The NEW Rolex Explorer 36mm vs the Previous 39mm - Smaller But Better?
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- Опубликовано: 15 июл 2024
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I think a lot of enthusiasts - myself included - were caught off guard when Rolex released the new 36mm Explorer Ref 124270 earlier this year. However, other than the change in size, the new Explorer seemed more or less the same as the older variant. So what I wanted to do was to do a side-by-side comparison of the outgoing 214270 and the new 124270. They are of course very similar watches at the end of the day, but for me, they make two totally different statements.
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The 36mm was always my dream watch. I got on a waiting list towards the end of 2020 because I was scared the 39mm was going to 41mm. When it was announced, I called my AD immediately, who told me that the person ahead of me declined the 36mm because they deemed it too small. I am soooo glad he did that because I now have the perfect watch for me.
How long were you on the waitlist?
1 year wait?
@@silveriver9 I waited 10 months for my 124270. Is that worth a question mark as well?
@@cliffwheeler7357 everyone wait 10 months
I waited a couple of months for my 124270 in 2022 which must’ve been a stroke of luck, now I come to think of it
The perfect watch size has everything to do with the size of your wrist. The best size is different for different people.
Nailed it!
I own a 36mm gold Seamaster from 1968 and my relatives think it costs thousands...
A 42mm watch does Not make a good Rolex alternative!
I perfer 39 for my thin wrist
Boom!
Exactly! On my 18 cm wrist, it looked… girly. The extremely tapering bracelet even emphasised that feeling.
My silver dial Tudor BB 36 however looks pretty masculin on that same wrist. Dimensions don’t tell the whole story.
I have 39 Explorer and for mi wrist of 18cm is perfect
I think that 214270 is the number one watch for every day and every situation ❤
Personally, I am with Ernest Hemingway. Smaller watches are for real adventurers. You can‘t drag a dinner plate on your wrist around, when you conquer the last fronteer.
Nailed it!
Amen
Lol
Correct 👌
Best comment 🙌
I just picked up my new 36 mm Explorer from the AD a week ago. It's watch perfection for a guy with smaller wrists like me. Absolutely love it.
The 2021 explorer is probably my first and last explorer. I love this watch and I feel no need to get any other Rolex. Especially not at the prices they’re trading
I just picked mine up a month ago. I’ve always been a Sub guy. It took about a week to get used to the size. Now I absolutely love it. I put my Sub on a week ago and took it off after 4 hours. It feels like a tank. The Explorer is so comfortable and beautiful. Under the radar. To me perfection!
That Explorer 36mm looks perfect on you Teddy. I have a 7.5in wrist, and own a Speedmaster but I'm selling it. I've just realised that despite my wrist, I definitely prefer small watches. My Casio F91W is perfect and I think it's around 34mm! It's all personal preference and I have no idea why people get so thorny about this issue.... calling it a girls watch or whatever. Wear what you like! It really doesn't matter...I can't wait to get this watch one day. It is almost perfect (apart from lack of micro adjust and not as versatile with straps due to the 19mm lugs, but more importantly due to the design of the case with grooves where the bracelet meets the case)
Thanks for the video, Teddy, another great one. It seemed like the reviews had died down implying that people had chosen their “corner” and made up their minds. I was fortunate enough to get a 124270 immediately after it’s release and have seldom taken it off. It was an adjustment from my 41.5mm but the weight, balance, and comfort make this a watch that I don’t forget I’m wearing and yet it instantly felt like a part of me. I agree with most that they’d be happy with either, but I’m glad Rolex brought back a classic.
I wouldn’t call it a reduction to 36mm as much as a reinstatement of 36mm.
Owned both sizes, sold the 39mm… now I am passionate about the 36mm. Such an extremely beautiful watch with all boxes ticked! One problem, I cannot wear my 40mm GMT, 41mm Sub and 43mm SD anymore. Just getting so much used to this size 😟 ( 7” wrist and it fits perfectly…)
I have the same problem. I can’t wear my gmt anymore after getting the first 36 I bought 2 more..
