Name: Rolex Explorer II (Polar) 16570
Brand: Rolex
SKU: 16570

The Explorer II 16570 is the Pepsi-less Explorer II, 40mm, 24-hour fixed bezel, black or white (“Polar”) dial, produced 1989-2011 alongside the GMT-Master II 16710 (which shares the case and the caliber 3185). It's the explorer's tool watch from the Rolex catalog that didn't catch the rocket the way the GMT did; consequently it remains one of the best honest-value plays in modern-Rolex collecting.

What it is

The Explorer II 16570 replaced the 16550 in 1989, with the same case as the GMT-Master II and the caliber 3185 (later 3186, briefly). Two dial variants: black and white (the “Polar”); no bezel-color variants because the bezel is engraved-not-inserted. The Mark dial generations (I, II, III) carry small print and indices differences that collectors track; the most-traded is the Mark III which entered production around 1995.

Buying notes

Common things to check: dial (Mark I → Mark III have visible differences; Mark I Polar dials are the most-coveted and the most-imitated); hands (the orange 24-hour hand should be a specific shade, service-replacement hands often have a slightly different orange); case (over-polishing rounds the case profile noticeably on the Explorer II); luminous (tritium lume on early production ages cream; replacement Luminova hands are honestly different).

Market read

The 16570 has been undervalued vs. the 16710 for the entire production overlap. That's started to correct. Polar examples in full-set trade meaningfully higher than they did in 2018-2019.

The 16570 hits the wear-anywhere case size, the durable bezel, and the in-house Rolex movement at prices still well below the equivalent GMT-Master II.

Service expectations

Same caliber 3185 service profile as the GMT. Routine; cost is the same. The fixed engraved bezel means there's nothing to wear out on the bezel side, the most common service issue is crown-and-stem wear from regular date-setting use.

Editorial copy is AI-drafted from primary sources and reviewed by Grail Atlas before publication. Where the text is uncertain about a fact, it says so. Email corrections@grailatlas.com if something reads wrong. Signals on this page (community, OSINT) are clearly separated from the editorial sections.

The "polar dial" white version is an Explorer II that many collectors prefer to current production at a secondary price still below new retail equivalent.

Uncommonbest value#3 in familyOfficial press photos

Originality

Originality matters on this reference. An original dial and hands command a significant premium. Service replacements typically trade at a 20-40% discount to original examples.

Live pricing is coming soon. Get notified when it is available for this reference.

In-house manufacture caliber · caliber Rolex Cal. 3185: in-house automatic GMT, 28,800bph, 48h PR, 31j; bidirectional rotor, Nivarox hairspring; predecessor to current 3285 · 48h power reserve (2 days)

Also uses Rolex Cal. 3185

Medium-large: suits wrists 6.5 in+ (16.5 cm+)

40 mm case. Wears confidently on average to larger wrists. May overhang on slender builds.

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Authentication

Cal. 3185 with orange GMT hand and fixed bezel distinguish the 16570 from Explorer I and other Rolex GMT references

Known issues in the market

Orange GMT hand is a primary authentication point; the color must be correct and the tip must reach the 24-hour bezel
White dial and black dial variants have different production years; verify the dial matches the reference documentation
"Steve Irwin" association has increased collector interest and misrepresentation
Cal. 3185 is correct; Cal. 3186 is the later 16570 successor (Explorer II 216570)

Area	What to check	What is correct	Red flag
hands	Orange GMT hand	Orange lacquered GMT hand reaches 24-hour scale on bezel; sword shape with luminous fill; correct orange hue (not red, not dark orange); length proportional to case	Red or incorrect hue on GMT hand; GMT hand too short to reach bezel scale; non-luminous GMT hand; GMT hand painted over blue or green (other GMT references)
dial	Explorer II dial text and hour markers	"Explorer II" on dial; large Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6, 9 with applied luminous markers between; "Oyster Perpetual Date" text; date window at 3 with magnifier; "Swiss Made" at 6; coronet at 12	Missing "Explorer II" text; Explorer I baton markers (no large Arabic numerals); date magnifier absent; dial text inconsistent with white or black dial variant documentation
case	Fixed 24-hour bezel	Bezel is fixed (non-rotating); 24-hour scale engraved and filled; "Oyster" case 40mm; screw-down pushers on crown; Triplock crown with "Rolex" crown logo; Oyster bracelet with solid links	Rotating bezel (wrong reference); 24-hour markings only 12-hour; crown without Triplock; hollow bracelet links
movement	Cal. 3185 automatic	Rotor visible through solid caseback removed by watchmaker; Cal. 3185 with date mechanism; "Rolex" signed; no service parts inconsistent with Cal. 3185 architecture	Cal. 3135 (Explorer I movement, missing GMT complication); non-Rolex movement; caseback opened with damage to threads

