I have to say the 40 mm is the sweet spot for me with wear ability but I think this dial is far more superior. Great Bday present. It is def the most utility watch of the all the Rolex models.
I owned it for 3 months. I waited this for 10 years, for some reasons, but never forget it from my wishlist. It.s so special as you mentioned. My 6.5 inch wrist surprisingly suited well. Thanks for your superb clip review. Nice picture!
I just got my polar dial 226570 a week ago and am absolutely in love with it. Initially wanted the black dial sub but am super glad I went with the explorer II instead
Congrats! Such an awesome journey to get this piece. This is my favorite Rolex design but the dimensions look too large for my wrist. I have the wrist to handle it but because the dial is large and the endlinks aren’t female it just looks too big to me. I’m waiting for the update on the BBpro and hoping for a white dial since that fits my wrist perfectly but is just to thick right now.
The dial is the exact same diameter as the dial on the Black Bay pro I own them both and have measured them. Definitely an optical illusion it sure does look bigger but it isn’t, the extra girth is in the bezel/case.
I am in the boat of this being a total banger of watch but wishing it was brought back down to a size 40mm. It wears larger than the Omega SMP 300M Diver, despite both being a 42mm case size due to it's lugs. Rolex makes perfect 36mm (DJ, Explorer, OP) and 40mm (Current-Master 2, 16570 Explorer 2). Wishful thinking would be having both a 40 and 42 Exp2, or discontinuing the 42 and replacing it with a 40mm.
great video, great watch...tried it on yesterday at an AD and I liked it even more than on pictures and videos......gonna get me this watch in the next few weeks....prices are now just a tad over MSRP on the grey market, so I´m just gonna pay the +/- 500 € premium and get it immediatly, not gonna play the waiting game.
Glad to hear that you are getting the watch you want without playing silly ad's games, I can see rolex being sold at the ad's with 10percent discounts in the next 12months people will be offloading their watches like crazy which will bring down prices, good luck with your watch and wear it in good health my friend
@@Andy-ys8sj Ah, just bought one yesterday, 10.350 €, so 450 € over MSRP.....waiting and denying yourself to enjoy wairing it immediatly is more expensive than paying this "small" premium :-), it should arrive be the end of this week. Well let´s hope prices will keep coming down....that would be great, Cheers!
@@marcod.r.3299 glad to hear that you have gotten the watch you wanted, enjoy it, wear it, and be proud of the milestone of having a beautiful piece that you can pass down, all the best Andrew
I have the 40mm and the previous 42 versions. A 40.5mm would have been perfect for my 7.5 inch wrist (in my opinion). The gloss finish on the hands has never been an issue on the previous model. Either way they are all great!
The cerachrom bezel on the GMT's and the Sub look cheap to me for some reason. The steel bezel on the Explorer 2 makes me feel like I can bump this around with no worries! I also enjoy the weight of this watch! It feels very expensive. It 's a fun watch to wear because you can wear it in any scenario (i.e. grocery store or office) without feeling like an a**hole! Lastly, every sub feels "dainty" and small after wearing this watch alot. Not sure if you've had the same experience. Nonetheless, great review and great choice!
It looks great on you congratulations!!! I I got mine 2 months ago and I love it, perfect watch for summer vacation and casual events, it’s a very masculine watch full of testosterone and ready for anything
You want your dream Rolex? Here is the secret 🤫. Buy other watches! Works every time. Shorty after you do and you’re watch broke, you’ll get the call. Never fails.
Enjoyed your video. Been thinking about adding an Explorer II (polar) with the updated movement to go with my 50th Anniversary Sea Dweller. Also like the GS GMT Spring Drive you showed
Technically the new Explorer 2 is a good watch. But when it comes to wearability and aesthetics the modern Explorer 2's just can't compete with the 16570.
Congratulations! I got a small flat 16 cm wrist and it fits comfortably. I worn the watch when I ran a marathon in Antarctica. The legibility of this watch shone throughout the expedition!
