Three Explorer II references are worth buying in 2026. Which one fits you depends on your wrist size and your budget, and the answer isn’t the same for every buyer.
The Explorer II is the quietest steel sports Rolex in the lineup. It costs less than the GMT-Master II and doesn’t have the Submariner’s everywhere-you-look familiarity. The current production reference sells above retail, but two pre-owned references sit well below that price.
This Rolex Explorer II buying guide covers every reference worth considering, current 2026 grey market prices, and a response to the 42mm debate. Read through to find the right pick for your wrist and budget.
Difference Between Rolex Explorer I and Explorer II
The Explorer I is a three-hand time-only watch. The current references are the 124270 in 36mm and the 224270 in 40mm. Explorer I is cleaner and easier to dress up or down than Explorer II.
The Explorer II adds a second time zone through an independent 24-hour hand and a fixed 24-hour bezel. Case sizes run 40mm on older refs and 42mm on the current 226570. The independent hour hand is what makes it a real GMT watch rather than a day/night indicator.
The Explorer II earns the size if you travel across time zones. The Explorer I is easier to wear daily if you don’t. If you’re still deciding between the two before committing, our Explorer I buying guide walks through where each reference sits. The rest of this guide assumes you’re going with the Explorer II.
3 Rolex Explorer II References Ranked for 2026
Your pick comes down to wrist size and budget. The three references below are ranked by who they fit best.
1. Ref. 226570 — Best for Current Production Specs
The 226570 is the right buy if you want the latest movement and the cleanest warranty path. It’s the current production reference, so it’s also the only one you can get new.
Quick specs:
- Case: 42mm steel
- Movement: Caliber 3285 with Parachrom hairspring
- Power reserve: 70 hours
- Accuracy: -2/+2 seconds per day
- Dial options: White Polar (lacquer) or black
Rolex introduced it in 2021 for the Explorer II’s 50th anniversary. The Parachrom hairspring (Rolex’s blue alloy) handles magnetism and temperature swings better than older steel hairsprings.
If you’re torn between the two dials, our Polar vs black breakdown covers how each ages and what the resale gap looks like.
Current pricing on the 226570 sits below its 2022 peak but still above retail. See the price section below for the full picture. Getting one from an authorized dealer requires a purchase history with that dealer. Without that, the pre-owned market is your path.
2. Ref. 16570 — Best for Wrists Under 6.5 Inches
The 16570 is the right buy if the 42mm case is a concern, or if you want the best value-to-wearability ratio in pre-owned.
Quick specs:
- Case: 40mm steel, lug-to-lug ~46mm
- Movement: Caliber 3186 (post-2007) or 3185 (pre-2007)
- Hairspring: Parachrom on post-2007 examples
- Production: 1989 to 2011
The 40mm sits flatter and doesn’t push past the wrist bone. Lug-to-lug is approximately 46mm versus the 226570’s ~48mm. On wrists under 6.5 inches, the difference shows up fast.
Both calibers are reliable, but post-2007 variants are worth a small premium for the Parachrom hairspring’s magnetic resistance.
Current pre-owned prices are $8,000 to $12,000. The white dial version sits at the higher end. It’s still available below what you’d pay at an authorized dealer for the current 226570.
3. Ref. 216570 — Best Value in the Explorer II Family
The 216570 is the best buy if you want modern Explorer II specs without paying the 226570 premium.
Quick specs:
- Case: 42mm steel
- Movement: Caliber 3187
- Dial: Maxi dial with broader hands and larger indices
- Lume: Chromalight
- Production: 2011 to 2021
This reference reintroduced the orange 24-hour hand the 16570 had dropped, and it brought the Maxi dial. Chromalight is Rolex’s blue-glowing compound, brighter than the Super-LumiNova on the 16570.
The 216570 sits in an awkward market position: too recent for collector interest, too old to be current. That works entirely in your favor.
Pre-owned prices are $10,000 to $14,000. The visible difference between a 216570 and a 226570 is small, mostly the updated handset and slightly refined case lines. For a daily-wear buyer, the 216570 is the rational pick.
The Explorer II 42mm Size Debate
Forums have been arguing about the 42mm Explorer II since the 216570 launched in 2011. Almost all of them skip lug-to-lug, which matters more than diameter on a watch this shape.
The cutoff is 6.5 inches. Below that, the 42mm is a real concern. Above it, the debate is mostly noise.
