Rolex Explorer II: 16570, 216570 or 226570, prices and differences (2026)

The Explorer II is the sporty Rolex recognisable by its orange 24-hour hand and fixed graduated bezel, yet one you see far less often than the Submariner or the GMT-Master II. Three modern generations share the pre-owned market: the 16570, the 216570, discontinued in 2021, and the 226570, produced since. To the eye, the difference between the last two is slight; on the spec sheet and in prices, it is not. Here is what sets them apart, what each is worth in 2026 according to our data, and how to choose.

A tool watch of its own

The Explorer II was launched in 1971 for cavers and polar explorers, who needed to tell day from night without the sun as a reference. Its fixed 24-hour bezel and orange hand give it its own identity in the range. Since the 16550 of the mid-1980s, the hour hand can be set independently, making it a true second-time-zone watch, a function close to that of the GMT-Master II, but with a bezel that does not rotate.

This discretion has two consequences for value. The Explorer II does not enjoy the spectacular premium of the most sought-after GMT-Master II. In return, it remains accessible and often trades close to its retail price, making it a connoisseur's watch rather than a speculative one.

Three modern generations at a glance

Before them, the 1655 "Freccione" (1971 to 1985) and the 16550 (1985 to c. 1989) belong to the vintage market, where dial and hand originality decide everything. The 16550 has the profile of a transitional reference: produced for a short time, it introduced the independent hour hand before the long career of the 16570.

The 16570: the classic

Produced for more than twenty years, the 16570 is the most widespread Explorer II on the market. Its 40 mm case, slim lugs and discreet 24-hour hand make it an easy watch to wear. Over its career it went through many small changes: the luminous material on the markers, bracelet end links, lug holes and, in the final years, the calibre 3186 with Parachrom hairspring in place of the 3185.

Two points specific to the 16570:

• The white dial can turn slightly cream over time. Some buyers look for this tone, others refuse it: check that the colour is even and free of spots.
• Dials replaced during servicing are common on older examples. A service dial changes nothing in daily use, but it weighs on the value for a collector looking for an original watch.

The 216570: the discontinued reference

Launched in 2011 for the model's 40th anniversary, the 216570 moves to 42 mm and brings back the large orange hand of the 1655. Its calibre 3187 has the blue Parachrom hairspring and Paraflex shock absorbers. It is a watch with more wrist presence, with a broad case and thick lugs, which Rolex replaced in 2021.

Collectors distinguish dial variants depending on the production years, and reports mention luminous material that ages unevenly on some of the early series: examine it by eye, in strong light and then in the dark, before buying. All 216570 carry a random serial number, so only the warranty card can date the example.

The 226570: the current generation

Launched in 2021 for the Explorer II's 50th anniversary, the 226570 keeps the 42 mm diameter and the design of the 216570, but refines the case and lugs. The main change is mechanical: the calibre 3285, shared with the GMT-Master II, raises the power reserve to about 70 hours, against 48 for the 3187. The retail price is around €10,200 (2025 price in our catalogue).

2026 price grid

The ranges below reflect the core of listings recorded between May and October 2026, for watches in good condition. For the 216570, our data only contains dealer listings, which are generally more expensive than private sales: we show it separately.

Three readings:

1. The 226570 trades around its retail price, with neither a clear premium nor a steep discount. That is the usual situation for the Explorer II.
2. The 216570 enjoys no premium from its discontinuation. Its dealer listings sit below recent 226570 offered through the same channels, whose median is close to €13,600 in our data. When the replacement looks like the old watch and does better, the old one does not rise: we explain this mechanism in our article does a discontinued reference gain value?.
3. The white dial is worth more than the black, on the 16570 as on the 226570. The "Polar" is the family's signature dial.

For a range tailored to your own watch, the Explorer II page and the valuation tool refine by year, dial and condition.

Which one to choose?

The choice depends less on investment than on use and wrist size:

• For a slim wrist or classic taste: the 16570. It offers the 40 mm size, the charm of a "five-digit" Rolex and the lowest entry price in the family, especially with a black dial. Budget for a service if the history is unknown.
• For a modern watch at the best price: the 216570, provided you pay for it as an ordinary pre-owned watch and not as a rarity. It shares the look of the 226570 with an older calibre and a shorter power reserve.
• For a modern watch without compromise: the 226570. Its 70-hour power reserve lets you leave it over a weekend without it stopping, and a recent pre-owned example sells close to retail, often with part of the Rolex warranty still running.

In all three cases, favour an unpolished example with box and papers: the full set makes resale easier and, on a watch with a random serial number, it is the card that dates the watch. If you are hesitating with a Rolex without a GMT function, compare it with the more understated Explorer, or with the Milgauss, another discontinued Rolex tool watch at a similar price.

Selling an Explorer II

The Explorer II sells well when it is complete and precisely described. State the reference, dial colour, year on the card and service history; do not have the watch polished before the sale. In France, above €5,000, a sale by a private individual is subject to the 6.5% flat-rate tax, unless the capital gains regime is chosen; if you sell from another country, check the local rules. Our page on selling your watch explains the steps, and our comparison of sales channels helps you choose between buy-back, consignment and direct sale.

In summary

Three Explorer II, three profiles: the 16570 for the classic size and the entry price, the 216570 for the modern look provided you do not pay for its discontinued status, and the 226570 for the best calibre close to retail. None is a speculative watch, and that is what makes it an easy purchase to read. To find out what your example is worth, check its value: the reference, the year, the dial and the condition are enough.