The Rolex Explorer II was built for places where daylight gives no clue to the hour. Its 24-hour hand, read against a fixed 24-hour bezel, tells day from night in a cave or a polar summer. Every pre-owned Explorer II we offer in Athens is inspected in our independent workshop before sale. Listings with a price are in stock. Those marked "Price upon request" are references we can source to order.

Rolex Explorer II ref. 226570 — GrecoWatch Athens Rolex Rolex Explorer II 226570 Explorer II Polar Ref. m226570-0001 11.300,00 € Inquire ->

Buying a Pre-Owned Rolex Explorer II in Athens

Five references make up the Explorer II line, and the first job is knowing which one you are looking at. The 1655 of 1971 has a 39 mm case, an acrylic crystal and a large orange 24-hour hand that cannot be set separately, so it does not read a second time zone. The 16550, introduced in 1985, added a sapphire crystal, a white dial option and an independently set hour hand. The 16570 followed in 1989 and ran to 2011 with a 40 mm case and a black or white Polar dial. The 216570 of 2011 moved to 42 mm and brought back the large orange arrow. The 226570, introduced in 2021, keeps 42 mm with calibre 3285 and about 70 hours of power reserve.

Across every generation, originality counts for more than polish. Dial, hands, crystal and bracelet should all be correct for the period, and the calibre should match the reference. Five checks separate a correct Explorer II from one assembled from parts.

  • Match the calibre to the reference: 1575 in a 1655, 3085 in a 16550, 3185 or 3186 in a 16570, 3187 in a 216570 and 3285 in a 226570. A mismatch points to swapped parts. A 16570 with a 3186 (from about 2007) should also have an engraved rehaut, the inner bezel ring.
  • Test the setting. From the 16550 onward the hour hand should set independently while the 24-hour hand keeps home time. On a 1655 the hands are linked, which is correct. A slight wobble of the 24-hour hand while setting a 3185 is a known quirk, not a fault.
  • On a 16570, check that the marking at 6 o'clock fits the year: "SWISS - T < 25" for tritium (1989 to 1997), "SWISS" for LumiNova (1998 to 1999), "SWISS MADE" for Super-LumiNova (1999 to 2011). A mismatch suggests a replacement dial.
  • Take care with a 16550 sold as a cream or rail dial. Rolex replaced many cream dials during servicing and altered versions exist, so check originality and provenance. Genuine cream dials usually carry tritium lume.
  • Tell a 216570 from a 226570 by the reference on the case and papers, and by the calibre, 3187 or 3285. The 226570 also has narrower lugs and, on the white dial, matte black PVD-coated hands and markers.

Rolex Explorer II Price and Time Zones

How much is a used Rolex Explorer II?

Price depends on the reference, the dial, condition and whether the box and papers are present. A listing that shows a price is in stock at that price. For a reference marked "Price upon request", message us on WhatsApp at +30 697 546 1445 and we will tell you what we can source.

Can the Explorer II show a second time zone?

From the 16550 onward, yes. The hour hand sets independently, so the 24-hour hand can keep home time while the main hands show local time. With a fixed bezel, it reads two time zones, not three. The original 1655 is different. Its 24-hour hand is linked to the other hands, so it tracks day and night but not a second time zone.

Before you view one, read our guide to buying a Rolex Explorer. If you already own an Explorer II, we buy and trade Rolex watches in Athens, and our independent watch workshop services them with original parts and a written 2-year warranty.