The 226570 and 216570 measure 42mm across, but the lug-to-lug is approximately 48mm, shorter than most 42mm sports watches. The Oyster bracelet also sits flat against the wrist, so the watch looks smaller than its specs suggest.
On a 7-inch wrist, the 42mm Explorer II is fine. On a 6.3-inch wrist, the overhang is real. Most of the loudest complaints on r/Watches and Rolex Forums come from people who tried one on for five minutes at a boutique. People who’ve worn the watch daily for six months tell a different story.
If your wrist is under the cutoff, the 16570 solves the problem. If you’re above it, don’t let the forum debate steer you away from the 226570.
Rolex Explorer II Prices in 2026
Prices have come down close to $4,000 since the peak, which matters when you’re planning a $10,000 to $16,000 purchase. Grey market prices on current Rolex sports watches peaked in 2021 to 2022 and have been falling since. The Explorer II is one of them.
The 226570 hit $17,000 to $19,000 at peak demand, roughly double retail. Today, unworn examples are $13,000 to $16,000 against a $9,350 retail price. That’s the closest the current model has come to retail since launch. If 2022 prices put you off, this is the window.
The 16570 and 216570 pre-owned prices have held steady. The 2022 hype never touched them.
Here’s where the three references sit pre-owned.
| Reference | Case Size | Movement | 2026 Price Range | Best For |
| Ref. 16570 | 40mm | Cal. 3185/3186 | $8,000 to $12,000 | Tight budgets and wrists under 6.5 inches |
| Ref. 216570 | 42mm | Cal. 3187 | $10,000 to $14,000 | Modern lume and Maxi dial without the 226570 markup |
| Ref. 226570 | 42mm | Cal. 3285 | $13,000 to $16,000 | Latest movement, warranty path, current production |
Full sets (original box, papers, spare links) add $500 to $2,000. Worth paying for the 226570. It reduces authenticity risk and improves resale value. If you’re weighing an example without papers, whether a Rolex without box and papers is worth it is its own decision.
Explorer II vs. GMT-Master II
Most buyers cross-shopping the Explorer II have already considered the GMT-Master II and want to know if they’re leaving something on the table. Your choice depends on whether you’re buying to wear or to resell.
GMT-Master II — Higher Entry Cost
The Batman (ref. 126710BLNR) and Pepsi (ref. 126710BLRO) both carry $6,000 to $10,000 more in grey market premium than a comparable Explorer II. The GMT-Master II is more recognizable, which makes it easier to sell quickly when you want out.
If you might sell within two to three years, the GMT-Master II holds its value better. The Submariner and GMT-Master II have more buyers and quicker sales, so the Explorer II isn’t the right pick if resale performance is the goal. If the Submariner is on your shortlist too, our Submariner vs Explorer II breakdown covers the differences in detail.
Explorer II — More Distinctive on the Wrist
The Explorer II’s fixed bezel means fewer moving parts than the GMT-Master II’s rotating ceramic bezel. There’s nothing to wear down or scratch over years of daily use.
The Polar dial doesn’t appear on any other Rolex sports model. You’ll see fewer of them than Submariners or GMT-Masters. Collectors on r/Watches and Watchuseek consistently call the Explorer II the most undervalued steel sports Rolex in the current lineup. The GMT-Master premium inflates its sibling’s price without adding that much watch.
Budget is the deciding filter. The Explorer II gives you the same Rolex sports build as a GMT-Master II for $6,000 to $10,000 less. If you’re keeping it long-term and not planning to flip it, the Explorer II is the better watch at the lower price. Buy it because you want to wear it.
Rolex Explorer II Red Flags Before Buying Pre-Owned
Each reference has its own verification problems. Here’s what to check on each.
Ref. 16570
Three things to check, in order:
- The case. Original 16570 lugs have sharp angles. Heavy polishing rounds them off. A polished example isn’t ruined, but price it that way.
- The dial. The lume must match the serial year. Pre-1998 dials use tritium, marked “SWISS – T < 25” on the dial. Post-1999 dials use Super-LumiNova. If they don’t match, the dial has been swapped during a service.
- The bracelet. Solid end links only appear post-2000. A pre-2000 serial with solid end links means the bracelet isn’t original.
