Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer II

This is a watch you could take to the North Pole, but that’s not what makes it great

The latest Explorer II, launched at Basel 2011, continues with Rolex’s  Explorer legacy. And yet, this watch is not a ‘tribute’ to the earlier Explorer IIs, first launched in 1971. It is, rather, an updated Explorer II. To begin with, it is 42 mm in diameter. That’s not too different from the 40 mm of earlier versions, but it does make space for larger markers and a bolder 24-hour bezel.  Its dial comes in two options: white and black.

The movement—calibre 3187—is a Rolex manufacture and has not been used in any other watch, says the company. Experts, though, say that this is a modified calibre 3186 that has proved itself in other watches.

New technologies in this watch include a blue Parachrom hairspring. The blue colour is neither painted nor sprayed on. Made of niobium and zirconium, the hairspring acquires this colour when it reacts with oxygen as soon as the alloy rod emerges from the oven. The alloy is completely non-magnetic and helps make the watch all the more accurate. This watch also has a large and variable inertia balance wheel. Its Paraflex shock absorbers protect not just the balance wheel but other parts of the escapement too.

The 24-hour hand can be independently set, and can therefore also be used for a second time zone. The company says that this 24-hour feature can be of great help to polar explorers, who have to deal with six-month long days and nights.

The bracelet has also been redone in this version. It is not vintage Rolex, but it looks good and comes with Easylink, which allows the wearer to adjust the bracelet to fit within a closeness range of 5 mm. The watch has a 48-hour power reserve.

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Gagandeep Singh Sapra