Same
I literally have the 41mm 126613LB Sub, the 214270 39mm Explorer, and a 40mm Day-Date and I hardly wear them these days 😢 but it’s because I also got used to my 36mm Explorer and black bay 36. Now my watches feel too large. I’ve really only been using my 36mm, 38mm and my Daytona…
This is in some way an antithesis to today’s modern offerings by Rolex. I have a 114270 from the early 2000’s and I grow to love it more with each day
I have one from 2002 and prefer it over the new 36mm model, as in my opinion the 20mm lug width is more proportionate than the 19mm.
@@heiner71 agreed. The proportions are perfect
Idem 😊
I have the same watch...model 2004...
The explorer 1 in 36mm is a perfect watch. I know, I have the hottest of takes that no one has ever thought before. On a serious note, an outstanding video as always Teddy.
Thank you my friend! Appreciate you for tuning in as always.
From the description Teddy does, the 214270 is the perfect one.
@@TeddyBaldassarre any chance you could make a video on watches made to be worn on the inside of the wrist with rotated/angled/slanted face and crowns on top of the watch (e.g. driving/racing watches)... like VC American 1921 etc.
After a lifetime of wearing watches, once You'll get beyond 60 years young & still going strong, most people realise they just need a simple classic time only wristwatch!
“Simplicity & Subtlety are the ultimate sophistication”
You are correct sir.
Thanks for the excellent work, Teddy. Very extensive work, appreciate it.
Great job Teddy - well thought out educational content as always.
Sold my 39 and got the new 36 in may. Fantástic one piece collection. Perfect watch. Congrats Teddy!
He didn’t mention price range - what did u get it for price range wise if you don’t mind ?
What a mistake !
Interesting. I also had the 39mm Explorer and sold it shortly after I got the call from my AD and bought the new reference. Now I am the proud owner of the new 36mm Explorer. What a great watch. The Explorer is not only a GADA watch but is also supremely comfortable so you can wear it all day, every day.
I like the darker black on the dial.
That was a dumb move.
I own both the 124270 and 214270 Mk2 and adore them both. They are my only Rolex watches and although I always planned on moving one on once I identified my favourite, it ain’t happening! Just to add, the new 124270 has AR coating on the underside - something the 214270 and other Rolex don’t have.
The explorer is the best rolex. The size and proportions are perfect. I often wonder how the modern version would look with the traditional chestnut colour to the nrs and battons....for sentimental reasons I think that would be a winner
As per usual Teddy another fantastic video. I’d love to see something similar on the new datejust models. Another classic which I feel doesn’t get the love it owed. Same case and water resistance as the explorer and equally as robust in a more stylised package.
I was fortunate enough to purchase the 39mm and for me and my sleek wrists, dimensionally it strikes the perfect balance between appearance and function. Just the right size to appreciate the beautiful dial and luminescence!
Picking up my Explorer 36mm tomorrow & looking forward to it. My Sub sometimes feels too flashy on casual days.
Great comparison. Love the 36mm!!! I just got one from my AD and it is STUNNING! I believe the hour markers are slightly larger than the previous 36mm models, as well.
Thanks for another fantastic video, Teddy. What interests me most about this watch is the question whether the width of the bezel has been shrunken in the same proportion as the overall width of the watch. To me it seem that the bezel on the new 36mm variant has proportionally become thinner than the one on the 39mm variant which would be great. Quite a few Rolexes, especially from the DateJust, have bezels that are just too wide and let the watch seem boxy, at least IMO.
Excellent episode Teddy. I feel the same, the 36 mm when seen in person and side to side with other modern watches looks small. Perhaps on the wrist might take some time to get used to if at all.
As a request, I would like to see an episode dedicated to the impressive Caliber Heuer 02 and the lines that use it (Carrera, Autavia and Heritage). An improvement from the highly regarded calibre 1887 (GPHG winner!). Thanks
Sir Edmund Hillary was 6ft 3in tall. If a 36mm watch can go up Everest, it’s good for me. Put your insecurities aside, 36mm is a great size for many many people.
I agree with everything you said, the new 124270 is the perfect one for me . Fit , size , looks and movement are stunning!
I had a Submariner Date 126610 and swapped it (w/some money received) for an Explorer 124270. The Explorer is infinitely more comfortable, just my personal experience though.
