Explorer 114270 VS. OP 36mm 'Explorer dial'

[Watch Explorer]

Hi everyone,

First time poster here and would be grateful for your input.

I have decided I would like to trade (+ cash) my IWC Mark XVI for either a 36mm Explorer 114270 or a new blue OP 36 with the Explorer style dial. I am able to get them at a similar price, possibly a couple hundred USD more for the Explorer depending on condition.

I will treat this watch as my GADA and will rarely be off my wrist apart from a few activities where i'll use a beater. (Although would love to be able to swim with it with confidence).

Here are a few Pro's/info of the 2 models and i'm hopeful you could add some good advice.

Oyster Perpetual:

- Great looking sunburst blue dial
- Wears slightly larger than the Explorer and feels more robust on the wrist due to updated case with wider lugs etc.
- Updated solid feeling bracelet
- Lumed 3-6-9
- Parachrome hairspring so slightly more anti-magnetic?
- The 'OG' Explorer?
- 5 year Rolex warranty

Explorer:

- Great dial also
- A Rolex Sports model
- safety lock clasp
- Lumed second hand
- Holds it value better
- Would get a 6 month warranty from my dealer.

I have included a photo so you can check them out on my wrist side by side.

Thanks all!

[roosvelt]

I say the OP. You can swim with confidence with it 100m is fine for swimming!!

[Watch Explorer]

Thanks for your feedback. It would be nice to have a watch which is brand new for sure.

Maybe at some point Rolex would make the Explorer a little smaller again (Like they did with the large date just) , then in the future I could get that one to go along with the OP if I get the OP now. The 39mm Explorer wears O.K on me but a little large for my personal preference.

[iVAMP]

If you like blue dial, I recommend the 116000.
It is brand new (with the updated thicker hands), It has a 5 years warranty and a better brazelet.

[Innocenti]

I’ve been facing the same dilemma.

I love the explorer - especially the earlier ones with the lugholes .

However I’m leaning more towards the blue 116000 with a view to add explorer hands .
That little blue dial is a work of art - and I would class it as a sports watch the same as the explorer

[Watch Explorer]

Thanks iVAMP.

I do really like the blue dial! Yes it would be a new model with the thicker hands, newer Rolex rehaut engraving etc.

[Watch Explorer]

[Watch Explorer]

Cheers Innocenti.

Yes the blue dial is amazing the way it plays with the light and I'm pretty sure I would be happy with it.

I have seen someone in the forum modded his 116000 with the Explorer hands and it looks great! However I think I would keep mine all original though and maybe look to add an Explorer at some point in the future if Rolex introduced a new slightly smaller version.

Yes the reason i prefer this particular OP over others is because of the more sporty aesthetic.

[Innocenti]

I have my fingers crossed they will also go back to 36mm on the explorer .
Actually I’m hoping they reduce the size of a lot of the watches

Love the explorer 2 - but for me too big
The 39mm Explorer - too big

A while back I bought my first Rolex . A birth year sub. I love it however there in no getting away from it being a rattly old watch! A couple of months later I bought a new 36mm Rolex .
It is in a different class, the engineering and attention to crisp detail is a joy. For that reason I think the blue watch is a good choice

[Watch Explorer]

Thanks again.

Yeh all the old models fit me pretty great!

That definitely helps a lot to know that the newer models are really worth it from your first hand experience. As I want to use it as a GADA, I think the modern upgrades would suit me more so at the moment i'm leaning towards the OP.

[MattPegler]

I'm biased as I have just purchased the 116000 with a blue dial, I would recommend it. The Explorer's dial isn't as special.

[Watch Explorer]

Wow, looks great in your profile pic Matt! Like a glove!
Do you use it as your daily wearer?

[Watch Explorer]

Is the lume decent?
Is it green or blue like the new explorer models?

[MattPegler]

Originally Posted by Watch Explorer

Wow, looks great in your profile pic Matt! Like a glove!
Do you use it as your daily wearer?

Yes, and it is perfect. I tried on the Explorer, but found it too be untrue to the original character of the original 'Explorer' of Sir Edmund Hillary - so went for the blue OP

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by Watch Explorer

Hi everyone,



First time poster here and would be grateful for your input.



