Cage Match - Rolex Explorer II vs. Rolex GMT Master II
An excellent comparison between the Rolex Exporer and the GMT. Kind of like watching two terriers fight to the death.
The Explorer II is created for cave-dwellers, when working under the surface over longer periods of time they can loose the sense for day-and-night orientation, and therefore Rolex created a watch which always displays the 24-hour notation of time as an extra feature. They introduced the white dial lateron on the ref.16550 so they can see the watch better in difficult and dim light-conditions. The Explorer II used the inhouse 1575 caliber when the watch initially was introduced. The Explorer II also came with the cal.3075 and the cal.3175. The bezel is fixed and it is engraved with the 24-hour track and made from solid stainless steel.
Cave-dwellers?
TimeZone: Watch Reviews: Comparison: Rolex Explorer II vs. Rolex GMT Master II
Like GMTs? Try…
The Omega Seamaster GMT
February 1st, 2006 at 12:50 pm
I love the Explorer II. I have a Rolex Daytona and an Explorer II. My dad has several Rolex watches along with several other watches in his collection. I’ve never seen a watch that is as cool looking as the Rolex Explorer II, it’s a really clean looking watch.
February 27th, 2006 at 12:24 pm
I recieved a Explorer II for christmas from my wife along with a trade in for a 16234 datejust. I love the Explorer II. I travel a bit so the ease I have with it is fantastic but I guess I would get the same from the GMT now wouldnt I. Both equally ecellent watches for the traveller.
March 11th, 2006 at 3:36 pm
Both watches are nice but I got the GMT Master instead… The two toned, rotating bessel makes it looks better and gives you two timezones. Cant go wrong with that.
July 10th, 2006 at 5:48 pm
I have a GMT Master II. A 2001 model for which I paid $3200. It is a great watch. My son bought a new Explorer. In doing some research on it I came across a review by what sounded like a true watchmaker that was very critical of the quality of the Explorer. The article showed close-ups of the internal pieces which were appallingly shoddy and showed really poor workmanship. The technical jargon in the article sounded genuine. You have to think that the author would know a fake when he saw one. Anyhow, my son now has a yachtmaster which he loves.
July 30th, 2006 at 11:27 am
The Rotating Bezel on the Subs and GMTs makes them more fragile in my opinion. Plus the funky colored bezel inserts are really prone to scratching . . I know I only have a sub. . .
September 14th, 2006 at 11:01 pm
I did not know about the “Cave Dwellers”. Great info!
September 20th, 2006 at 1:07 pm
I have had my GMT II for about 18 months and it frequently receives admiring glances. I was torn between the GMT II and the Explorer, but having seen an Explorer that a friend has, I am so glad I chose the GMT II - it is much cooler and just looks more ‘Rolex’. Great watch.
December 15th, 2006 at 11:00 am
I have just recieved a GMT Master for my 21st birthday from my dad and have to say i agree with Jules in saying that it just looks so much more ‘Rolex’, I extremely pleased with the watch
December 22nd, 2006 at 10:53 am
i have gifted a GMT master II for my 29th birthday. its a pepsi bezel. i think its the coolest looking watch a nd also serves me a good deal when i am travelling across the continents: india to europe.
the looks of the watch are amazingly good as is the price. the clasp could have been better. i would have prefered a butterfly clasp instead. but overall a great companion.
June 21st, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! verytpokixg
August 11th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
I just bought a used 2003 Y series Explorer II. In my opinion, it is the cleanest, most striking masterpiece of a watch I have ever seen. I am so proud to own it. I even like it better than the Daytona.
btw - I think the GMT Master is too loud especially with the red and blue coloured bezel.
August 17th, 2007 at 9:46 am
I just purchased a new Explorer II. It is one of the finest looking Rolex watches to wear casually or with a suit. For some reason the explorer II seems to be less popular or “typical Rolex looking” in some countries, but is a big seller worldwide and becoming more and more popular in European countries, especially with businessmen who need a reliable and excellent watch without wanting to ’show off’.
September 15th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
I’ve been buying and selling my Rolexes for some time now. I had a GMT II, a Sub No Date, a Sea-Dweller and a Two Tone GMT LN (the new model). Now, I have an Ex II. The main reason is the stealthy looks while still being an archetypical Rolex sports model. What a fantastic piece it is.
October 6th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
iam from the philippines and i have a Rolex explorer II and 2 more in keep (submariner and 2-tone gmt LN). i should say this is the best watch i have in my collection. i am a flight attendant and this is very useful when iam working because of the 24 hour track on the bezel. very useful for me. this is my best investment so far. and yeah i agree with jules, im frequently receiving admiring glances from the passengers for this watch.
October 11th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
By a Rolex! I have had a GMT on for the past twenty four years. I does not miss a beat and currently loses about 5 or 6 seconds every twenty four hours. I only take it off when I take a shower in order to clean it. I has taken a beating in twenty four years but it is tougher than any nails that I have ever come across. I do not baby this watch at all I swim, sail, do gardening, woodwork, paint, and play soft ball with it on and never have had a problem with it. It got a direct hit by a 16″ softball once and nothing happened.