@@BrokeWatchFanatic Yeah it’s just a bit galling when it’s already in worse condition than a Tag Carrera I bought 16 years ago and wore daily for 12 of them. But hey, this is life 🤷🏻♂️
Greatest watch ever! I traded my 216570 Polar to fund a 126613LN from Rolex and my watch collection always felt empty, I was able to get the call after 1 year wait for the 226 Polar and couldn’t be happier, they’re my only watches in the collection and it’s given me 0 desire for any future watches. If one day I had to only keep one watch the Polar is it! Enjoy them both cheers 🍻
I don't know why people criticize the size of the Explorer II 42mm. After all, the size of a watch is a matter of taste. Some prefer smaller watches on the wrist, while others like huge ones. Just look at other manufacturers like Omega, Breitling, there are sizes 42, 44, 45mm and no one complains, but in the case of Rolex everything revolves around the Submariner. If something looks different it's ugly or if it's bigger it's too big. It's ridiculous. We'll wait a bit longer until we see the new Submariner 42mm and see if anyone criticizes it.
Just curious how many links you removed & which of the 3 positions you have the buckle micro adjustment set too? I can’t seem to get the perfect fit on mine
Congrats! I have also been considering the GS SBGE285 and have several GSs. How do you think it compares to the polar explorer. I am debating between the two.
The SBGE285 is the more elegant piece and the Explorer II being more sports. Finishing on both is quite excellent. Explorer II has a better bracelet and clasp, but the GS wears smaller and lighter (obviously, titanium). You can't go wrong honestly. Good luck!
Sorry but if you look under micro rolex finishing is terrible for the money, a Chinese company called San Martin won a finishing and metalwork comparison with rolex and they cost three hundred bucks. I'd go with gs, better finishing better dials better movements and half the price plus you can actually buy them. No brainer
So I ended up with an SBGN005 as an impulse buy. Was in Toronto and the AD had one of the last new ones around. Got a nice deal, plus favorable exchange rate. Was a no brainer. Scratches the itch for less than 1/3 of the price. Sure it quartz, but it’s the best quartz made and lifetime serviceable.
It is nice. But 52mm lug to lug is too big for a holiday watch for me skiing, outdoors etc This watch should have a glidelock too. A 39mm Pelegos with GMT would be a sweetspot though.
I am on the "wait list" for a black dial Explorer 2. If anyone has purchased one in the last 6-12 months, could you tell me about how long you had to wait for one?
Watch is a beauty until it went on my wrist. I wish it was 40 or 41. I wear some large watches. I even have a 48mm Chronomatic. The lugs are 21mm not 22.
Ugly? Lol!!! i have the 226570 and most compliments I received from family and friends was for this model (my collection stands at 7 models and includes (another) Rolex, Omega, Montblanc, Bulgari, Girrard Perregaux). It seems to me as if this black sheep narrative has morphed into a self-replicating online meme.
Yet another overrated Rolex. There is too much negative space on the dial which is too big. It looks too big hanging off your skinny wrist at 4:57. I don’t like the clasp. Easy link is lame tech. I prefer caller gmt to flyer/traveller gmt. Cyclops is ugly. There bezel is a bit oversized. The crown guards are silly. The price is ridiculous. There is not a lot to like with this watch. But hey it says “Rolex” on the dial and that makes all its issues magically go away.
Dumb comment! Replicas are trash worth 0 in secondary market and feel nothing like the real thing. Even homages are way better than replicas, replicas are for losers
![Kodak Black - Sharp Vibes [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/oEV0OoLJeIs/mqdefault.jpg)
I love this watch, what strikes me the most is its comfort, its slim, very well proportioned and refined
Very thin for a GMT movement as well.
Had my black one for two years.. awesome watch.. reliable, well weighted and functional. Those that know know…
Agreed!
..know that it wears badly on sub 7.5 inch wrists.
I have to say the 40 mm is the sweet spot for me with wear ability but I think this dial is far more superior. Great Bday present. It is def the most utility watch of the all the Rolex models.
This dial in the 40mm would be superb. Thank you!
Totally agree
My wife bought me a 16570 for my 40th birthday. That was 15 years ago. I love and cherish my watch.
Love hearing these stories!
Underrated watch . I have the black version and love it
Killer watch as well!
Agreed, I have an OP 41 and a GMT Root Beer and my black Explorer II gets the most wrist time.
I owned it for 3 months. I waited this for 10 years, for some reasons, but never forget it from my wishlist. It.s so special as you mentioned. My 6.5 inch wrist surprisingly suited well. Thanks for your superb clip review. Nice picture!
