Great video as always! Thanks. Quick relatively unrelated question, although it appears there may be alignment differences on these two presented in this video. How is the GMT hand alignment relative to the minute hand hitting 12 o'clock with your GMT watches? I just got my first GMT, a Monta Skyquest Gen 1.5, and the GMT hand hits the GMT bezel number (or rehaut) about 2 minutes before the hour hand hits 12. According to Monta this is "within spec". Any thoughts?

What a great video! I can totally relate to you, mate. Love my 16570. There's a huge value proposition with this watch.

Great comparison and great timing for myself. I'm currently considering a new Explorer 2 versus the black on black GMT Master 2 for my first Rolex. I feel like the Explorer 2 in the current iteration would be a no-brainer for me, but the sizing gives me a little pause as well.

Both great watches can't really go wrong with both. I absolutely love the 5-digit references from Rolex, I always said it brings the best of both modern and vintage worlds. Looking to add the 16570 to my collection some day.

I got an Explorer II polar like yours, which I bought brand new in early 2003. When I bought it was because I really liked it. As a matter of fact, of all the Rolex collections available, that one exactly was the one I liked best, regardless of price. I only like stainless steel watches. I still enjoy wearing it a lot, specially with a black and red stripe Rubber B band that I got, the type that uses the Rolex clasp. I love it! Wouldn’t change it for any, including the modern ones.

Both watches are beautiful! I love the color on your Explorer II. I really like having a rotating bezel for timing, though…it’s amazing how much I use it on my BB58. As I write this, I’m thinking my perfect watch could be your Exp II, without a GMT function, with the same steel bezel, except rotating & marked for timing. There really is no perfect watch for me!

I’ve gone through this exact same situation in my mind. I like the older Pepsi/Coke bezel models over the newer ones.

Great video

I don't own any Rolex watches but the 42mm Explorer II polar dial and orange GMT hand is my favorite one

I own the black ExpII and wear it on a new glide lock bracelet. It fits perfectly but is a little heavier than the original bracelet. I owned a black ceramic GMT II and sold it…didn’t live the maxi-case. I think they could both coexist in the same collection.

Add a jubilee bracelet to the GMT Master and you have double the combinations too. This makes it the most versatile Rolex out there. Love both. Enjoy.

Have to agree. I have a 16570 Explorer II like yours with a Swiss-only polar dial and a 3185 movement. It's a bargain compared to the GMT Master II 16710. Really difficult to justify the extra ~£5k for a different bezel. I'm planning to try for a new pepsi from my AD but that won't be easy. They're open for root beer now which is encouiraging but not pepsi.

Love the Explorer 2. The fact that it wasn't always that popular makes me love it even more .... Good choice mate 👍

Wasn’t aware of the bezel switching option with Rolex, that’s nice

I own both the new models and find myself wearing the EXP 2 99%of the time. The GMT is nice but the PCL is a fingerprint magnet. I just feel a certain way when wearing it, having to clean it and wipe it down. The EXP 2 on the other hand is a non issue and it is carefree for me. So I can forego the bezel and the PCL. EXP 2 is a one and last watch to own.

I've been a huge Explorer II fan since forever and also what's interesting is that despite costing substantially more I see way more people wearing the GMT rather than Explorer II. I'd say I see only 1 Explorer II for every 7-8 GMT in the wild.

The E2 has always been my preference. Not because of fashion or aesthetics, but because of it's ruggedness and achievements. It's the tool watch that Rolex is known for. No two tone models or embellishments of diamonds. It's purely functional. I first remember seeing it in a National Geographic magazine ad being worn by volcanologist Haroun Tazieff at the edge of an active volcano. A watch a man can wear to the ends of the earth. The ad mentioned he wore it on the outside of his fireproof suit. As a 10 year old kid, that was pretty cool, or shall I say hot! I thought that was a great piece of kit to have. I'd also seen GMT ads with pilots wearing them but as a kid seeing a man in a white short sleeve business shirt sitting in a cramped cockpit didn't appeal to me as much as an outdoor adventurer. I also didn't find the coloured bezel attractive. Even at 10 years old I thought it looked tacky. Then many years passed and I got interested in watches, of course the GMT was more in your face and popular. I learned to like it under influence. Also my uncle was a property developer and an export importer. He wore a solid gold root beer. I associated the GMT with wealth and high status. But the E2 was still the more adventurous watch for me. Not much is understood about the E2. When you learn about it's achievements you appreciate it more. This is one such story. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/pbCepZuftLmwnZc.html

Both mega pieces but I recently bought a 16570 from 2002 and can’t be more happy :)

Great content 👌

Explorer 1 is my absolute favorite watch but I would like to add a GMT at some point. If they had kept the newer exp ii at 40 it would be a harder decision for me but that's not the case (pun intended).

Your white cap match the white Explorer II (both Benz logos)

GMT II .

You also forget to mention that the gmt gives you 3 time zones whereas the explorer only two, but i also prefer the explorer 2, i own a 16570 black and i love everything about it , and it is also a more unique watch , the gmt for me doesnt deserve the 4-5 k difference, with that money you can grab a 14000 air king for example and have a two great piece collection.

Same watch... differnt dial color and bezel...

Same watch different bezel and color of dial

One is a PanAm company watch, the other isn’t 🤷‍♂️🤣

If you held me at gunpoint and i had to choose between the two, i'd definitely pick the Explorer 2. Yes, Thomas Magnum wore a GMT-Master but since i don't live in Hawaii, there's no reason to wear an ugly overpriced watch. The Explorer 2 is the way cooler piece. That being said, without a gun to my head i'd NEVER pick a Rolex just because i don't like their marketing with the inavailability and the waiting lists. It's ridiculous. I'd always prefer the Sinn 857 UTC or a way more fun Farer!

Lol. Just like OP and Explorer. Same shit different disguise

We all know which one Magnum P.I. would choose.. 🏝🥸🚘🚁🛥🏖 Saying that, I used to own a GMT Master II but I actually sold it a long time ago. Now I have a black dial 42mm Explorer II and I absolutely love it.