've sullied it. I wouldn't mind an open/clear case back either, but that's not really necessary or even advisable on a sports watch designed for spelunking, climbing and exploring.
Yep! That was my thought watching the video. I normally agree with the presenter (and his camera work is the best out there), but I think he is off the mark here. For Rolex to have made changes for the sole purpose of celebrating the 50th milestone would not have made sense. Change for change sake is not Rolex style. Incremental improvement, definitely. And I'm glad they did keep it intact since I had the opportunity to add a black dial to the collection last month, from the AD. Also agree that the lack of on-the-fly adjustment is the true "missed opportunity". GlideLock is awesome! Fliplock from the DSSD is even better. I had a DSSD for a while and that was by far the best part of the watch. I would love to see that clasp become more standard for Rolex.
Thanks for another great video! But in this one I disagree with you. Yes, at first glance the new ref looks the same as the discountinued. But on the wrist it feels so different, its sleeker and wears much better due to slimmed down lugs and wider bracelet. Try it on and my guess is you will agree.
Well i think the 16550 was released in 1985 and it run for a span of a good 26 years before redesigning a new look in 2011 with a 42mm case. Seriously Rolex might not have come up with a great design for Explorer 2 therefore decided to retain same look with minor changes on case size and hour and minute hands. Maybe sometimes less is more.
Dear Hafiz, in your latest video - explorer II - there is a mistake, because it is not the new 2021 model! The new one has a lot of changes - so it is a really 50 years modell. Kind regards H
Hi Hafiz, I owned a TAG HEUER AQUARACER but now from last many months am planning to buy Rolex but am really confused which should i buy. I want you suggestion can you please suggest me the watch which will hold the price as well. Options:- SUBMARINER DATE GMT-MASTER II YACHT-MASTER 40 ALL are in steel only.
I’m not a fan of this watch, but I think it has reached exactly where Rolex wants it to be. For this reason there are so little changes. Changing just for the sake of changing doesn’t really make sense
I prefer the previous reference (#216570) with its more understated matte black dial and its shadow hands. It's the most 'tool watchesque' model in the entire Rolex lineup. One of the reasons that I love it so much. A model that hearkens back to the roots and early history of Rolex.
I've always liked the newer Explorer II's but owing to their size, they've been more of a "nice to look at" sort of watch for me. Still happy with my white 16570, my beater for 4 years now.
Around 4:25 when Hafiz started talking about how a little printing differences change the desirability of rolex’s of the same model…. that got me thinking, the value people place on the value of rolex is so superficial. When a brand can so easily be replicated and would required experts to tell apart the real vs fake watches, that just means the real ones arent all that great.
I actually prefer the black but now without the "floating hands", I'm not tempted to wear this big boy. Show me a 40mm with some green. Agreed. Do something Rolex!
This white dial is one of my favorites, but when always wearing a 40mm GMT/Sub the crystal seems too large on the Explorer. They could have really changed the looks by going down to a 41mm case and decreased the crystal 2mm and they would have had a new and exciting update….too bad…
It’s a beautiful watch, but they have yet, apart from the 1971 original run, to achieve goldilocks proportions. The more modern versions either have hands too small or cases too big, and that was their missed opportunity. If any watch in the catalog should replace the discontinued 39mm Explorer I, it’s this one. Talk about a glorious birthday celebration.