Thank you! I’m glad you finally got it after all those years of waiting! Congrats! 🎊
I just got my polar dial 226570 a week ago and am absolutely in love with it. Initially wanted the black dial sub but am super glad I went with the explorer II instead
You made the right choice! Now go get that sub too lol
@@BrokeWatchFanatic hoping that’ll be my next milestone piece!
You dont have to play the build relationship game with AD as 226570 can be had for a pretty good deal in grey as it dip below retail now
My favorite Rolex. One of the reasons is the perfect size for men.
Congrats! Such an awesome journey to get this piece. This is my favorite Rolex design but the dimensions look too large for my wrist. I have the wrist to handle it but because the dial is large and the endlinks aren’t female it just looks too big to me. I’m waiting for the update on the BBpro and hoping for a white dial since that fits my wrist perfectly but is just to thick right now.
Thank you! A white BB pro would be awesome, with the thinner movement please, Tudor, make it happen!
The dial is the exact same diameter as the dial on the Black Bay pro I own them both and have measured them. Definitely an optical illusion it sure does look bigger but it isn’t, the extra girth is in the bezel/case.
I also own an Explorer II and love it - such a underrated watch. i feel it's a mixture of a GMT and Daytona
I love me a good contrast dial, what an incredible watch! Congrats!
Thank you!
Thanks for the video. I’m considering the Exp II for my 6.75 inch wrist and have been going back and forth given its lug-to-lug.
As was I... Glad it was helpful!
Congrats on your Polar! I agree with all your points. This was my second allocation after getting a BLNR and it gets tons of wrist time.
Thank you! BLNR... wow!
I am in the boat of this being a total banger of watch but wishing it was brought back down to a size 40mm. It wears larger than the Omega SMP 300M Diver, despite both being a 42mm case size due to it's lugs. Rolex makes perfect 36mm (DJ, Explorer, OP) and 40mm (Current-Master 2, 16570 Explorer 2). Wishful thinking would be having both a 40 and 42 Exp2, or discontinuing the 42 and replacing it with a 40mm.
That would be my ideal Explorer II as well. 16570 case with the 226570 internals.
great video, great watch...tried it on yesterday at an AD and I liked it even more than on pictures and videos......gonna get me this watch in the next few weeks....prices are now just a tad over MSRP on the grey market, so I´m just gonna pay the +/- 500 € premium and get it immediatly, not gonna play the waiting game.
It surprised me on how well it fits me. That’s not a bad premium! Best of luck!
Glad to hear that you are getting the watch you want without playing silly ad's games, I can see rolex being sold at the ad's with 10percent discounts in the next 12months people will be offloading their watches like crazy which will bring down prices, good luck with your watch and wear it in good health my friend
@@Andy-ys8sj Ah, just bought one yesterday, 10.350 €, so 450 € over MSRP.....waiting and denying yourself to enjoy wairing it immediatly is more expensive than paying this "small" premium :-), it should arrive be the end of this week. Well let´s hope prices will keep coming down....that would be great, Cheers!
@@marcod.r.3299 glad to hear that you have gotten the watch you wanted, enjoy it, wear it, and be proud of the milestone of having a beautiful piece that you can pass down, all the best Andrew
Wearing a 216570 black dial every day since more than 12 years and so happy with that watch 😊Great in every aspect for me !
I hope I get to enjoy it for as long as you do. 🙂
I love the polar dial!
Congrats on a lovely piece for your milestone!
Thank you!
I feel the same way and favour mine over my Sub date also, it’s a great piece and a relative bargain in the Rolex market, a real sleeper.
Weirdly, the sub has become the dressy piece for me…
@@BrokeWatchFanatic I know what you mean but I have a two tone DJ41 for that role, but the Sub is a good halfway house between the two.
I have the 40mm and the previous 42 versions. A 40.5mm would have been perfect for my 7.5 inch wrist (in my opinion). The gloss finish on the hands has never been an issue on the previous model. Either way they are all great!
Agreed 💯
I've had my Polar for about 6 months now and also got it for my 40th! I absolutely love it.
Twins!
@@BrokeWatchFanatic :)
The cerachrom bezel on the GMT's and the Sub look cheap to me for some reason. The steel bezel on the Explorer 2 makes me feel like I can bump this around with no worries! I also enjoy the weight of this watch! It feels very expensive. It 's a fun watch to wear because you can wear it in any scenario (i.e. grocery store or office) without feeling like an a**hole! Lastly, every sub feels "dainty" and small after wearing this watch alot. Not sure if you've had the same experience. Nonetheless, great review and great choice!
