The Rolex Explorer II stood in the shadow of its older for many years, aviation themed brother and the GMT-Master. While the GMT replica watches were designed for pilots and frequent air travelers, the Explorer II was made for speleologists exploring caverns beneath the earth’s surface. The original Explorer II fake model had a very special looking, and its poor initial sales were largely because of its oddly specific target demographic instead of an overlap with another watch in Rolex’s lineup. The successor to the Explorer II, the other model was largely based off of the GMT-Master line of watches, and its numerous, similarities ultimately hindered potential Explorer II sales.
We can see several different reference releases throughout the history, Rolex’s Explorer II line of watches more-or-less remained a GMT-Master with a fixed 24-hour bezel and the option of a white dial. But, the luxury replica Rolex launched a new version of the Explorer II – one that followed a design completely unique itself.
The new Explorer II featured a brand new movement – one never before seen in any other Rolex model – the caliber 3187, and also featured a larger, 42 mm case. With 31 jewels, a blue Parachrom hairspring, a variable inertia balance wheel, and the addition of Paraflex shock absorbers, the 3187 movement can be regarded as an improvement over the caliber 3186, which is found inside Rolex’s current GMT-Master II line of watches.
Another change that importantly helps separate the reference 216570 from the contemporary GMT-Master II is the revival of its bright orange, 24-hour hand – a trait borrowed from the original Explorer II. The amazing fake watch had its triangular-shaped 24-hour hand finished in bright orange so that cave explorers could easily differentiate between day and night when viewing their watch in low-light conditions.
Although relatively minor, the white dial option, bright orange 24-hour hand, and extra 2 mm in case diameter help make the fake watch a significant departure from Rolex’s GMT-Master II line of watches. While the contemporary GMT-Master closely resembles the modern Submariner, the Explorer II has now become a popular watch totally of its own design; and it does not resemble any other replica watch in Rolex’s current lineup.
The Explorer II became the forgotten sibling to Rolex’s GMT-Master line of watches for multiple decades; however in 2011 (for its 40th anniversary), Rolex eventually gave the Explorer II the long awaited upgrade that it deserved. This great timepiece is a modern watch that fully embraces its past and history without ever losing sight that it is a contemporary timepiece.