Ref. 216570
The 216570 is newer than the 16570, so service-swapped parts matter less. The issues here come from years of daily wear:
- Bracelet stretch. Hold the bracelet vertically by the clasp. If it sags, the links have stretched and the bracelet needs a Rolex service to tighten. What an Explorer II service actually costs is worth knowing before you take on a piece that’s overdue.
- Dial fading on the black variant. Some black 216570 dials shift slightly brown or gray after years in the sun. Even though it’s not a fake, it affects resale, so price it that way.
Ref. 226570
The 226570 is current enough that counterfeit dials are the real concern:
- The Polar dial. It should look slightly warm and evenly toned across the face. Fakes look bright white and flat under direct light. Compare it to a known-genuine example before buying if you can.
- Movement photos. Ask for photos of the movement with the caseback removed, not just photos of the closed caseback. Any dealer who handles Rolex daily can send them. If they say no, walk away.
Across all three references, buy from a seller with a written authenticity guarantee, like Majestix Collection, and a return window of 7 to 14 days. That’s long enough for a third-party check.
Where to Buy Authentic Rolex Explorer II Watches
Once you’ve landed on a reference, where you buy matters more than what you pay. A clean watch from a sketchy seller costs more in the long run than a well-priced one with a real guarantee behind it.
The red flags section above covers what to inspect on the watch itself. Separately, the seller should hand over the paperwork: full provenance on the box and papers, and service history (Rolex-stamped if available). Verified transaction history matters too. Look for completed sales, a published return rate, and reviews that name specific transactions rather than generic praise.
A seller who balks at any of those isn’t the seller to buy from. Verified transaction history matters too. Look for completed sales, a published return rate, and reviews that name specific transactions rather than generic praise.
With that baseline, here’s how the three main channels stack up.
Online Marketplaces — Best for Selection
Three platforms cover almost everything you’d consider:
- Chrono24. The largest watch marketplace. Its Trusted Checkout holds payment in escrow and covers authenticity disputes, but the protection only kicks in if you use it. If a seller asks you to pay outside the system, don’t. What to watch for on Chrono24, from verified dealers to response patterns and escrow rules, has its own checklist.
- eBay. Covers Rolex purchases over $2,000 under its Authenticity Guarantee. The catch: their authenticator spots outright fakes more reliably than replaced dials or polished cases. For an Explorer II, check it yourself.
- Grailzee. Timed auctions, watches inspected before listing. Prices can go either way, so set a hard ceiling and read the inspection reports before you bid.
Specialist Dealers — Best for Pre-Owned Verification
For the 16570 and 216570, the red flags are in the details: polished cases, swapped dials, period-correct bracelets. A specialist dealer is safer than a marketplace listing. A dealer who handles those references day to day can spot whether the lume matches the serial year and whether the end links are correct.
At Majestix Collection, we buy and sell pre-owned Rolex, including current and discontinued Explorer II references.
Every watch is inspected in-house and listed with serial year, dial variant, and service history laid out clearly. If we don’t have what you’re after, we’ll tell you that rather than pivot you to something we do have.
Authorized Dealers — Best for New Production at Retail
Getting a 226570 from an AD takes an established purchase history. Some buyers report 6 to 18 month waits; others find no list at all depending on their market and dealer. The payoff is the $9,350 retail price, which is $3,500 to $6,650 below current grey market. We break down AD vs grey market trade-offs in a separate guide. If you need the watch now, the pre-owned market is the realistic path.
Final Thoughts on the Rolex Explorer II Buying Guide
This Rolex Explorer II buying guide comes down to three references and one filter: budget. The 226570 is the pick for current production and the latest movement, the 16570 fits wrists under 6.5 inches and budgets under $12,000, and the 216570 is the best value for modern specs without paying the 226570 markup.
The case against the Explorer II is the GMT-Master II’s stronger resale. The case for it is everything else: a lower entry price, a fixed bezel with nothing to wear down, the Polar dial that no other Rolex sports model carries, and the fact that it’s the quietest steel sports Rolex you can wear daily without drawing a crowd.
We recommend that you wait 3 to 6 months if you can. Grey market 226570 prices have been trending down each quarter since late 2024. And on the 16570, double-box examples add $400 to $600 over papers-only sets at resale, so paying up front for the inner box pays back later.
If you’re still mapping the broader Rolex sports lineup before settling on a reference, our complete Rolex buying guide walks through where each model sits. When you’re ready to commit, browse our current Explorer II inventory to see what’s in stock.
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