💯! My sub feels very small after wearing this one a lot.
It looks great on you congratulations!!! I I got mine 2 months ago and I love it, perfect watch for summer vacation and casual events, it’s a very masculine watch full of testosterone and ready for anything
You want your dream Rolex? Here is the secret 🤫. Buy other watches! Works every time. Shorty after you do and you’re watch broke, you’ll get the call. Never fails.
42mm is the sweetspot for me.
Best watch ever ❤
Couldn't agree more!
Enjoyed your video. Been thinking about adding an Explorer II (polar) with the updated movement to go with my 50th Anniversary Sea Dweller. Also like the GS GMT Spring Drive you showed
Thank you! I hope it works out!
Technically the new Explorer 2 is a good watch. But when it comes to wearability and aesthetics the modern Explorer 2's just can't compete with the 16570.
You’re right. The size on the 40mm is a lot more manageable.
@@BrokeWatchFanaticpas quand c’est aussi bien proportionné
Congratulations! I got a small flat 16 cm wrist and it fits comfortably. I worn the watch when I ran a marathon in Antarctica. The legibility of this watch shone throughout the expedition!
Marathon in Antarctica?! Must have been nice!
Yes! One of the craziest thing I ever done! Enjoy your watch! I love mine a lot!
Great video, thank you. I love the Explorer II but I’m surprised at how easily I’ve scratched it considering its “tool watch” moniker.
The beauty of tool watches is that it looks just as good if not better with scratches. Or at least we like to tell ourselves that lol
@@BrokeWatchFanatic Yeah it’s just a bit galling when it’s already in worse condition than a Tag Carrera I bought 16 years ago and wore daily for 12 of them. But hey, this is life 🤷🏻♂️
Greatest watch ever! I traded my 216570 Polar to fund a 126613LN from Rolex and my watch collection always felt empty, I was able to get the call after 1 year wait for the 226 Polar and couldn’t be happier, they’re my only watches in the collection and it’s given me 0 desire for any future watches. If one day I had to only keep one watch the Polar is it! Enjoy them both cheers 🍻
Thank you! Enjoy yours as well! 226>216. 🙂
It’s the last tool watch by Rolex. It hasn’t been updated with precious metals like the Explorer 1 (two-tone). Thanks for the video!!
Thanks!
Love mine too, juat picked it up and I love the totoughness and legibility. Also the Luke is awesome. One rugged looking adventure ready watch!!
Good choice twin! Congrats!
Did you buy the GS mistflake from the same AD that called you a month later for the Exp 2?
No I did not. It was purchased elsewhere.
Great video editing
Thank you!
One of my favorite models, congrats!
I don't know why people criticize the size of the Explorer II 42mm. After all, the size of a watch is a matter of taste. Some prefer smaller watches on the wrist, while others like huge ones. Just look at other manufacturers like Omega, Breitling, there are sizes 42, 44, 45mm and no one complains, but in the case of Rolex everything revolves around the Submariner. If something looks different it's ugly or if it's bigger it's too big. It's ridiculous. We'll wait a bit longer until we see the new Submariner 42mm and see if anyone criticizes it.
It’s amazing how people make the 1mm difference seem enormous.
Lovely watch, my next one to add to the collection 🔥
Agreed friend, this and the no date sub. Are the only tool watches that rolex have left, the rest are blingy fashion watches
Just curious how many links you removed & which of the 3 positions you have the buckle micro adjustment set too? I can’t seem to get the perfect fit on mine
I removed two links. Micro adjustment is at the middle point with the 5mm extension shortened. Hope you get the perfect fit!
Great video. Underrated in my opinion.
Thank you 🙏
Congrats! I have also been considering the GS SBGE285 and have several GSs. How do you think it compares to the polar explorer. I am debating between the two.
The SBGE285 is the more elegant piece and the Explorer II being more sports. Finishing on both is quite excellent. Explorer II has a better bracelet and clasp, but the GS wears smaller and lighter (obviously, titanium). You can't go wrong honestly. Good luck!
@@BrokeWatchFanatic can’t go wrong…..In the watch world that translates to….going to buy both!
😂😂
Sorry but if you look under micro rolex finishing is terrible for the money, a Chinese company called San Martin won a finishing and metalwork comparison with rolex and they cost three hundred bucks.
