Rolex has just presented its latest innovations this week - always eagerly awaited. Among the 2021 “cuvée”, an evolution of its Explorer II. A Rolex Explorer II 226570 replica watch which hardly changes visually, but whose case and bracelet have been slightly redesigned and which, above all, accommodates the caliber 3285 which allows a power reserve of 70 hours. Change in continuity.
As the Rolex Explorer II celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, all fans expected a new version, and many imagined a new benchmark with a ceramic bezel ...
Paradoxically, this is the reason why there will probably never be Explorer II with a ceramic bezel, because this material, although scratch-resistant, can break in the event of a violent impact! However, this Professional is worn by adventurers, explorers, scientists in extreme conditions ... Hence this steel bezel which certainly scratches, but does not break.
That being clarified, this is not strictly speaking a new model but simply a slight facelift associated with a new caliber. However, the reference changes from 216570 to 226570.
Before going any further, let's briefly review the history of this essential model in the Rolex catalog since the 1970s… And more exactly in 1971 with the creation of the Oyster Perpetual Explorer II, the famous and much sought after nowadays, “ref. 1655 ”, nicknamed by collectors“ Steve McQueen “Freccione” ”; even though the Hollywood star never wore it ... But that's another story.
The dial
With its highly legible dial and the introduction of the date, a 24-hour hand and a fixed graduated bezel, the Oyster Perpetual Explorer II then opens up new horizons for exploration and becomes "the »New benchmark for adventure professionals, especially speleologists.
Today, exactly fifty years after its creation, the Oyster Perpetual Explorer II is therefore getting a slight facelift associated with a new caliber. Overall, “on the outside”, the watch remains the same. The visual differences are really slight. You need to have both references in hand to really see the evolution between these two Explorer II.
The case
Its Oystersteel steel case (formerly the 904L) is water resistant to 100 meters and still displays the same diameter of 42 mm (there are only two references of this size at Rolex, the second being the Sky Dweller). Its bottom lined with fine grooves is hermetically screwed down using a special tool; only watchmakers authorized by Rolex can thus access the movement.
The Twinlock winding crown, fitted with a double sealing system and protected by a shoulder cut into the caseband, is screwed securely onto the case. As for the crystal, surmounted by the Cyclops magnifying glass at 3 o'clock for a better reading of the date, it is practically scratch-resistant sapphire.
The variation presented displays a white lacquered dial, on which the indexes with black coating by PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) technique and the black lacquered hour, minute and seconds hands are distinguished by a matt finish (vs shiny in previous versions. ).
The 24-hour hand retains its iconic orange color (its shape evokes that of the 1971 model), the color in which the name "Explorer II" has been inscribed on the dial since 2011. Now, and it's a shame, in the dial version. black, this hand loses its "phantom" characteristic (the hand seemed to "float" with the end of its stem black like the dial).
We therefore find exactly the same orange needle in both white and black versions. The hour hand is independently adjustable by jump, providing a GMT function in conjunction with the 24-hour hand and bezel.
The Explorer II also benefits from an optimized Chromalight display. Once the watch is dark, the intensity of the blue glow emitted by the indexes and hands is maintained for longer thanks to the innovative and exclusive luminescent material with which they are filled or covered. In daylight, the white tint of these display elements is more vivid.
The movement
This “Explo II” is equipped with caliber 3285, a movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex, unveiled in 2018 and introduced on the model this year. This self-winding mechanical movement has been the subject of several patent applications. It incorporates the Chronergy escapement, patented by Rolex, which combines high energy efficiency with great operational safety.
Made of phosphorous nickel, this escapement is insensitive to magnetic fields. This movement also includes an optimized version of the blue Parachrom hairspring, produced by the brand in a paramagnetic alloy which also makes it up to ten times more precise than a traditional hairspring in the event of impact.
The blue Parachrom hairspring is also fitted with a Rolex end curve, which ensures regularity of rate in all positions. The oscillator is mounted on Paraflex shock absorbers, developed and patented by Rolex, which once again give the movement resistance to
increased shocks. Thanks to the architecture of its barrel and the superior performance of its escapement, it has a power reserve of around 70 hours.
Like all Rolex watches, the Oyster Perpetual Explorer II benefits from the Superlative Chronometer certification, redefined by Rolex in 2015. This title attests that each watch that leaves the brand's workshops has successfully undergone a series of tests carried out by Rolex in its own laboratories and according to its own criteria.
These certification tests cover the watch as a whole, once the movement has been fitted, so that its superlative performance on the wrist in terms of precision, water resistance, automatic winding and autonomy can be guaranteed.
The precision of a Rolex Superlative Chronometer is thus of the order of –2 / + 2 seconds per day - the rate tolerated by the brand for a finished watch is much lower than that admitted by the Official Swiss Inspection of chronometers (COSC) for the official certification of the only
movement.
The Superlative Chronometer status is symbolized by the green seal attached to each Rolex watch and is backed by a five-year international warranty.
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