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Old 9 September 2017, 06:09 AM   #1
ExpSubGMT
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Explorer 214270 MK1 One Year Review...

I bought the 214270 in September 2016, in Barcelona. I had been researching which Rolex to buy for about six months.

In the beginning, it was gonna be a Sub no date, until I realized I was seeing Submariners everywhere in NYC. There would be days where there were five or six different Sub sightings, and I realized I didn’t want a watch that could be spotted that easily from across a room.

I also realized I never saw an Explorer in the wild.

Never once.

I kept reading it flew under the radar, and that quickly became the appealing factor for me.

So it was settled. I’d get the new 2016 version with the 3 6 9 full lume.

I had even planned on buying off of a trusted seller here (who shall remain nameless, but you can feel free to guess who), and he had told me the new versions were slowly starting to come in around this time last year.

At that time, the new version had not really been in AD’s, so I never got to handle one. I had simply read a lot about the Explorer on this forum and figured the small hands issue was taken care of and was now “perfect.”

Then I was in Barcelona last year, and the AD I was visiting had a MK1 version.

I tried it on and I loved it instantly. I fought that love at first sight feeling, because I had an arranged marriage to come home to, and this was not supposed to happen.

But the more I looked at it, it looked amazing to me. The hands, in person, did not look too small at all; They looked just right.

The white gold 3 6 9 looked incredible.

The dealer offered a discount, and I told him I’d need to think about it over night. Would the deal be on the table tomorrow? He said it would be.

I went back the next day and snagged it. It was going against what I had planned, but there it was, on my wrist, and in that moment I knew it was the one.

I wore the watch every day, minus a few days here and there where I wore a beater because I didn’t want anything to happen to my Rolex.

This attitude has since changed.

I wear my Explorer no matter what. I figure, it was meant to take a beating, and I was gonna treat it as such - I was not going to baby it.

I’ve worn it doing manual labor, I’ve worn it to Los Angeles, Mexico, New York and back to Barcelona.

I’ve worn it in the Gulf of Mexico, The Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Pools, jacuzzi’s, showers.

I’ve worn it with T shirts and I’ve worn it with suits. Goes with jeans and work boots, and with it's thin profile it slides under a shirt sleeve.

I’ve worn the watch playing drums.

I’ve read where people discourage wearing watches while swinging a hammer or playing golf (I don’t play golf) - but I figured, the Explorer has the new shock resistance and dammit, I was gonna put it to the test.

So I played drums with it on.

A year later, the watch is running a consistent +3. I place it crown up at night while I sleep.

It has scratches and dings and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I have fantasized about buying other watches during this past year, namely the Tudor North Flag. Tried to convince myself it was more of a “tool” watch with no gold.

For a while I was obsessed with a GMT, both a ceramic in black and an older Coke version.

I tried on an IWC Mark XVIII and loved it.

I tried on a Seiko Turtle and loved it.

The desire for a Sub has, for the most part, gone away. The GMT will possibly one day be mine, but it could also be a Pepsi...

I wanted an Explorer II, but only an orange hand, and the new one is just too big.

I have looked at my 39mm Explorer and thought int was too big and flirted with buying a 114270 and flipping the 214270. In the end, I just can’t do it.

I have realized, even the guy with the super hot wife (and I have one of those), checks out other women and wonders what that would be like…

Then, I remind myself it ain’t worth the trouble to find out.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

I have read many times that the Explorer is a collection killer. I would agree with this. It’s hard to imagine another watch that can do what this one watch can do, which is essentially anything.

I have only seen ONE other Explorer in the wild in the year I’ve owned it. How is that even possible? I’ve seen COUNTLESS other Submariners, GMT’s Explorer II’s and Daytona’s in that time, not to mention Datejusts and even OP’s.

But only ONE other Explorer…

Is it because they’re so under the radar even I can’t spot them? Or are they just that rare?

Either way, this only confirms I made the right choice.

As for the “new” MK2 with full lume? I was pretty tired of reading people diss the MK1 and praise the MK2 as “perfect.”

