The Rolex Forums   The Rolex Watch

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Old 23 January 2017, 03:53 PM   #211
chris242
2024 Pledge Member
 
chris242's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: The Bahamas
Watch: 116610lv
Posts: 1,021
LOVE my Explorer 2.. wear it every single day, even while commercial lobster fishing. stealthy, reliable, tough! its definetly stealthy... some of my own family member haven't even noticed I've upgraded from my previous Tag. does anyone know of any nicknames for the black dial EX2?
chris242 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23 January 2017, 04:41 PM   #212
218225
"TRF" Member
 
218225's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Netherlands
Watch: 1655+216570
Posts: 497
Perfection!
218225 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 January 2017, 03:54 AM   #213
jdmi32
"TRF" Member
 
jdmi32's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Real Name: Ky
Location: Bay Area, CA
Watch: 16570
Posts: 2,362
Nice to see the Exp II is still getting so much love. Whether it's at the beach in the Caribbean or a rainy day in the Bay Area, this is my go to watch.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_4717.jpg (141.8 KB, 1086 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_5892.JPG (192.9 KB, 1088 views)
jdmi32 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 1 February 2017, 06:09 AM   #214
fiftywattmafia
Banned
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Real Name: Mark
Location: West Hartford, CT
Watch: Rolex Explorer II
Posts: 75
Snowy Polar Explorer II

fiftywattmafia is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 3 February 2017, 01:48 AM   #215
chloebear
Banned
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Real Name: Mike
Location: USA
Watch: Explorer
Posts: 2,902
Quote:
Originally Posted by fiftywattmafia View Post
Snowy Polar Explorer II

It's pictures like this that make me badly want a polar 16570 to go with my black 216570. Stunning picture!
chloebear is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 3 February 2017, 07:32 PM   #216
milov
"TRF" Member
 
milov's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Sydney
Posts: 517
My polar is on its way. Courtesy of DavidSW. I've wanted one of these for a while.
milov is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 4 February 2017, 03:17 AM   #217
afjsimmonds
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2
Absolutely love a Polar,

i sold one to a client of mine a few weeks back, and was gutted to see it go!
afjsimmonds is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11 February 2017, 10:57 AM   #218
stabilizer81
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: -
Watch: Reverso Art Deco
Posts: 53
Quote:
Originally Posted by G-Web View Post
Jared,

First off, congrats on your 16550, it's a real beauty.
Given that the manufacture of your watch precedes the introduction of Luminova by a good few years, I think your 24 hound is almost certainly tritium, unless it's a Luminova replacement that someone installed during service.

For what it's worth, the tritium lume on my last 16550 still glowed faintly at night. So maybe yours still has some juice left.

All the best,
-GW
Thank you sir!
stabilizer81 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11 February 2017, 08:49 PM   #219
milov
"TRF" Member
 
milov's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Sydney
Posts: 517
My pair of explorer II.

An age gap 34 years between these two. But both timeless classics.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg explorerIIs.jpg (84.6 KB, 1011 views)
milov is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11 February 2017, 10:25 PM   #220
Psmith
"TRF" Member
 
Psmith's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Real Name: Clive
Location: Exoplanet
Watch: spring-driven
Posts: 38,856
Quote:
Originally Posted by milov View Post
My pair of explorer II.

An age gap 34 years between these two. But both timeless classics.
Nice pair - could add a 216570 for the full set!
__________________
Psmith is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11 February 2017, 10:52 PM   #221
218225
"TRF" Member
 
218225's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Netherlands
Watch: 1655+216570
Posts: 497
The Rolex Explorer II

Quote:
Originally Posted by milov View Post
My pair of explorer II.



An age gap 34 years between these two. But both timeless classics.
Great taste!




40years. Father and Son's
218225 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18 February 2017, 03:36 PM   #222
keshaandrea
"TRF" Member
 
keshaandrea's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Real Name: Rusma
Location: Indonesia
Watch: Fatlady 16760
Posts: 43
Hi all, I need help.
My friend's Explorer 2 - 16570 , how to identity the fake or real?
How to check it if it come with box and certificate?
Here are the pics (only this blurred pics I got, and I will meet him on Monday, he live in other city).




Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you.

- Rusma
Fat Lady & Datejust II Diamond Rhodium
keshaandrea is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20 February 2017, 12:45 AM   #223
clyde2801
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: USA
Posts: 51
Call the cops! I STOLE this one yesterday.

16570 Polar, circa 2005, for 3400 USD. Looks a lot nicer in person, and don't understand the lack of love for this model. Shoot, the lume even still works!
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 53655DE9-8D0E-405B-9849-DC9D263C5D3C.jpg.jpg (95.0 KB, 948 views)
clyde2801 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 February 2017, 03:08 PM   #224
keshaandrea
"TRF" Member
 
keshaandrea's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Real Name: Rusma
Location: Indonesia
Watch: Fatlady 16760
Posts: 43
finally I got it.

keshaandrea is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23 March 2017, 12:38 PM   #225
ds190
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: USA
Posts: 2
First Rolex purchase will be an Explorer II

I’m ready to buy an Explorer II 16570. I’ve been watching online retailers, local jewelers, and this forum for price range info for about six months. There are currently five available at a local jeweler for between $4,475 to $4,750 for 1990 black face, 1996 white, 1998 black, 2005 black, and 1994 white watches.