This has to be the best thing from Rolex in the last year. Fact.
Agreed
Totally
I’ve always like the 36mm more and had planned on getting the 114270 but when I saw that they return to the 36mm I was ecstatic
I got the call from my AD last month my 36mm Rolex Explorer was in store and ready for collection. I'm delighted with the watch which wears very well on my 7 inch wrist. Well worth the 4 month wait. One downside is that I've fallen out of love with my 41mm Omega Sea Master... it's just too big out of the water for my wrist size.
I prefer the 39mm, although I appreciate the 36mm. The 36mm is SMALL. I think people think 36mm Datejust or DAY-DATE but the new Explorer is more of a 35mm and does clearly wear smaller than all the other 36mm offerings from Rolex. The smaller bracelet adds on top of that. If you want a very conservative old school aesthetic, then the 36mm will cover that but its the anti-thesis of modern from a size standpoint. The 39mm isn't big by any means, which needs to be factored in as well. It's not like we are talking about a small vs large watch, more of a really small vs moderately sized watch.
Another thing to point out, the modern 36mm is not going to look exactly like the 5 digit references. The markers and handset have all been beefed up, so it's going to have even less empty space.
Nice video! Nice comparison, as always! Thanks
IWC launched the smaller Big Pilot recently, and Breitling has been launching some vintage inspired watches that are much smaller than what they were making the last 20 years. With the Explorer, Rolex went back to the original size, but I can't really think of another model (from any brand) that would need to go back to the original size. Even the Cartier Tank is still offered in its small size.
Went to my AD for a Wimbledon but the retail waiting list is big. Said I liked the explorer and 2 months later he called me due to lack of demand for it. Was a bit skeptical about the size at first but after 2 weeks of use couldn’t be happier with it. It just Looks amazing. Still on the list for the Wimbledon which shouldn’t arrive before the end of the year.
I traded in an OP 36mm from 2009 for an Explorer 1 114270 from 2004 with my trusted watchmaker. He had the 114270 and the 214270 mk1 dial, I actually tried both. The 39mm compared to the previous 36mm definetly has better finishing and the clasp is amazing, but the size of the 36 just works, and the dial at 39mm feels too big. And that's with my 18.5mm / 7.25inch wrist. I think the new 36mm is amazing, but i prefer the slim lugs the previous 114270 has.
I really love the content of Teddy Balthazar, keep up the good work!
I'm a big guy and always loved the explorer, but the 36mm just didnt look right on me hence all my Christmases arrived when the 39mm was launched- hallelujah. . To me it's a perfectly proportioned watch. Either way they are both beautiful watches and the explorer is THE Rolex tool watch.
Teddy kindly telling us that the 39mm was the one. A future collector item. Love my 214270 🙏🏻
Teddy, you are really working hard to deliver a lot of videos and consistently with a such quality of content.👏👏👏
now folks with smaller and larger wrists have options! both are great, really surprised how values on these aren't greater given some OPs are pushing 15K... the bezel on the explorer's always been more sleek than the domed bubbly shape on an OP or DJ. the double lock clasp is also "better' than the OP and DJ. the most versatile piece in the rolex collection hands down...
I thought the 39mm was discontinued. So there is only one option, or you'd have to buy preowned.
Condom ring bezel on the OP
@@pasquale78 I have both the 36 and 39 now. The 36 mm fits me better and is a home run, but the 39mm is also a home run. ⚾️
Best watch of all time IMO (if only they’d toy with a cream colored linen dial of some sort, that might be cool).
I bought the DJ 36mm wimbledon for my first rolex, love it so much, which really good
Thank you for another great video Teddy...now I want the 39 more 😊👍
I have a 1016 and wouldn't swap it for anything in the current catalogue. They have missed a trick, undoubtedly the mechanism is better than mine, if they had installed a domed sapphire I think they would have got nearer to capturing the essence of what the 36mm watch was originally. The polished acrylic looks so much better than flat sapphire. I dont have really small wrists but 36mm looks good to me.
Great video. Loving the 36.
Btw content and videos are really top notch these days. Really excellent content
I have the 39mm explorer and I love it it’s been my favourite watch along with my Tudor pelagos...