Hey Hafiz, nice video as always! Do you think you can start taking high Res photos of the watches and you wearing them next time as well? I think these shots would make awesome wallpapers or printed out (maybe on metal?) amazing wall art as well. Just an idea! :)
One almost feels as if on occasion they simply will not do what everyone thinks just for that very reason. This kinda goes along with everyone predicting the Explorer going to 41 and shocking the audience with the original size and of course the two tone version. You can’t exactly accuse them of trolling us….or can you 😉
Sadly you are talking rubbish. Your personal opinion is ok we can leave that to the side because we are all entitled to one. But false incorrect statements and talking nonsense bashing it, I cannot sit and say nothing. Check the tech spec of this new release and do your homework first. Lots of incorrect facts and you have also contradicted yourself in this video. The biggest change is inside. The movement has improved to 70hrs new shock absorbers and improved magnetic resilience which is huge, resized lugs and bracelet, thicker clasp and link. plus matte hour markers and hands and antireflective coating. How dare you call this NOTHING! 😂 Do your research properly before making such false statements which are offensive to the watch community. You should do a part 2 and come clean 😂😂😂 Did you say you wanted a green bezel?! That would kill the explorer 2 range! . 😂😂😂 orange hand differentiate this from the other green bezel and hands watches in the GMT II. They would all look too similar. Less is more. Rolex nailed it with the 50th anniversary model.
They got rid of the floating hands on the black dial one. I’d agree that this model got a lump of coal for its 50th birthday. If you want a green dial explorer 2 look a like with a40 mm case, a steel bezel, an Orange GMT, a 72 h power reserve, and a 28,800 vph beat, there’s the Grand Seiko SBGM247 just released in November. Unlike the Rolex, no games are required to buy it from an authorized dealer. In addition this Grand Seiko is 1/3 the price of the Rolex explorer II on the grey market (the one place ordinary customers can get the Rolex).
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All the negatives and “missed opportunities” you mention are positives for me for this specific model. It’s the last all-out tool watch in Rolex’ lineup, and by just updating the movement instead of new funky colours, ceramic bezel or whatever desktop and coffeeshop Rolex reviewers find attractive, it strengthens just its heritage and purpose.
I'm glad I'm not missing my opportunity to pick it up my Polar from the AD this weekend...
This is my favorite polar review, I have seen it many times, I love that watch and when many people including my wife see an odd or ugly watch I only see a beautiful tool watch very masculine and a perfect watch for vacation under the radar
The orange GMT hand is perfection. Rolex were right to leave everything as it is. Apart from updates to the movement.
It’s just perfect. And thank god they didn’t change a lot
Yup, they could have brought it to 40 or 41 and made a smashing hit
100% agree
That would have been perfect.
41mm with slimmer lugs and 20mm bracelet would have been amazing! 👍
Perhaps for the average sized person. However, 42 mm is the perfect size for us larger wristed individuals. I love it!! Absolutely perfect.
I totally agree. I’m not shy of anything between 36 and 41, but this thing is a chunk.
The model is legendary the way it is and so they have emphasized that by not doing any dramatic changes on this timeless contemporary timepiece for the model 50th anniversary. Nice video, thanks
I like that Rolex follows no rules, especially those expected by the public. I don’t think green has anything to do with this watch.
It is my favorite Rolex. I own a black 216570 and polar 226570. But I prefer the black dial of 216570 with black lacker base.
Now, with the Rolex craze, although it is not most sought after but starts be noticed.
Finally I'm happy that nothing happened change for 50th anniversary. Because next will be a ceramic bezel that would ruin it.
Love the black dial 😍😍 to me (even if I own the GMT Master ii) it’s the perfect traveling watch as you have the nice orange GMT hand and it’s not shiny/bling like the GMT’s
Doing "nothing" with its design *is* showing it love and the respect it deserves. I wish they did that in the 80s too honestly. That being said, a 50th variant with a different color gmt hand could have worked I suppose
I bought a Explorer II Polar in NY, 2012 year. And i like very much that the changes are minimals.
I still have a actual watch.
New movement, thinned out lugs, wider bracelet, matt black hands and indices, thicker text, coronet, internal AR coating. Refinement, that’s what Rolex does.
Btw it’s not a “GMT hand” it’s a 24 hour hand. It was designed for Spelunking, the exploration of caves. The hand is to allow the wearer to differentiate between night and day while in a cave. A GMT hand is designed to track Greenwich Mean Time, or alternately a second time zone as determined by the user. The explorers 24 hour hand could be used to track GMT or another time zone, but that is not it’s intended purpose.