I'd go with gs, better finishing better dials better movements and half the price plus you can actually buy them.
No brainer
So I ended up with an SBGN005 as an impulse buy. Was in Toronto and the AD had one of the last new ones around. Got a nice deal, plus favorable exchange rate. Was a no brainer. Scratches the itch for less than 1/3 of the price. Sure it quartz, but it’s the best quartz made and lifetime serviceable.
What an awesome piece 🤘🤘🤘
Great review!
Thanks!
How long is your wait at the AD? Is it cheap than the gray market?
I believe it was a month or two? The 226570 is slightly above retail if you go gray.
It is nice.
But 52mm lug to lug is too big for a holiday watch for me skiing, outdoors etc
This watch should have a glidelock too.
A 39mm Pelegos with GMT would be a sweetspot though.
Pelagos GMT could be in the works after seeing the BB58 GMT…
Too big? It may be too small. I would love mine even more if it's a +45 mm.
Have u tried it on NATO? The E2 looks so good on straps
I haven’t. But one day I definitely will!
Adrian Barker’s Explorer looks good on it.
This is a very nice watch. Congratulations!
Thank you very much!
I sold the black explorer 2 216570 and bought the new submariner, now i want it back.
Now you have the option of the 226…
@@BrokeWatchFanatic yes that is certainly true, I am thinking about it because that model is very attractive.
I am on the "wait list" for a black dial Explorer 2. If anyone has purchased one in the last 6-12 months, could you tell me about how long you had to wait for one?
I got this 9 months ago. Took a couple of visits and about a few weeks. Check out my video on getting a Rolex for my 40th. Best of luck!
Purchased mine about two months ago now. Took me one week for my beautiful Black dial Explorer II !!!! Had no purchase history neither
A beautiful watch, I own a 2003 & a 2022 model both with black dials. The 2022 is still unworn and will probably stay that way.
A work of art 🖼️.
I actually find it a beautiful watch (esp the white one)
I love it 😍
Have you experienced the 32xx low amplitude problem?
No, I don’t have a timegrapher.
The Explorer 2 is the only Rolex I like. 40mm max.
Very nice review, thx!
Thank you!
Watching the video and looking at my polar… 😍
I do the same while watching other explorer II video reviews lol
It’s not the Polar Explorer’s fault that it makes dainty wrist “men” feel intimidated. It’s a grown man’s watch. The ladyboys can enjoy their GMTs.
Was shocked when ppl called it large. Thought it was rather small...
It’s actually weirdo douchebags like YOU that make men feel like “men.”
HI
I thought the lug width on this watch was 21mm
It's slightly under 22mm.
Watch is a beauty until it went on my wrist. I wish it was 40 or 41. I wear some large watches. I even have a 48mm Chronomatic. The lugs are 21mm not 22.
Yes, the 16570 is a lot more manageable.
Adrian barkers explorer 2 couldn’t handle a rock 😂
That was painful to watch lol
Very nice video!
Thank you very much!
The ONLY Rolex I want. One day…👍
Let’s make it happen!
16570 polar is the one
Love the proportions on that one.
Ugly? Lol!!! i have the 226570 and most compliments I received from family and friends was for this model (my collection stands at 7 models and includes (another) Rolex, Omega, Montblanc, Bulgari, Girrard Perregaux). It seems to me as if this black sheep narrative has morphed into a self-replicating online meme.
Totally dislike the look of the Explorer ll. However, as the old cliche goes, “choice is the spice of life.” Or, to each his own. Lol 😅
Your wife paid for your explorer ll? Wow, lucky fella!
Indeed I am!
gmt master II bruce wayne over this!
Yet another overrated Rolex. There is too much negative space on the dial which is too big. It looks too big hanging off your skinny wrist at 4:57. I don’t like the clasp. Easy link is lame tech. I prefer caller gmt to flyer/traveller gmt. Cyclops is ugly. There bezel is a bit oversized. The crown guards are silly. The price is ridiculous. There is not a lot to like with this watch. But hey it says “Rolex” on the dial and that makes all its issues magically go away.
The caller GMT does have its advantages!
The trouble with ROLEXS they look like replicas. I can’t believe people pay all that money for a imperfect product, ie the finish.
Dumb comment! Replicas are trash worth 0 in secondary market and feel nothing like the real thing. Even homages are way better than replicas, replicas are for losers