November 10th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
I purchased the Rolex Explorer II (model 1655) in 1984. It had been sitting in the jeweler’s case for a couple of years. Price? $975.00 It had never been opened or worked on until last week when I had the crystal replaced. When I went to pick it up the clerk was someone different from the one that had received the watch for repairs. When she dumped it from the envelope it fell into her had face-down. When she turned it over I heard an audible gasp. She sain that she had been working with Rolex watches for the past fifteen years and had only heard stories about the ‘orange hand’ Explorer II; she never held one in her hand. The buxom blonde was actually nipping out over the watch. She then informed me as to the value of this watch. I don’t know whether to keep wearing it (it’s served me for 23 years as an ‘everyday’ watch) or to stash it in the safe deposit box.
November 28th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
GMT MASTER II hands down is a better looking watch and certainly more classic of a Rolex look.
December 6th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
i have a very rare cream dialed 16550 explorer 11 from 1985 that was only made for a year that i absolutely love (it was only made for a year because the paint was not right, thats why they turn cream), and a 1680 submariner my dad gave me for my 21st birthday. tried a patek philippe aquanaut 5065 for a couple of years, the brand may have a better reputation than rolex, but the quality from my experience is not as good.
January 1st, 2008 at 2:28 pm
I recently bought a Rolex Explorer II and I love this watch, I went with a pre-owned because I like the look with the holes in the case, kind of a vintage feel, I like the no nonsence look, the black dial with the red 24 hr hand is a great look, as well as very functional, I just spent 5 months in China and the 2nd time zone came in very handy, I travel alot so the ease of just changing the hour hand as we land is also a great feature, all and all a great looker, keeping great time, one change I did was I bought a Oyster look rubber style watch band on ebay and It looks very cool,(just like the metal)But black rubber, The metal braclets to me are not very comfortable, of course I have it in the orignal boxes but love the contrast of the black oyster band, I love to display this watch on my wrist.
January 11th, 2008 at 12:12 am
My wife just bought me a two tone GMT II Anniversary Edition. Almost 10K with taxes thrown in but a beautiful watch. It is accurate as can be for an automatic and receives a lot of admiring glances. You only live once. The band is much better than the old style and the bezel is ceramic which makes it near scratch proof. Awesome watch. My wife must love me or she was sinnin’
February 8th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
I bought my first Explorer II some months ago to add on to my list of watches (one steel/gold Bretling Crosswind with the UTC extra watch, one Breitling Colt Superocean and one Submariner). The Explorer II is a great watch. Not as flashy as the Crosswind and not as common as the Sub. A great watch for all occasions!
February 9th, 2008 at 6:26 am
This month I exchange my 13 year old DATE for a new EXPLORER II with white dial. Having SUBMARINER, GMT and EXPLORER II on my mind for some months, I finally decided on the white EXPLORER II. I don’t dive so I don’t need the extension link, I don’t need the rotating bezel (which I anyway always have oriented with the triangle at 12) and I think the EXPLORER II look a bit smoother with the fixed bezel. The white dial with black arms (red for the 24 hour arm) and indices makes it cool, clean and aesthetic. This is a very successful design taking the best elements from the other ROLEX sports models.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Here is an intesting story.I have been an auto mechanic for 20 years.One of my regular customer needed money and sold me a used rolex watch for a thousand bucks 8 years ago.According to him his ex-mayor buddy owed him money and gave it as payment to him.For a month I was wearing it day and night abusing it somewhat.My friend(a rolex lover)noticed the scracthes on the glass and bracelet and suggested to have the glass replace,buff and service.To make the story short,it came back so beautiful that I had two offers from the place it was serviced(exchange for a new one)Because of the orange hand.Never took the offer.Years past,seldom worn it,got a call a few weeks ago from my friend if am interested selling it.Wondering why,I check the internet and to my astonishment I have this rare 1655 ROLEX EXPLORERII!!Now,looking at this fine watch,with a smile,surprises come in small packages.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
I have a Rolex Explorer I that has served me very well over over a decade. In that time I wore it to McMurdo Station, Palmer Station, and the South Pole. New Zealand, Chile and Australia.
I used to travel internationally on an old beater BMW motorcycle. I fellow, more seasoned traveler told me to always carry something, anything, other than money that would be equal to a flight home. That’s originally why I bought a simple Rolex.
March 14th, 2008 at 6:45 am
I got a replica explorer from thesupplier,co,uk its just like the real one and only cost me £50!
March 18th, 2008 at 8:57 am
i have a gmt master and i have found the bezel scratches - when i landed on it onto concrete - but no colour change - just a slight scratch in the metal - but no colour loss.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:55 pm
great feedback on explorer II….i own 1 and i just love n so proud of it!!!!!!