It's the same movement as the GMT Master II. And it easily tracks 2 time zones, by design ... hence the jumping hour hand.
@@saodavi6267 yes you can use it like a gmt hand, but it was it’s intended purpose when the watch initially came out. I was trying to educate people to that fact. Learning a little history about a watch might open your eyes in this hobby. This is the main problem with people that collect Rolex watches.
One of the big changes Rolex made to the 2021 Explorer 2 that nobody seems to have noticed yet is that the hands on the polar is now matte black instead of glossy black.
I actually like the gloss hands more
You didn’t watch the full video - did you? :)
I’ve captured it in the video @ 07:40.
Thanks for watching.
@@tkm3207 hands
@@michaelbishop9157 oops… yes hands. Fixed it. Thx
The biggest change for the newest black dial Explorer II, in addition to losing its iconic shadow hands, is that it no longer has a matte black dial. It now sports a glossy black dial.
This is absolutely perfect they don't need to change a thing
I hope to someday own this watch
I hope you will have it soon 🙏 you will not regret on this one ☝️
@@laammansi Thank you for your good wishes friend
Little changes makes a great difference man. The 50th anniversary has better proportions, in the same way that the new Sub is better than the old ceramic reference. Not agree with you this time.
Anyway, great video, as always.
This is not the 2021 226570! There is no coronet logo at the 6 o’clock between swiss and made!
Very elegant piece.
Luckily no ceramic bezel!.
I like the watch as it is. Maybe for the 60th anniversary, they will change the model (they could try 41,9 mm 😃).
Rolex commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Explorer II by not ruining it. That's something to celebrate.
Grear video... I love my 40th anniversary model.
Whoa nice one. The footage was actually the previous exp ii? Really fooled me. No wonder you didn't talk about the dimensions like you usually do. Nice vid, Hafiz!
i wish it was smaller. i also have a 6.5 inch wrist, and this watch size is at the maximum of what i can wear. i know i can go vintage but i prefer the modern references for everything else but size
Own this watch and am happy with it. Try this , make believe the older model had a green gmt hand and now the 50 th has an orange hand and wallah Nirvana
I like the black dial on this watch.
They could have at least added the micro adjustment clasp to the revised model
They did. This has the easy link system.
@@jimlittle5769 easy link is not micro adjustment
@@ameza357 You can play semantics of whether or not it's officially a micro-adjust or not but point is, you can adjust the size quickly and without a tool. That's better than most. Don't get it though because of that, I'll enjoy mine very soon.
@@jimlittle5769 I know what you are saying. But the micro adjustment triumphs the easy link hands down. The yatchmaster on rubber clasp was upgraded with it whenever it went to 42mm. You would think the revised explorer would have received it also.
@@ameza357 yeah, they seem to want to only do that for the divers, or at least their more expensive items (along with the Sub). Do they have that on anything but divers? Maybe the Daytona too? I know they don't on my Milgauss or GMT II.
You have THE BEST wrist shots on YT.!
When are you going to do a video of the milgauss and airking ?
The Milgauss also changed it’s form over time the lightning bolt second hand is the only thing that remains the same for the original Milgauss. Even the Daytona has evolved and changed it’s basic look over time. Look at a Paul Newman and today’s ceramic version. These watches are distant cousins. The size is my only issue with the Explorer II. I do agree with the fact that Rolex passed on an opportunity to evolve the watch. Rolex is conservative. And what can we really expect from this brand?
First off, thanks for another excellent quality video as always!
The BLNR has been my grail watch as long as I can remember and I'm on the list for it. However, I've added the Explorer II polar to my wishlist and made it my option #1. Mainly for how discreet it is. At this stage in my career, the "under the radar" Rolex is exactly what I'm looking for.