I happen to think the MK1 is perfect, and, dare I say it, SUPERIOR to the Mk2, because I believe it will one day be the more sought-after model. It was only produced for five years, so just wait. In 20 years it will be extremely rare.

This watch is my daily wearer, and I look forward to getting many more years out of it. One year down, many more to go.

It is THE perfect every day watch.

Nobody notices it, it doesn’t scream Rolex, and I like that.

Anytime I’ve seen a GMTc in person, the light shining off it screams bling. I don’t want that.

This watch can take a beating and should be used as a tool watch. You want it just to desk dive? That’s cool, too. But don’t hesitate to take it out into the real wild and put it through it’s paces.

One other thing - the bracelet. This is a major reason why I nixed the idea of trading up/down to a 114270 or 14270 (the 1016 still a grail, however).

The bracelet is AMAZING. I use the easy-link extension every day, and without it I’d be lost. It’s a great feature and I wouldn’t want to live without it.

I’m a big fan of the 214270 MK1. If you are interested in the MK2, then go for it. But, I do think the MK1 is a future classic, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s a classic today.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 214270CrownUp1.jpg (89.3 KB, 3296 views)
File Type: jpg 214270CrownUp2.jpg (105.1 KB, 3243 views)
File Type: jpg 214270Bracelet1.jpg (71.9 KB, 3223 views)
File Type: jpg 214270Bracelet2.jpg (85.7 KB, 3223 views)
File Type: jpg 214270Bracelet3.jpg (76.8 KB, 3210 views)
File Type: jpg 214270Bracelet4.jpg (85.3 KB, 3202 views)
File Type: jpg 214270Bracelet5.jpg (91.0 KB, 3215 views)
File Type: jpg 214270EndPic.jpg (74.7 KB, 3234 views)
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Old 9 September 2017, 06:10 AM   #2
henrylee
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looks well used!
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♛ Sub 116610LN 2011 ♛ GMT 126710BLNR 2021 ♛ GMT 126711CHNR 2020 ♛ Datejust 16233 X-series 1993 Ω Speedmaster Mitsukoshi 2019 č Cartier Tank w5200025 2021
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Old 9 September 2017, 06:19 AM   #3
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Excellent story! I love mine too
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Old 9 September 2017, 06:26 AM   #4
sanosan34
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I love the 214270! It is the only other Rolex besides my BLNR that I really want. Thanks for sharing, love the well-worn pics.
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Old 9 September 2017, 06:37 AM   #5
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Awesome review, well done! The 36mm explorer is one I've always had my eye on, due to my skinny wrists. Agree with not babying it and truly can see how it could totally wreck a collection.


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Old 9 September 2017, 06:37 AM   #6
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Great watch review! I think you're correct, the perfect companion would be a North Flag.
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Old 9 September 2017, 07:22 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Polarbears View Post
Great watch review! I think you're correct, the perfect companion would be a North Flag.
I still lust after the NF, though I've read some stories of things going wrong - Power Reserve not working, watch needing to be regulated...

Interestingly, I've NEVER read of any Explorer having trouble. I guess it could only be in need of regulating - but I've never seen that story.

If anyone has that story, would love to read about it, just to know the Explorer can suffer human error.
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Old 9 September 2017, 07:45 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ExpSubGMT View Post
Interestingly, I've NEVER read of any Explorer having trouble.
It could be that there are so few complications and moving parts that perhaps it really does have fewer problems. There is no rotating bezel, no date or PR complication, etc.
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Old 9 September 2017, 08:08 AM   #9
torgul
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This is my first Rolex and i love it too :) I was considering buying a submariner, but Explorer won and i did not regret this choice!
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Old 9 September 2017, 08:17 AM   #10
ericmli825
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Nice story and great to see the history of the watch showing visually.


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Old 9 September 2017, 08:19 AM   #11
Mick P
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Chaps

The 214270 (old style) was my first Rolex and the love affair still goes on. It is just a beautiful simple watch and it extolls all of the Rolex virtues and ethos like no other.