One online site has a 1980’s 16570 black face listed for $4,800 that has had the black paint removed from the 24 hour scale and the circle on the bezel, and looks similar to the watch showing in post 163 of this thread. It’s a very low profile look that appeals to me. However, in the future, would removed paint significantly lower any resale value of this watch, or just simply limit the pool of buyers that would be interested in an altered watch?

Just curious as I learn more about Rolex. This watch purchase will mark a milestone for me, so whatever I buy, it will be kept till the end!

Thanks,
ds190 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23 March 2017, 03:47 PM   #226
Richard Carver
"TRF" Member
 
Richard Carver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: US
Posts: 2,237
It can be repainted anytime. The bezel can be replaced if necessary as well.

1991 16570
Richard Carver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 March 2017, 12:44 PM   #227
iliketime
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Real Name: Jack
Location: NYC
Watch: 16570, 16710
Posts: 1,534
Quote:
Originally Posted by ds190 View Post
I’m ready to buy an Explorer II 16570. I’ve been watching online retailers, local jewelers, and this forum for price range info for about six months. There are currently five available at a local jeweler for between $4,475 to $4,750 for 1990 black face, 1996 white, 1998 black, 2005 black, and 1994 white watches.

One online site has a 1980’s 16570 black face listed for $4,800 that has had the black paint removed from the 24 hour scale and the circle on the bezel, and looks similar to the watch showing in post 163 of this thread. It’s a very low profile look that appeals to me. However, in the future, would removed paint significantly lower any resale value of this watch, or just simply limit the pool of buyers that would be interested in an altered watch?

Just curious as I learn more about Rolex. This watch purchase will mark a milestone for me, so whatever I buy, it will be kept till the end!

Thanks,
they can be much cheaper than that, honestly some are around $3800-$4000 if you look carefully
iliketime is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 25 March 2017, 07:46 AM   #228
218225
"TRF" Member
 
218225's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Netherlands
Watch: 1655+216570
Posts: 497
You could even use a fill in stick in any color you like

But why would anyone remove the paint unleaa it was already coming of?!
218225 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 1 May 2017, 07:29 AM   #229
patek2429
"TRF" Member
 
patek2429's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Real Name: mingkai tsai
Location: taiwan
Watch: rolex ref.116233
Posts: 35
thanks post, good knowledge!
patek2429 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2 May 2017, 08:06 AM   #230
Dannyanderson
Banned
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: USA
Posts: 83
Nice photo.
Dannyanderson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2 May 2017, 08:37 AM   #231
Andy57
"TRF" Member
 
Andy57's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Real Name: Andy
Location: San Jose
Watch: Rolex ref. 1680
Posts: 20
1987 cream- and rail-dial 16550. I think these cream-dial 16550s are among the best looking sport watches ever made.
Andy57 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 9 May 2017, 06:30 AM   #232
173rdabn
2024 Pledge Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Real Name: George
Location: Cape Cod
Watch: 216570 Explorer II
Posts: 2,307
I Have a Polar 16570. It's my favorite of all the Rolex I've owned.
173rdabn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12 May 2017, 02:35 AM   #233
joe100
2024 Pledge Member
 
joe100's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Real Name: Joe
Location: New Mexico
Watch: Explorer
Posts: 12,752
16550
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_8597.jpg (102.6 KB, 683 views)
__________________
It's Espresso, not Expresso. Coffee is not a train in Italy.
-TRF Member 6982-
joe100 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 3 June 2017, 07:00 PM   #234
joe100
2024 Pledge Member
 
joe100's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Real Name: Joe
Location: New Mexico
Watch: Explorer
Posts: 12,752
The lacquer flaw that caused the cream dial to occur was fixed 30 years ago. If a 16550 has a white dial, it'll stay white, this isn't something that's still ongoing.
__________________
It's Espresso, not Expresso. Coffee is not a train in Italy.
-TRF Member 6982-
joe100 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 3 June 2017, 10:32 PM   #235
WatchDigger45
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Ohio
Posts: 21
Quote:
Originally Posted by keshaandrea View Post
finally I got it.

Nice Pieces
WatchDigger45 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 4 June 2017, 06:24 AM   #236
Richard Carver
"TRF" Member
 
Richard Carver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: US
Posts: 2,237
Quote:
Originally Posted by JasonBetts View Post
Most of you in this thread may own Explorer II. I'm looking to add one myself but would like to ask your opinions.

I dont want to buy cream polar dial but willing to bet on a 'normal' dial that maybe someday will turn cream. Any body with knowledge / own experience by keeping certain 16550 or 16570 with particular years / SN that have higher chance to turn cream?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I'm not sure if there are any white 16550 left! The 16570 won't turn cream except for the markers on the tritium dial between mid 80s to mid 90s.



My 91 16570 is beginning this process now and is a pale yellow. The watch shown is also a 91 which has finished the process. A sleeper collectible? I think so :).

