Check out the Rolex Explorer II over at Chronext: www.chronext.com/rolex/explorer-ii?

So happy that you told us how the features of the original served a purpose for spelunkers, like the 24 hour hand, busy dial, tritium and odd hour plots. Very informative. I used to not care about the original Explorer II, now i am obsessed.

Some amazing b-roll here on account of an incredible on-location shoot. Nicely done, Adrian!

I genuinely love your videos. I’ve started getting into the watch game a few months ago and this has been my go to channel to just see new things and have fun. I love how passionate you are about this. Sending love from Egypt🇪🇬

I took my 2003 Explorer ll 16570, black dial, up Snowdon last summer. It kept perfect time and got me back down just as the pubs were opening. I purchased it new 21 years ago and I’ve never been late for anything since. 🥂

Very well done video Adrian. Many thanks. Great that you had the opportunity to do the cave tour in Switzerland. Cheers from Montana. 👍⌚️🏔🌲

Always top notch from you, Adrian. So stoked to see the product being enjoyed! 🙏🏼👊🏼

This is such an amazing video - Thank you Adrian 👍

Great content. Love your videos. Your knowledge is outstanding. Keep them coming!

I took my Explorer 2 up Scafell Pike and into the cathedral cave in the lakes last year! - I love that white dial the most it jumps right off the wrist at you!

With a great sponsor, what can be produced is amazing. Best to you Adrian!

Amazing production value.. I hope you keep getting sponsors to make videos like this..

Nice one Adrian mate - great watch and great video as ever!!!

I love the Explorer II Polar dial! Great video, thanks for the awesome content as always!

Amazing video and just enhances my love for this watch. Hopefully get the call soon 🙌🏻

oh YES! I said i wanted more of this last time, so thank you!

My absolute favorite daily watch

Thanks for the educational video about the explorer ii. The white explorer is a grail of mine.

great content as always adrian! beautiful timepiece! greetings from australia!

Brilliant watch, and on my grail list. Thanks for sharing mate.

What an incredible video! Rolex and Tudor are gonna have a field day over this

Thx Andrew. Great vid + content. Get going on

Great call out. Picked up the 226570 black dial from my AD a couple weeks ago and I love the fact that it’s more of the outsiders Rolex. Keep the Explorer II content coming!

Great video again, absolutely love mine and love the ethos behind the watch. Refreshing it’s not all about the “popular” sports Rolex models.

Adrian, your videos are such a breath of fresh air among all the nastiness and backbiting we currently see on some of the other watch channels. Keep up the good work!

I love my 216570. It is the adventurer's choice. Reinhold Messner is one of the greatest mountaineers ever, and one of hie nicknames is "Mr. Orange Hand" due to his continued use of an Explorer II. Ed Viesturs is one of the greatest American mountaineers ever and he has worn an Explorer II on most of his summits. The Explorer II is a brilliant watch that embodies the spirit of adventure.

Well done. I own the new Polar Explorer and love it.

Another great video Adrian!

Favorite Rolex (polar Exp II). Great watch for quick glance- extremely readable for my old eyes. 39 would fit my wrist better but I’ve gotten used to the larger case.

The Explorer II 16570 was my grail for a long time, and it still tugs at me from time to time. However, once I tried the Grand Seiko GMTs…

Great video as always! Totally agree with the tool watch point.

Incredible work mate. When's this collab happening... 👀

Hi Adrian, congratulations for your videos! Is this latest, you have talked about watches for every professional excepts for the Sea Captains! Don’t you forget where are the chronometers coming from/why were they designed for? How the seafarers we have been calculating, roughly, the longitude at sea just with an almanac and a watch! Today, still, every Ship’s Bridge is equipped with a chronometer as part of the equipment. I am a fan of Ulysse-Nardin and Arnold & Son. Just a suggestion, no pressure. Love your videos and share your passion for these instruments! Keep up the good job! Cheers!

More of these kinds of videos please

Adrian, top notch content here. The cave filming was simply awesome! 👏 I will not be able to afford a 1655. I would be quite happy though with a 1999 16570 polar dial with’Swiss’ at the 6 o’clock. Looking forward to seeing your exposé on the three most recent versions.

Stunning video and very informative 👍🏻

Excellent video and review. Great to get outside and review the watch in the wild. Much better than the traditional you tube stuff. Well done on your behalf for trying something a bit different - keep up the great work.

enjoyed the episode again .. didn't know about Harry wearing them. i feel as much as part of the family as he does now :)

WOW, phenomenal video!! The only 2 Rolex I still own 216570 polar & 214270 mII, what a pair¡!!!