Regards

Mick
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Old 9 September 2017, 08:23 AM   #12
MickCollins1916
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I am happy that you've enjoyed that watch this much! That's how it's meant to be used, looks beautiful to me!
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Old 9 September 2017, 08:48 AM   #13
doramas
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"Está machacado". I like it.
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Old 9 September 2017, 08:49 AM   #14
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Good story. Thanks for sharing.
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Old 9 September 2017, 09:14 AM   #15
ExpSubGMT
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sanosan34 View Post
It could be that there are so few complications and moving parts that perhaps it really does have fewer problems. There is no rotating bezel, no date or PR complication, etc.
Exactly. I agree, and it's more reason I love the Explorer with no complications in a complicated world.
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Old 9 September 2017, 09:19 AM   #16
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Fantastic write up and made even better with the photos. I, too, have a 214270 (albeit the newer Mk 2) and agree with all your remarks. It is truly a perfect all 'rounder. That bracelet on yours proves how much wrist time it gets. Thanks for posting.
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Old 9 September 2017, 09:49 AM   #17
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Excellent write up, thanks for sharing!
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Old 9 September 2017, 09:52 AM   #18
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Love your enthusiasm for your great Explorer.
Here's to many more happy years with it.


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Old 9 September 2017, 10:18 AM   #19
ExpSubGMT
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Great comments. Thanks to All.

And now, the obligatory lume shot of my One Year old Explorer:
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Lume!.jpg (105.6 KB, 2911 views)
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Old 9 September 2017, 10:23 AM   #20
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Bro, this is EXACTLY how I feel about MK1. It's like you're in my head!
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Old 9 September 2017, 10:24 AM   #21
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Now posting the picture real time
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Old 9 September 2017, 10:41 AM   #22
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Love your enthusiasm for the Explorer. Your review resonates with me as I too acquired mine around the same time last year, and like you opted for the MK1 over the MK2. I actually had a chance to see them laid out side by side.

In person, the shorter hand was a non-issue for me. But the WG 3-6-9 was much more appealing to me. So I went for it.

A year later, like you, no regrets. The watch wears so well and feels so well balanced. I don't think it ever screamed "Rolex" to anyone in the past year. But I did receive 3 compliments on it from those in the know.
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Old 9 September 2017, 10:46 AM   #23
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I couldn't agree more. Love my Explorer. Btw, it says hello.

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Old 9 September 2017, 11:27 AM   #24
ExpSubGMT
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Bro, this is EXACTLY how I feel about MK1. It's like you're in my head!
Right on, paisan.
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Old 9 September 2017, 11:29 AM   #25
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Originally Posted by F1polesitter View Post
Love your enthusiasm for the Explorer. Your review resonates with me as I too acquired mine around the same time last year, and like you opted for the MK1 over the MK2. I actually had a chance to see them laid out side by side.

In person, the shorter hand was a non-issue for me. But the WG 3-6-9 was much more appealing to me. So I went for it.

A year later, like you, no regrets. The watch wears so well and feels so well balanced. I don't think it ever screamed "Rolex" to anyone in the past year. But I did receive 3 compliments on it from those in the know.
Love it.

Yeah, I've waited for fellow WIS' to notice mine, never happened. Glad 3 watch nerds noticed yours, though.

Cheers, brother
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Old 9 September 2017, 11:29 AM   #26
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Looks great with some wear and tear, very nice!
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Old 9 September 2017, 11:30 AM   #27
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I couldn't agree more. Love my Explorer. Btw, it says hello.
Hello right back at ya, MK1. Thanks for joining in.
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Old 9 September 2017, 11:36 AM   #28
EDL7
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Nice Explorer!
I wear my OP playing drums as well!
Cant beat these watches.
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Old 9 September 2017, 11:49 AM   #29
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Holy cow! Thats a watch well worn, with plenty of stories to tell.

Rolex would certainly be proud of it being used like this!

Thanks for sharing.
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Old 9 September 2017, 11:50 AM   #30
ExpSubGMT
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Nice Explorer!
I wear my OP playing drums as well!
Cant beat these watches.
My man!
I know your posts - LOVE your green 34mm OP!
You put that watch in my head and now I want that one next...

Also - your brush work is A+
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