Rolex Explorer II Reference 16570 (from 2004/5)

This blog Rolex Explorer 2 ref 16570 was originally written in July 2020. I was supposed to get a Rolex 16570 then and have been doing some research on the variations but I ended up getting a Rolex 16610LV Green submariner instead. As such, I can only leave it as it is.

The thought of getting a Rolex 16570 constantly reappeared in my mind. This afternoon, I have managed to trade my Bi Colour Rolex for this as my guess is I wouldn't wear the Bi colour Rolex too often. The watch "fashion" is a strange one as previously, all black dial commands a premium over the white dial. Recently, the trend has change as the white dial commands a premium over the black. As I have already have the Rolex 16550 in white (turned cream dial), it is natural for me to get a black dial as I believe the fashion for black will return in a while. I am not very particular of the small variations (Swiss, SWISS T < 25, Luminova or Super Luminova etc) as my focus is more on the variations in models e.g. Explorer 1 reference 6610, 1016 (gilt dial versus  Non Gilt), Dress watch Explorer (with date, and without date), Explorer 2 Ref 1655, 16550, 16570 etc.

The Explorer model 1016 was launched in 1959. Originally featuring a gloss black dial, it was the first Explorer to be marked ‘Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified’ on the dial, and was also the first to feature minute marks which went to the very edge of the dial. The 1016 remained in production until 1989, making it the longest continually made Rolex model.
 
1971 saw the launch of the Explorer II 1655. The development of the watch led to the introduction of a metal bezel with a 24-hour time scale as well as a second hour hand. These additions further developed the ‘tool’ nature of the Explorer, as well as its practicality. The second hour hand allowed the wearer to keep constant track of daylight hours remaining, leading to its use in the field of Speleology, the scientific study of caves. 

Many watch collector was hoping for the Relaunch of the new Explorer 2 in 2021 (to mark the 50th anniversary of the Explorer 2 1971- 2021). Strangely, the launch of the new Rolex Explorer 2 did not happened. Instead, Rolex has launched a new Explorer 1 in Bi colour.

My last Rolex Explorer II reference 16550 was bought in July, 2012. I have always thought that my the cut off date for my Explorer collection will be the ref 16550 (1985-89). 

Some history to start off with from the net. In 1989, Rolex unveiled another updated version of the Explorer II with the ref. 16570. It had many of the same features of the preceding ref. 16550 with a couple of notable upgrades. First, there was the new Caliber 3185 in the earlier Explorer II ref. 16570 models. Moreover, although the dial layout stayed the same, another signature difference of the Explorer II ref. 16570 was the use of black outlines surrounding the round hour-markers on the white dials rather than the more traditional white gold ones. 

Rolex made the Explorer II ref. 16570 for 22 years (1989 - 2011) and as such, this particular reference underwent several changes over the course of its production run. The key changes are:

• Early models ran on Caliber 3185, later models housed the Caliber 3186. 
• Rolex changed the luminescent material a few times. 
• First came tritium (labeled with SWISS T < 25). 
• Then in the late 1990s, Rolex switched to Luminova and the dials are labeled with “SWISS” under 6 o’clock.
• Rolex changed to Super Luminova around the year 2000 and the dials are marked with “SWISS MADE” under six. 
• It’s also worth noting that Rolex began engraving the rehaut (the space between the dial and the crystal) of its watches with “ROLEX ROLEX ROLEX” starting in the mid-2000s as an anti-counterfeiting measure. 
• There are several types of 16570, all available with either a black or white dial:
• • 1989 to 1998 Tritium dial – expect to pay between £7,000 and £9,000.  
  • 1998 to 1999 Swiss only dial – expect to pay between £7,000 and £8,000.  These are the rarest of all Explorer IIs and again, prices are rising sharply.
  • 1999 to 2007 Swiss made dial with 3185 movement – expect to pay between £6,750 and £8,000.  These are the bulk of 16570s as production numbers were higher in the 2000s and they were made for eight years and the condition of the watches tended to be very good owing to the age..
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