This is my 91 beginning the process. You can see the markers no longer match the snow white of the dial and the hands are changing quicker than the markers. The minute hand being the darkest. I have not been able to wear another watch since this started! lol, its like watching a child grow, don't want to miss a minute! :)

Richard Carver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 4 June 2017, 12:30 PM   #237
JasonBetts
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Indonesia
Posts: 423
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Carver View Post
I'm not sure if there are any white 16550 left! The 16570 won't turn cream except for the markers on the tritium dial between mid 80s to mid 90s.







My 91 16570 is beginning this process now and is a pale yellow. The watch shown is also a 91 which has finished the process. A sleeper collectible? I think so :).



This is my 91 beginning the process. You can see the markers no longer match the snow white of the dial and the hands are changing quicker than the markers. The minute hand being the darkest. I have not been able to wear another watch since this started! lol, its like watching a child grow, don't want to miss a minute! :)





Wow it's a pretty and uniformed patina development on the markers Richard. I think I can settle with cream markers and hands if I can't get a white dial to turn cream. It actually looks prettier with a matching contrast of clean white dial peppered by cream markers and hands.

What's approximate SN is yours and how is your wearing patterns? Outdoor, sunny or safe Queen when you start to notice the transition?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
JasonBetts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 4 June 2017, 07:57 PM   #238
Richard Carver
"TRF" Member
 
Richard Carver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: US
Posts: 2,237
My 91 is an X serial. Fortunately, they are easy to spot from the dial marking T< 25 which means it's a tritium dial. I've had mine for about two years, here's the sellers pic from that time. You can tell the minute hand had begun to change but that is a pristine white dial and markers.



Since I acquired it it's been a 10 watch rotation with no particular attention paid to the dial, obviously it did a lot of safe deposit time during that period. Recently I've gotten into vintage jubilee bracelets and had reduced the rotation to these three watches for at least the summer.



It was during this time I looked down one day and saw that lovely pale yellow and actually noticed the darkening of the hands. My usage of the watch is normal mix of indoor outdoor lighting but I believe the increased usage has precipitated the change. Even in this pic you can see the markers are no longer matching the dial,

Marker patina has long been a desirable effect and how it develops has been a subject of intense discussion. Some say they put a white watch in the safe and when they pulled it out 3 years later the markers had turned creamy. Then another guy will show the exact same level of creaminess on a watch that has been to the beach every day of it's life. This is not settled science. :)

My anecdotal experience has been the more I wear it the faster it turns. Like I said. I can't take it off now because this process is so fascinating. :) I plan to capture the metamorphosis with pics.

Since this began I have become a bit/lot obsessive and have scoured the web trying to establish a pattern or baseline for the process but quickly gave that up. Go to google images and search '16570 patina' and you'll see what I mean. The only thing they have in common is they all have tritium dials.

Do all tritium dials change? I don't know and it is an important question. If I were you I wouldn't take a chance and would get one that had already turned or had obviously begun the process. Also, you'll notice that many have white hands from a change at some point, get one with matching hands, it makes a difference.

This hasn't become a 'thing' as yet and there isn't much difference in price. Most of this vintage are in the 4-5k range, the upper end with bracelets, books and papers. All usual caveats apply.

Get one and let's found the 16570 Patina Club. I'll be president and you can be a minion :)
Richard Carver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 4 June 2017, 09:03 PM   #239
joe100
2024 Pledge Member
 
joe100's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Real Name: Joe
Location: New Mexico
Watch: Explorer
Posts: 12,752
Quote:
Originally Posted by JasonBetts View Post
Back to 16570's patina, a friend of mine told me he 'bakes' his watch 3 hours a day under intense sunlight from 1100 to 1400hrs with the crown unscrewed. This significantly speeds up his patina process. Does this make sense to you?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Natural age is one thing, damage is another
__________________
It's Espresso, not Expresso. Coffee is not a train in Italy.
-TRF Member 6982-
joe100 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 4 June 2017, 09:47 PM   #240
Richard Carver
"TRF" Member
 
Richard Carver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: US
Posts: 2,237
In my research I saw a couple of dials I suspect had been oven baked or dyed. The oven baked lume was collapsing into powder and the markers looked like craters.The other was from a well known seller with an unusual ability to find vintage Rolex watches with perfectly turned lume. The seller has never had a complaint to my knowledge but the lust for perfect watches is strong. No, I won't discuss that any further. Should there be a price increase due to this phenomenon cooked/dyed dials will be everywhere. It's a dirty little vintage Rolex secret. The demand for patina is insatiable.

I'm not sure any natural effort is particularly bad and you wanted to go to that effort to sun bake it I don't see a problem with that.
Richard Carver is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Takuya Watches

Bobs Watches

Asset Appeal

My Watch LLC

OCWatches

DavidSW Watches

Coronet


*Banners Of The Month*
This space is provided to horological resources.





Copyright ©2004-2024, The Rolex Forums. All Rights Reserved.

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Rolex is a registered trademark of ROLEX USA. The Rolex Forums is not affiliated with ROLEX USA in any way.