Great minds think alike 🤓 you will not deny on this one 💯
Can’t agree more
3:00 gorgeous shot. Love your videos. Pure art
Very much look forward to hearing your thoughts on the Yacht Master 40, Rolesor chocolate dial.
they should've added the 'GV' crystal on the Exp_2 to create the green halo effect (ala Milgauss) as a subtle nod to the 50th anniversary.
Rolex essentially perfected the Exp2 with the 226570, save for not including the GlideLock clasp (which they should include on ALL of their sport models) and not luming the numbers and markers on the bezel. I'm glad they kept the steel bezel. Ceramic would've sullied it. I wouldn't mind an open/clear case back either, but that's not really necessary or even advisable on a sports watch designed for spelunking, climbing and exploring.
Yep! That was my thought watching the video. I normally agree with the presenter (and his camera work is the best out there), but I think he is off the mark here. For Rolex to have made changes for the sole purpose of celebrating the 50th milestone would not have made sense. Change for change sake is not Rolex style. Incremental improvement, definitely. And I'm glad they did keep it intact since I had the opportunity to add a black dial to the collection last month, from the AD.
Also agree that the lack of on-the-fly adjustment is the true "missed opportunity". GlideLock is awesome! Fliplock from the DSSD is even better. I had a DSSD for a while and that was by far the best part of the watch. I would love to see that clasp become more standard for Rolex.
Thanks for another great video! But in this one I disagree with you. Yes, at first glance the new ref looks the same as the discountinued. But on the wrist it feels so different, its sleeker and wears much better due to slimmed down lugs and wider bracelet. Try it on and my guess is you will agree.
8:45 what is your wrist circumference for reference? Looks great!
As someone else pointed out, this isn't the newest Polar. There is no crown between the words swiss and made at the 6 and the new one has that.
Well i think the 16550 was released in 1985 and it run for a span of a good 26 years before redesigning a new look in 2011 with a 42mm case. Seriously Rolex might not have come up with a great design for Explorer 2 therefore decided to retain same look with minor changes on case size and hour and minute hands. Maybe sometimes less is more.
HJM - a beautiful video, great close up shots. ( you need a white belt ). be safe ~ JDS/CT
My ultimate grail.
The Explorer 2 is close to perfect. No need for any further changes.
It's nice they added the easy link system and the new movement with 70 hrs power reserve.
You are talking about the 2021 Explorer II (ref.226570), but in the video you are presenting older Explorer II, ref 216570. What's that all about?
Dear Hafiz, in your latest video - explorer II - there is a mistake, because it is not the new 2021 model!
The new one has a lot of changes - so it is a really 50 years modell.
Kind regards H
I know - he doesn't even have the correct model in his photos.
Awesome! Looking forward for a Rolex Day date video.
Hi Hafiz,
I owned a TAG HEUER AQUARACER but now from last many months am planning to buy Rolex but am really confused which should i buy. I want you suggestion can you please suggest me the watch which will hold the price as well.
Options:-
SUBMARINER DATE
GMT-MASTER II
YACHT-MASTER 40
ALL are in steel only.
Good luck with the waiting lists
What is your wrist size? Looks good on you
I’m not a fan of this watch, but I think it has reached exactly where Rolex wants it to be. For this reason there are so little changes. Changing just for the sake of changing doesn’t really make sense
I prefer the previous reference (#216570) with its more understated matte black dial and its shadow hands. It's the most 'tool watchesque' model in the entire Rolex lineup. One of the reasons that I love it so much. A model that hearkens back to the roots and early history of Rolex.
This video features the previous reference, the 216570. Almost every shot in the video is of the older model, not the newer 2021 version.
I've always liked the newer Explorer II's but owing to their size, they've been more of a "nice to look at" sort of watch for me. Still happy with my white 16570, my beater for 4 years now.
Around 4:25 when Hafiz started talking about how a little printing differences change the desirability of rolex’s of the same model…. that got me thinking, the value people place on the value of rolex is so superficial.
When a brand can so easily be replicated and would required experts to tell apart the real vs fake watches, that just means the real ones arent all that great.