Options are welcome. To each their own. I'm a small guy with small wrists and the 36mm sits perfectly and it's not too heavy. I've always loved the explorer design and even the simple OP. Sometimes simple is beautiful.
The comparison the world (and me) didn't know it needed. Great work!
Good video , great footage and review
I own a Explorer 1 ref 114270 Z series I love today just as much as I did when I bought it in 2007. Just walked in my AD and said wrap it up. I know those days are gone sadly. I love the 36mm because that's the original size the Explorer was conceived in but didn't have a issue with it in 39mm
Brilliant move by Rolex to return this iconic watch to its original size. I had my AD place me on the list for one yesterday.
Thanks for such a great video Teddy. What watch is on your wrist in this video? Thanks.
Having had an Explorer 1016, I welcome the reduction to 36mm. Rolex is affirming the classic dimensions. Let the others play size games; Rolex is affirming the standard. Good vid. Keep at it!
Or they know where the money is and they're catering to the Asian market.
@@mtmatt6111 Rolex has not, in recent years, been accused of slipshod marketing.
@@markbyrum4743 - don't know if it's slipshod to have sports offering that would be more appealing to a huge consumer base (I am making an assumption though that the smaller watch would be more appealing in these countries).
@@mtmatt6111 Your racism is showing. Asian watch companies like Seiko makes 40+mm watches on a consistent basis. Rarely do they make small watches.
Going to a ladies size watch seems crazy.
Love my 2017 Explorer, got it for 40th birthday and daughter born within a few weeks of each event.
I have relatively slim wrists, but still think my 39mm Explorer looks perfectly balanced. It's still a sporty watch, so it should have some wrist presence. Currently on 'the list' for a Datejust and there I went for the 36mm version because it's more dressy and I feel like it looks less refined in the larger sizes.
I haven’t seen one IRL yet, but I’m surprised that I prefer the 39mm because normally I like smaller watches. I like the older 36mm models but not this one.
I have the previous model OP 36mm with the blue 3,6,9 dial. Paid retail with no waitlist. Good enough for me and the case is chunkier than the new Explorer 36mm.
Beautiful comparison video!
Ive been considering an explorer lately so this video came at a perfect time!
Good luck at getting one at retail..
Go for it man
Nice vid, Teddy, thanks.
Teddy, The 36mm looks better on your wrist than the 39mm. I’ve always liked the smaller cases. Thanks
Between the 36mm Explorer and the 39mm Explorer, the MOST versatile GADA watch is the Tudor Black Bay Heritage (36 or 41).
How about 34mm any thoughts?
Hey Teddy! Great vid once again! Now I own the 36mm 124270 and I absolutely love it. The 39mm 214270 just had a dial that was too big for me. Like you touched upon, the dial diameter is bigger than most dive watches for instance. One thing you didn’t mention and what was decisive for me is the balance on the dial. Moving Explorer up like the (1)14270 and 1016 makes the layout just more balanced and right.
I feel the Explorer 39mm was the perfect size and the only reason i decided to purchase this watch. I have a feeling this discontinued version will only continue to go up in price and more specifically the MK II version.
Was only in production for like 4 yrs
8in wrist gang over here. I wish I could pull off a 39mm watch. I've actually tried this on at a grey market spot and passed on it. Funny how the grey market shops at your local malls and outlets are flooded with Rolex watches while the official AD's have empty display cases. What a shame.
I’m a 36mm person myself, but 39mm is great for larger wrists.
I had an itch. I already owned the MK2 but always had an itch on owning the 36mm and was “fortunate” when the AD called to let me know the new 36mm was mine I couldn’t pass on it.
So I boxed away my 39mm and started wearing the 36mm for 4 months or so.
As I write this message I caught up with the 39mm and there is one big issue with the 36mm that I can’t ignore and it is the aggressive narrowing of the bracelet.. the 36mm face is perfect but the lugs and bracelet let it down :(
I went to my AD who had only an exhibition 36mm Exp 1 so I tried it on for size. It looked like a freckle on my wrist! Of course I was wearing my Panerai that day so that didn’t help! Lol I need to go back with a clean canvas to see if I feel any different. If not it’s 39mm for me!