Beautiful photography mate! Feeling jealous :D

I’ve had my B&J nato strap on today, definitely the comfiest strap I’ve ever had.

Just a spectacular video.

Another incredible video😀

No shit man… had no idea. Killer content!!!!

The 50th anniversary Exp II is so very good!

Such an under rated piece… it’s my first and only Rolex. Love the content by the way!

I remember around 2008, back in Cyprus, my mother's cousin was wearing a 1655 and I commented on it. He told me how the Rolex service guy told him "it's old, I can replace it with a new model if you want!" I showed him the (then) prices of the used 1655 and retail of the 16570. He wasn't happy haha

Adrian: I always struggle to use the full capacity of my GMT function - for example I never knew the 24 hour hand up/down: night/day tip - thanks for that !! I also heard that you can tell the compass points with a GMT? Can you do a video to detail all the various options and use methods for the GMTs?

Love this watch! I have a white dial Hamilton khaki field which will have to suffice though (and it does so with aplomb) 🙂

Great video as always, superb filming. I love the Explorer 2 but let's face it if you were going caving (and it's not for a video) youd wear something a)cheap that you wouldn't devalue by thousands of pounds when you knocked it into a rock and b)battery powered with an illuminating screen. Anyway I've got a idea that I'm working with Rolex on, it's the Septictank master. Sh!t resistant to 100ft with a Wipe clean strap! With a bit of clever marketing and it will not be available in ADs soon! Really enjoyed the vid by the way.

Great video man ! Trying to get on a waiting list for the new explorer II polar dial for my dad at the moment! Looking fwd to your new vid comparing the last 3 models !

Epic work on this edit my man, colour grading, cuts, compositions, insane. We need to get another trip like this organised ASAP 💥🌏

As a proud owner of an Explorer II (black face) I can certainly agree with most of your statement. Thanks for the great video!

Thanks Adrian 👍

This is my favourite Rolex!

Am a subscriber. Love the channel. Great video. And agree with all the points. About 2m ago went to get one of the explorer 2's ......the dealer experience was awful. "We aren't taking names." "Have you bought from us before." "We might get one in a year." 3 different dealers..one of which is very popular for these. Just not an experience I plan to repeat in the rest of my life (Rolex lost me and my family based on this.....and our friends via word of mouth...so perhaps 100 sales or more..they just don't get it). Went to a local GS dealer. He had an SBGJ255. It is the GS version of the explorer 2. Lighter and more scratch resistant (special TI). Limitted edition of 1200 globally. Was able to buy it at a very nice price. It has lost 12 seconds in 16 weeks total...it is a high beat (36,000) auto movement with true GMT functionality...which is frankly remarkable accuracy. 100m. Ti. And superior polishing/finish IMHO to any of the Rolex's I saw in the dealer's case (that were not for sale of course...). Amazing lume and a 44gs case so very interesting to look at from any angle...haut design. In the end, I might get an explorer 2 someday...but between this GS and a Steinhardt 1655 I have had for years at 39mm, there is no need now and that dealer interaction was just awful. Rolex watches are not cheap. Rolex in my opinion needs to show buyers a lot more respect.....some of us only can afford one watch or perhaps 2....and they need to understand that the charity they represent and its mission is not something that would smile at how they market things which is elitist to the nth degree. They should tell dealers no mark-ups or no watches. Period. And if they find a grey market watch they trace the SN back and shut that dealer down for 5 years. Done. Great video and glad you are happy...but to me, the best watch is first off one that you can buy. Rolex watches are not magical things...they are mass produced to a very remarkable level of precision but they are not handmade pieces like the GS...and to that end I have no regrets. I suspect if you had purchased the SNBJ255 and not the 9f you'd have stayed with the GS....it is a much more special watch. Someone put it together and polished it to a level not seen in Swiss watches until you cross over the 50k or 100k pricepoint if then....it is silly good. That in the end has me sold on the GS and why I wear it and stare at it and know it is keeping statistically better time than a Rolex too. Three times the watch as half price street....go figure.

Awesome video, Adrian, and props to Harrison too for sticking out the cold with you guys. Unrelated ask: please start delivering to the rest of the EU, I keep drooling 🤤 over your straps and can't yet get them.

The only thing going spelunking is my portfolio. Great video!!

Awesome video!

Wish the newer ones were just a tad smaller

Spelunkingly good…👌

Iconic model no doubt

Great vid!

