36mm vs 39mm Explorer! Stuck in between

[horonet17]

I prefer the older 36mm

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[moting]

36 has better proportion. 39 is an explorer on steroids :)

[Beckster]

So after almost 4 pages worth of posts, can we please find out from OP which one he finally bought, if at all he bought it. :))

[007_Omega]

Originally Posted by warrior

I dislike the big watch trend...having said that the 36mm is reserved for die hard old school types.
The 36mm is the smallest watch I’ve ever owned.
Wears smaller than the 36mm DJs. Looks minuscule compared to EVEN
The old school Rolex DJ dress watches.


39mm. Without. A. Doubt. Proportions IMO are perfectly fine despite
What some say.

I've tried on the 36mm and I agree that it wore extremely small even for a 36mm. Looks great in pictures but in real life the size really surprised me.

[holg]

It is the 36mm for me, 39mm will look too big except you have a large wrist.

[toomuchtalk]

The 36 MM is the Rolex.....


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[BDL]

Had both and ended up keeping the 36mm. Looks more like a 1016 and the dial is just the right size.

The 39mm was too much dial for me and the vintage charm is lost.

A good 114270 is a watch you could put on and not take off for decades. It is also an absolute strap monster. Looks rad on NATO, leather and the bracelet. No watch in the Rolex lineup flies more under the radar than the 36mm Explorer.

I also prefer “Explorer” at the top and the gloss vs. matte dial.

Here are wrist shots 39mm first then 36mm. Third picture is my buddies 1016. A few strap changes on the 114270 as well.

Can’t go wrong either way, I’d try both on at the same time and I think you will know what is right for you.












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[asushane]

6.75” wrists here.

I had a chance to try on a 114270 yesterday.

I went to my AD and bought a 214270 today.

Warranty, factory new and ready for my own dents and scratches, full lume, and updated bracelet and movement swayed me. I’d be perfect with a little more narrow bezel and lugs (36mm proportions) though.

[pozer]

Originally Posted by pozer

It is, but the watch is 10 years old. It has light lume for a while but nothing like a new watch. It's in service now and I wonder if they're going to replace it?

Welp, it's back from service and they didn't polish the case, which was my ask. But spending $800..you'd think they'd at least give some sort of report on the watch's condition, right?

Anyway, it's running at 1-2 seconds/day (which is the same as before) and they apparently didn't relume it.

I wear my watches a week at a time and when I switch from this watch to my Speedy, the Speedy looks massive. When I switch back to this watch or my 1016 (or even the skyfall 39mm) it just looks right. I really do think the 114270 will do better with value appreciation or retention, though, as it's the last of the 36mm Explorers. But get what you love, right?

[Nicholas Bedworth]

There's an easy experiment you can perform. Which size attracts more attention? Who cares what we think? It's in the eye of the female beholder, right?

[Juggernaut]

I picked up a nice 214270 and I'm really enjoying it. I just discovered that the Easy-Link clasp is in fact fine-adjustable because the releasable 1/2 link can attach to the clasp in one of 3 pairs of detents that are 3.5mm apart. Along with adding/removing links, this adds further fine tuning to get you the perfect fit on the wrist!

[MatteoG]

The 36mm is my favorite Rolex. I use it more than the GMT and 16570

[mps354]

The 36mm versions were spot on with regard to proportions - stick with that

[sgarrity]

The 39mm looks great, has modern proportions, better bracelet and movement....it was an easy decision for me. It’s also got great wrist presence while being an extremely comfortable watch to wear. I wore a 34mm Date for about a decade and moving up to 36mm just didn’t make sense. The 39mm is a lifetime watch for me.

[Rolex fan 61]

39mm Mk2 is the way to go

[pigman08]

Originally Posted by Rolex fan 61

39mm Mk2 is the way to go

Agreed, and I went that way last week!... However, I do find myself a bit more willing to try a 36mm to achieve a more vintage look.


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[Juggernaut]

I feel that my 6.75" is one of those "in between sizes" that can be either a blessing or a curse. I could probably pull off either size Explorer, but the curse part comes in choosing which one....
I think both are very well designed timepieces, and if like me you have "average-sized" wrists, it largely comes down to whether you want a more modern look with a bit more wrist presence or a more classically proportioned, "vintage-compatible" look.

And I just hope I don't end up buying a 36mm version because that would really be over-doing it!

[Mephist]

This is all about taste and should be a poll. I prefer the 36mm size and I prefer the placement of the text on the dial of the 36mm too.

[Roelof]

39 mm MK2 for me, its the new classic.

[jdpny]

39 mm MK2 for me, its the new classic.

Agreed.

Instagram: aonewatchguy

[Innocenti]

I prefer the Matt dial and lume 3-6-9

Everything else the 36 mm has it

[R!$]

Are you planning on keeping only one?

[Pauln]

I have the 39mm and love it. This whole thing about the proportions being wrong on the 39mm is, IMO, crazy-talk. I mean, it's 3mm, we're not talking 36mm to 45mm. I think they both look fantastic. I'd be happy to own either one. You can't go wrong either way.

[Oceanblue]

36 has the vintage feel for sure. The 39 is simply the right size for me, although I do have several vintage watches at 36 which look just as good. The lugs, bezel and case do make a difference as well.

[Juggernaut]

Looking at my mark II 214270 in sunlight, I'm quite sure that's a GLOSS dial. I believe Rolex went back to the Gloss dial for the 2016 facelift of the Explorer....please correct me if I'm wrong, but my photo shows some pretty obvious reflections on the black dial...

So if you want a matte dial, only choice is the Mark I.
Weird...and slightly disappointing...

[debbs20]

36mm for me all day

[jdpny]

Mine's matte...

[Juggernaut]

And then again, in daylight with a direct angle, it does look like a matte dial, with light grainy texture on the dial field...I'm not sure now....
Can someone with better eyes confirm or deny the Mark I dial glossy or matte?

[subprimero]

It depends on your wrist size and your preference for "traditional" vs "modern" size watches.

[Fraz]

I have a very small wrist (just below 6 inches), and I a went for the 39 mm. Reasons being: lumed numerals, blue lume, better bracelet and clap, better movement, possibility to buy new.
I would prefer if it was a little smaller, but to be honest, it doesn't look out of place in person. Pictures really exaggerate the size of watches. This 39mm wears really thin, flat and light. No regrets, I really love it.
What do you guys think?