Hi Teddy. First want to say you are a badass and I love your channel. I really like the look of the Explorer, but 36mm is just way too diminutive for my large wrist. I’d probably look into getting one if it was 42+ mm, but I’m not even sure if such an Explorer is made.
I’m in PA and been on the waiting list for sub date 41mm or polar 41mm. Do you know where I can purchase one of these ?
For me with 7 & half inch wrist my 39 is perfect! Had it 10 years now.
I purchased the Two-Tone 124273, I guessed right that the higher price turned the waiting list rush away. I waited 3 months! It is a stunning watch, the best all around watch one could imagine. Teddy, as a matter of fact, this watch would be ideal for you. You would not take it off!
Nice one, I am considering the two tone Explorer too. Do you thinks it’s appropriate for daily wear (office and casual wear)? Also does the yellow gold element scratch and get dings much easier than the steel elements given its a softer metal? Cheers
@@rezar6894 Gold can be buffed out easily. Yes, it can be worn every day, and I do so on a more that regular basis. Around the home, wear a baseball cloth wrist band over the watch to protect it while I do chores.
The 124270 is my Rolex grail! Only thing I wish was different was if the "Explorer" text was on the bottom.
Beautiful review.
I adore the Rolex Explorer, but 36mm is just too small for my wrist - I am 6'3" and can only JUST get away with a 39mm watch! 40 or 41 mm is pretty much the perfect size for me, but I would snap a 39mm Explorer up in a flash - if they weren't commending such high prices at the moment.
36mm literally would look fine on your wrist
Watches should look proportional to your wrist and body. Just like watches that are too big, too small looks silly also.
I'm literally the same size. 36-38 bezeless looks fine. 41-42 with bezel I find also looks proportional
Teddy please can you make a review of seiko presage line including their prestegious power reserve line. Thanks
An important context is that Rolex can sell any and all of its steel watches in any size it chooses to make them. Once the OP 39mm as discontinued, it was highly likely that the Explorer would follow. Notwithstanding CNC, at the volumes Rolex makes its watches, I would imagine that it still makes sense to have some rationality to its case sizes. While I generally applaud any trend to making smaller watches, actually, the 39mm case size was a very nice size to have in the Rolex range. And if the quid pro quo for a 36mm Explorer is a 41mm OP instead of a 39, to me that's a very bad bargain.
The only mistake they made on the new 36mm is the word “Explorer” moving to 12 instead of 6 o’clock. Symmetrically the 39mm looked better but the actual case size of the 36mm is way better than the old oversize case.
Omg totally agree
Yes that looks very ugly, so crowded on the upper part of the dial
yes lol why??
def not a mistake, it matches the 1016 and heritage of this watch.
@@deroy08 it contradicts everything that I learnt about Typography in school. Space between text is actually rest for your eyes.
36mm way too dainty for me, personally, on 7.2 inch wrist. It wears very small. Love my 39mm 214270. Will stick with that! :-) 39mm wears great in person, and is less ‘bloated’ than photos suggest. Also, the new 36mm is too text-heavy in top half of dial imho: Word ‘Explorer’ better at bottom. Both great watches though, no doubt!
This. If I wanted a 36mm explorer, I would've bought a vintage one. Like the 39mm way more. 36mm oyster perpetual in white is great though
36 is the king
6.5 inch wrist here, and 39mm is still the right choice for me. 36mm just feels too small for modern times.
@@Milofchg I’m looking down at my 39mm and it looks pretty refined to me :-) The Speedy wears much larger in my experience, granted mainly due to its thickness.
I've the 114270 and it always seems like the best size of this watch. Not sure why.
Great production values
Love the titling.
I can wear either size. I may be a bigger guy as a 6’0 195lb weight lifter but my wrist are medium sized at 7 inches. Personally I prefer the symmetry of the 36. I think 39 and up is better for diver style watches that are supposed to be bigger. To each their own though.