Never heard of Chronext, but I’m going to check them out after the video :)

So awesome! This is the Rolex to have imo. Some are just too pretentious. The older of the 2 looks perfectly understated and just the right size. Much prefer the size of the hands too and the more subtle red over the orange.

Great video!

Great video

Love how Adrian Barker pronounces the Rolexixplrorlrr 2

Great vid

So you had the bracket and the nato with you, and swapped them on site to shoot both options? Legend!!

It’s interesting that the 1655 has a bogus association with Steve McQueen when it was actually worn by one of the greatest mountaineers in history, Reinhold Messner. A truly remarkable human being who was the first person to climb Everest without supplementary oxygen. It was also worn by Peter Hillary, son of Sir Edmond, and an epic mountaineer in his own right. The 1655 doesn’t look like any other Rolex ever produced it’s my absolute favourite.

crazy video. need you to do this with EVERY HISTORICAL TIMEPIECE ever lol. next? gmt master 2 root beer?

The best and most rugged workhorse in Rolex's stable. I have used E2s since 1976.

What music do you use on your videos?

Amazing video, congratulations Adrian. I hate the fake origin story of the Explorer but I really like your Explorer love :D

I love the Explorer 1 & 2. Hope to own one eventually ( been looking for an Explorer 1 for years now). While I think they are affectionately called "tool watches" I think we have to be real. Very rarely will anyone, who actually performs the jobs these were designed, actually wears this watch for that purpose. The job can be better done with a specially designed "smart-ish" watch, or actual wrist computer. If someone is a purest and just wants a watch... it'd be done by a gshock.

I myself purchased a Rolex Explorer II 226570 (Polar Dial) new from my local AD in June 2021. I previously owned a Rolex Explorer II 16570 (Also Polar Dial) and had to have the 50th anniversary model when it was released. I have also thought the Rolex Explorer II is the best Rolex in the range. I bought a Rolex submariner 124060 (Time Only) in May this year just to own one. However if I am honest I am a Explorer II fan. In my opinion I’m is the under dog, it has the same movement now as the hard to get Pepsi GMT, Stainless Steel Case, easy to ready dial, Date and GMT time zone. Is the best all round watch and I am glad it wasn’t hyped and people haven’t Cauchy on yet. Helped me get the new model. Love it to this day and I will always say is the “Best” Rolex in the range in my honest opinion.

Thanks!

I want one too now 😍😍

My favorite Rolex. Black dial. The last true sports tool watch they make and hopefully never change it.

I agree with explorer I and II being the only tool watches, I would argue to add seadweller under that

Spectacular views inside that cave, there!!

Just wanted to say that I received my green NATO strap this morning for my Seiko 009…..very happy with the strap…..very comfortable…….so thanks very much

Hard to disagree with you Adrian when your arguments for the Explorer II were exactly my reasons to get it myself…. That, and Steve McQueen coolness😎

Bought my 16570 polar dial back in 2005 and not until 10 years later I purchased the 214270 Explorer I. I like them both but have a soft spot for my Explorer II. By the way, I've never gone spelunking nor climbed the K2 but that's okay.

Adrian where you get that gear ratio baseball cap? It’s cool!

I like the nato strap, (8:15)where did you get it?

Where's the follow up video comparing the 3 watches?

I've always loved the previous generation Explorer II. I truly regret not buying one when they were the most affordable of the Rolex sports watch line. They, like all of Rolex, have now gone out of reach.

So wish Rolex had brought out a 50th anniversary 1655 but as well as a black dial also with a crème dial like on the 16550.

Beautiful watch, but I prefer the Explorer I. By the way, my explorer would like to get a B&J 18mm shell cordovan strap but I can’t find one .. 😭 thanks for the video.

It looks so cool on a nato strap

Adrien these vids are great but how about less Rolex and some other brands like Oris and Seiko. Casio and Timex even.

The only Rolex I’ve ever wanted. I’ll keep waiting for that call.

If I were to pick any member of the Royal Family, I would definitely not pick Harry. 😂 great video!

I would say the Air King is the black sheep of the Rolex line up. It seems like every year people question why it is still part or the line up still but it still rolls on.

10 months and waiting for one. One day….

Anyone know the gray strap he's wearing with his personal explorer 2? I want that exact one lol

I have an explorer 2 21650 polar dial 2014 brand new from my AD as all my watches are. Beautiful tool watch. Nice and durable. Clean dial too. I prefer over my 2020 gmt master 2 pepsi I love that watch. I even got 3% off without even asking at the Rolex boutique in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.

Do you think Rolex will ever release a new model (like an Explorer 3)?