Sky-Dweller 326243 replica

Original Rolex Explorer II model, Ref.1655, was launched in 1971, and 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the Rolex Explorer II. This news is not unfounded, as Rolex has a long tradition of launching new products on the occasion of significant anniversaries, and 50 years, spanning half a century, is naturally a remarkable commemoration. The Explorer II series was last updated in 2011, and it is necessary to upgrade the series after many years to maintain its popularity.

Watch enthusiasts at home and abroad are very curious about what changes will be made to this Explorer II 50th anniversary watch, and some foreign media have created so-called “renderings” based on rumors, which has once again caused widespread heated discussions. Is it possible for Rolex to make these changes to the new product? Let’s start with the history of the Explorer series and its product positioning.

Explorer was introduced in 1963 and was named after the original model Ref.1016 to commemorate the great achievement of mankind reaching the summit of Mount Everest ten years earlier. This watch is the ancestor of all the Explorer series, featuring an inverted triangle at 12 o’clock, Arabic numerals at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock, Mercedes hands, and other classic elements that have been passed down and are still used today.

In 1971, Rolex introduced the Explorer II. The watch was actually derived from the updated GMT Master 1675, which Rolex named the new model 1655. This year could also be considered the beginning of the Explorer II.

In 2011, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Explorer II, a new Explorer II watch Ref. 216570 was launched, with a diameter enlarged from 40 mm to 42 mm compared to Ref. 16570. The GMT hand changed from red to orange, the design was thickened and adjusted, and the movement was upgraded to Calibre 3187 with a Parachrom hairspring and Paraflex shock absorbers. This model is still available, and with another decade passing, the call for a new model seems particularly high. Today, I will collect and sort out the expectations and possible adjustments from both domestic and international enthusiasts for the new Explorer II, which are only predictions and have no practical reference significance.

It is not without precedent for Rolex to adjust the diameter of an anniversary watch. For example, the 50th anniversary model of the Sea-Dweller Ref.126600 launched in 2017 was increased from 40 mm to 43 mm. The current 42 mm diameter of the Explorer II was upgraded from the original 40 mm, and it is possible that the diameter of the Explorer II could be raised to 43 mm or even 44 mm. A reasonable guess can be made here, and we’ll see.