Was lucky enough to pick up the 124270 Explorer a month or so ago from the local AD here in Aberdeen, Scotland. I have a 6.75" wrist and absolutely love it; very understated and can be worn on any occasion. I work in subsea engineering and frequently work on board saturation diving vessels here in the UK North Sea. The people that work on these vessels tend to be huge watch enthusiasts, due to their profession, and it's not unusual to see various submariners, sea-dwellers, seamasters etc. whilst on board (many of which do get used by the divers at the bottom of the North sea!) and so it was nice to share a non-dive watch with my peers for a change. Next time I'll maybe take my Tudor BB58 (black) to blend in better. Absolutely love both!
How long did you have to wait and what was your purchase history?
No dinner plates or walk clock in the wrist,but to each is own,I have a date just 36 and a Rolex air king 34 love them both
Teddy!😃 I have not seen the 36mm version although it seems small. The 39mm seemed perfect.
This 36 mm and tapered bracelet is one of big step for innovation, I think. It appears more sophisticated looks than before. And, absoultely its users' band has been increased. Women's market, too.
I want buy the 36 mm Explorer. Its the original!
Awesome Video!
Teddy, your brand image is so strong that I found the thumbnail of this on google images and instantly knew it was a video you made.
About a week ago, a local AD had both the steel and two-tone Explorer in his window, so I ventured inside, ready for disappointment. And while I was indeed disappointed when we came to the matter of waiting periods ("definitely not in '21 and I couldn't even tell you when/if you'd get it in 22"), the watch itself was outstanding. Never had a 36mm Rolex on my wrist, or come to think of it, any 36mm sports-watch, so I, sort of, tried out both sizes (using a Daydate 40 as a stand-in for the larger size). On my 17cm/6.75in wrist, the 36mm simply looked perfect, size-wise. Judging by the 40, I'd say the old 39 Explorer wouldn't be too large for me, but now that I've tried it, I think I'd always go with the 36 for this type of watch. There's just something so old school and, yes, understated about the Explorer in the smaller size.
Teddy, could you make a video about the best exhibition casebacks?
Awesome intro / hero roll!!!!
Great stuff
With 7.75" wrists, the size actually becomes more of a conversation starter than a larger watch. I have a vintage military watch that is 36mm, which looks like a bottle cap on my wrist. Despite its dimensions, I wear it at least once a week and to the office. The two other collectors in the office have talked about it regularly with me. The reason I mention this is to say the dimensions of the new Explorer aren't a show stopper for me. What is a show stopper is the lack of a glide-lock bracelet. That's just a sin on the part of Rolex. I wear the bracelet on my Hulk at least once a month (mostly on a RubberB or nato) and it's one of the best bracelets out there. It's too bad a cost cutting measure rears its head on a sports watch that is meant to have versatility to conditions that lend your wrist to swelling/shrinking to the environment. Thanks for the great review.
It has the micro extension which should be fine to cover shrinking and swelling. The glidelock was designed for more radical adjustments in combination with diving suits.
Yes, where does this sit? It's not in my nearby store.
36 Explorer will always and forever be my dream watch. It’s a watch that is attempted to be emulated in many sport models. And although there are significantly better value options at a lower price point, something about the explorer always calls to me. It just strikes me as the closest thing to a perfect time piece.
It is perfect. In my opinion, the greatest watch of all time.
I enjoy 36mm but mainly vintage - the 39mm explorer wears very well- has doubled in price though !
Hi Teddy. I hear frequently people saying I got Rolex Explorer 124270 from 2023 or 2022. I got mine a few days ago from AD and I am confused when I hear that. Are not all 2021 since is the launch year? It might be a difference between same model but different years? And if so is a way to spot the production year for it? Thank you
Although Rolex supplied watches to many of the Everest summit expeditions, including the one Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay went on, both Hillary and Norgay were carrying Smiths when they summited. Something Rolex would rather you not know.
I hear is was in a pocket, a test to make it back ok. There was no explorer back then, more like an op
@@Jay-xr3sb That's another myth, neither men had a Rolex on them when they summited Everest. Hillary said he carried a Smiths to the summit, which was just the vernacular at the time.
Good luck getting one. I have been waiting all year.
I understand their intention to differentiate it from oyster perpetual but the proportion wise I prefer OP36.