I have decided I would like to trade (+ cash) my IWC Mark XVI for either a 36mm Explorer 114270 or a new blue OP 36 with the Explorer style dial. I am able to get them at a similar price, possibly a couple hundred USD more for the Explorer depending on condition.



I will treat this watch as my GADA and will rarely be off my wrist apart from a few activities where i'll use a beater. (Although would love to be able to swim with it with confidence).



Here are a few Pro's/info of the 2 models and i'm hopeful you could add some good advice.



Oyster Perpetual:



- Great looking sunburst blue dial

- Wears slightly larger than the Explorer and feels more robust on the wrist due to updated case with wider lugs etc.

- Updated solid feeling bracelet

- Lumed 3-6-9

- Parachrome hairspring so slightly more anti-magnetic?

- The 'OG' Explorer?

- 5 year Rolex warranty



Explorer:



- Great dial also

- A Rolex Sports model

- safety lock clasp

- Lumed second hand

- Holds it value better

- Would get a 6 month warranty from my dealer.



I have included a photo so you can check them out on my wrist side by side.



Thanks all!

OP 116000 with explorer hands upgrade!




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Watch Explorer]

Nice one fskywalker!

Seems you are all in favour of the new OP!

[Explorer1nyc]

Blue dial is my vote

[Innocenti]

Which one did you like best ?

[Watch Explorer]

When I first saw and tried on the Explorer my initial reaction was that it was considerably smaller than what I was used to with the IWC mark XVI which is 39mm. One reason I would like to trade is I would like a slightly smaller size going forward.

If the Explorer had the updated case etc. I would probably go for that I reckon. But the OP felt really good and looks like a great fit IMO on my wrist in real life and in pics.

My grandfather wore a Rolex and my father is somewhat of an Explorer of mountain ranges around the world since he has retired. I'm also drawn to the attached history of these pieces. The OP can hold its own in this regard right?

[Watch Explorer]

Here are a couple more shots of the watches on my wrist. Cheers

[doramas]

I prefer 114270

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by Watch Explorer

Nice one fskywalker!



Seems you are all in favour of the new OP!

I don’t own the OP anymore but after owning both models you are looking at my vote would be in favor of the OP.

There is actually a Japan only version of the OP 11600 with black dial and white markers (not the one with purple lume markers) which with the explorer hands would be the ultimate OP 116000


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Watch Explorer]

Interesting to know fskywalker thanks!

[Innocenti]

Originally Posted by Watch Explorer

When I first saw and tried on the Explorer my initial reaction was that it was considerably smaller than what I was used to with the IWC mark XVI which is 39mm. One reason I would like to trade is I would like a slightly smaller size going forward.

If the Explorer had the updated case etc. I would probably go for that I reckon. But the OP felt really good and looks like a great fit IMO on my wrist in real life and in pics.

My grandfather wore a Rolex and my father is somewhat of an Explorer of mountain ranges around the world since he has retired. I'm also drawn to the attached history of these pieces. The OP can hold its own in this regard right?

Don’t forget it wasn’t the explorer that went with Hilary on his accent of Everest but instead an OP .

[Watch Explorer]

Yes that was my understanding also Innocenti. Do you know why I hear people say 'I bought the Explorer over the OP because of the history'?
To my knowledge I thought the OP has a history thats very hard to beat!? Being the first waterproof and automatic wrist watch etc. Which model has the better history do you reckon? Cheers.

[Innocenti]

i Don’t know enough about them. Buy the one you like to look at the most ����

[Coop13]

Wrist size?

[Watch Explorer]

6.5 inch wrist. Which one do you prefer?

[Watch Explorer]

Anymore input from people who are familiar with one or both models?

[Yodel]

Originally Posted by Innocenti

I have my fingers crossed they will also go back to 36mm on the explorer .
Actually I’m hoping they reduce the size of a lot of the watches

Love the explorer 2 - but for me too big
The 39mm Explorer - too big

A while back I bought my first Rolex . A birth year sub. I love it however there in no getting away from it being a rattly old watch! A couple of months later I bought a new 36mm Rolex .
It is in a different class, the engineering and attention to crisp detail is a joy. For that reason I think the blue watch is a good choice

This. Get the new one. You can’t beat that feeling of a new Rolex!