Common legitimate replacements

Oyster bracelet end pieces and clasps are commonly polished; unpolished bracelets with correct markings command a premium.
White dials on 16570 are desirable and more prone to relumination; verify lume consistency across all plots.

Expert resources: Rolex serial lookup via authorised dealers. eBay completed listings and Watchuseek Explorer II production run documentation identify white vs. black dial production windows.

Authentication guide

Last reviewed June 2026

The 16570 Explorer II ran from 1989 to 2011. The black and white dial variants carry different secondary premiums; dial swaps between variants and movement caliber confirmation are the primary authentication concerns.

Known reproduction risks

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MEDIUM

Dial swaps between black and white variants to present a more valuable configuration.

White dial on a case where the serial number dates it to a production period when only black dials were allocated
Dial color aging inconsistent with case and hands aging

LOW

Outright replicas targeting the Explorer II specification.

Fixed bezel with incorrect 24-hour numeral spacing or engraving depth
Orange GMT hand with incorrect saturation -- the Explorer II orange is a specific warm orange, not red-orange

Dial variants by era

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Era	Description	Identifiers
1989 to 2011 (black dial)	Black "police" dial variant. White dial was also produced and the two are not interchangeable in value.	Black dial with white-printed hour markers at 3, 6, 9, and 12 Orange GMT hand (arrow-tipped) tracking the 24-hour fixed bezel Fixed 24-hour graduated bezel (does not rotate) "Explorer II" text below the main time display Date window at 3 o'clock with cyclops magnifier
1989 to 2011 (white dial)	White dial variant. Same case and movement as the black dial; different secondary market premium.	White dial with black-printed hour markers Same orange GMT hand and fixed 24-hour bezel as the black dial White dial examples command a different secondary market price than black dial -- confirm which is being offered

Service part flags

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GMT hand

Original: Orange arrow-tipped GMT hand that tracks the 24-hour fixed bezel. The orange color should match across the full hand including the tail.

Replacement tells

GMT hand replaced with the red hand from a GMT-Master (similar but different orange-to-red shade)
Arrow tip proportions inconsistent with known Explorer II examples
Lume in the GMT hand inconsistent with the dial plot generation

24-hour fixed bezel

Original: Fixed (non-rotating) 24-hour bezel graduated 1 to 24. The numerals are engraved and filled. The bezel does not rotate at all.

Replacement tells

Bezel that rotates -- the Explorer II bezel is fixed; any rotation indicates the wrong bezel has been fitted
Numeral font or engraving depth inconsistent with known production examples
GMT-Master bezel fitted to the Explorer II case (the GMT-Master bezel is graduated with the same 24 hours but is rotating)

Case back markings

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1989 to 2011

Solid caseback with Rolex coronet engraved
"ROLEX OYSTER PERPETUAL DATE EXPLORER II" text on the outer ring
Serial between the lugs at 6 (R through M serial covers the full run)
Reference 16570 between the lugs at 12

Movement tells

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Cal. 3185 (early) or Cal. 3186 (later, with Parachrom hairspring) depending on production year. Both are correct depending on serial range.
The independent GMT function: advancing the local hour at crown position 2 should not stop the seconds hand. Seconds stopping during local-hour adjustment indicates a movement swap.
Cal. 3186 Parachrom hairspring appears as a blue-violet spring at the balance wheel. Cal. 3185 uses a standard alloy spring.

Sources: Rolex Forums -- Explorer II serial range and dial variant documentation; WatchUSeek Rolex subforum -- 16570 production variant threads.