I actually prefer the black but now without the "floating hands", I'm not tempted to wear this big boy. Show me a 40mm with some green. Agreed. Do something Rolex!
This white dial is one of my favorites, but when always wearing a 40mm GMT/Sub the crystal seems too large on the Explorer. They could have really changed the looks by going down to a 41mm case and decreased the crystal 2mm and they would have had a new and exciting update….too bad…
It’s a beautiful watch, but they have yet, apart from the 1971 original run, to achieve goldilocks proportions. The more modern versions either have hands too small or cases too big, and that was their missed opportunity. If any watch in the catalog should replace the discontinued 39mm Explorer I, it’s this one. Talk about a glorious birthday celebration.
Hey Hafiz, nice video as always!
Do you think you can start taking high Res photos of the watches and you wearing them next time as well? I think these shots would make awesome wallpapers or printed out (maybe on metal?) amazing wall art as well. Just an idea! :)
You can’t fix and is not broke … they keep it perfect 👍
Would it be worth doing a video comparing the minimum changes between the 216570 and 226570? We all hear how “amazing” the tweaks are to the new one….
If you've owned the two you would know. And yes the changes are quite noticeable when you hold the two watches side by side.
Can’t imagine a green accent there, would just be ugly.
One almost feels as if on occasion they simply will not do what everyone thinks just for that very reason. This kinda goes along with everyone predicting the Explorer going to 41 and shocking the audience with the original size and of course the two tone version. You can’t exactly accuse them of trolling us….or can you 😉
Sadly you are talking rubbish. Your personal opinion is ok we can leave that to the side because we are all entitled to one. But false incorrect statements and talking nonsense bashing it, I cannot sit and say nothing. Check the tech spec of this new release and do your homework first. Lots of incorrect facts and you have also contradicted yourself in this video. The biggest change is inside. The movement has improved to 70hrs new shock absorbers and improved magnetic resilience which is huge, resized lugs and bracelet, thicker clasp and link. plus matte hour markers and hands and antireflective coating. How dare you call this NOTHING! 😂 Do your research properly before making such false statements which are offensive to the watch community. You should do a part 2 and come clean 😂😂😂 Did you say you wanted a green bezel?! That would kill the explorer 2 range! . 😂😂😂 orange hand differentiate this from the other green bezel and hands watches in the GMT II. They would all look too similar. Less is more. Rolex nailed it with the 50th anniversary model.
lmao @ the reveal in the end !
I gotcha 😉
Make them 3mm biger than 3mm smaller in 10 years, This is rolex innovation Cycle:))
Should’ve offered a 40mm option tbh
So Beauty
0:17 was that a hair
They got rid of the floating hands on the black dial one. I’d agree that this model got a lump of coal for its 50th birthday. If you want a green dial explorer 2 look a like with a40 mm case, a steel bezel, an Orange GMT, a 72 h power reserve, and a 28,800 vph beat, there’s the Grand Seiko SBGM247 just released in November. Unlike the Rolex, no games are required to buy it from an authorized dealer. In addition this Grand Seiko is 1/3 the price of the Rolex explorer II on the grey market (the one place ordinary customers can get the Rolex).
Hey Hafiz,
I have asked Father Christmas to get you a belt this year 😂
0:17
Some hair on orange
Going back to 40mm, would have be so much better
Hafuz, nope… It’s just a design that doesn’t appeal to me as do dozens of others.
40mm it wuold have been on my wrist already. Like this it’s just too big.
Damn you have small wrists ?
@@Longshore79 no, he's just not fat like most Americans
LIKE.
You are wrong, despite the attempted slick production.
Great look at this piece. And yes the 2021 is a big disappointment. I turned down the polar a few weeks ago as it's just too big for me.
Damn how small are your wrists
This isn't even the 2021 version. Hafiz is using the wrong reference for the whole video.
You missed on this video
I went with the Rolex GMT master 2 all black even though it’s not that popular to me it’s beautiful 🤩