Rolex Explorer II — Ref. 216570

Reference 216570 represents the third generation of the Explorer II, the GMT-equipped tool watch Rolex introduced in 1971 for cave explorers and polar researchers who required a reliable means of distinguishing day from night in environments without natural light cues. At 42 mm, the 216570 is the largest Explorer II ever produced, and its Oystersteel construction, fixed 24-hour graduated bezel, and bold dial design project an undeniable presence that places it closer in spirit to the GMT-Master II than to the original slim Explorer. Introduced in 2011 and produced through to 2021, the 216570 was available in white or black dial variants, each with a distinctive orange 24-hour hand that traces its lineage directly to the original 1971 reference.

Calibre 3187 powered earlier 216570 production, while later examples from around 2011 onward carry Calibre 3187's successor in the Explorer II lineage; the current generation successor is the Cal 3285. Inside the 42 mm Oyster case, the movement provides a second time zone via the independently adjustable 24-hour hand and the fixed bezel's day/night scale. The case features a screw-down Triplock winding crown — the highest-specification crown system in Rolex's crown lineup — and is water-resistant to 100 metres. The Oyster bracelet, with its flat three-link construction, provides a secure and rugged wearing platform appropriate to the model's professional tool watch character.

The 216570 has developed a loyal following among collectors who value purposeful design over decorative elements. The orange-hand white dial variant is often cited as the more classically referenced, while the black dial version recalls the original 1655 'Steve McQueen' Explorer II. Either configuration represents an accessible entry into Rolex's professional sports watch tier, with the movement engineering and construction standards of a modern manufacture reference.