Rolex Explorer II Black Dial 226570

Overview 

The Explorer II was designed in 1971 for expeditions in environments where natural light cues were absent. The fixed 24-hour bezel and the independently adjustable local hour hand exist to solve that specific problem — distinguishing day from night without relying on ambient conditions. The 226570 continues that logic, updated with current movement architecture and a 42mm case that gives the dial more room to read at a distance.

The case is 42mm Oystersteel with a fixed stainless steel bezel engraved with 24-hour graduations — not a rotating GMT bezel, but a fixed reference scale. The dial is black lacquer with white gold surrounds on the applied indices; the 24-hour GMT hand is orange and the only colour accent on an otherwise monochromatic reading surface. The Oyster bracelet carries an Easylink 5mm extension for on-the-fly sizing.

The Calibre 3285 delivers a 70-hour power reserve and an independently adjustable local hour hand that jumps in one-hour increments without stopping the seconds or disturbing the home time — the same function as the GMT-Master II, but accessed through the crown rather than a bidirectional bezel.

Against the GMT-Master II, the Explorer II occupies a more utilitarian register: no rotatable bezel, no colour story, a fixed scale that prioritises function over visual identity. Buyers choosing between the two are deciding between function as the primary purpose (Explorer II) and function as a secondary feature dressed in a more expressive case (GMT). Secondary pricing on the 226570 has held consistently around retail without the demand volatility that follows the GMT lineup's colour variants. Brand new, unworn, complete with box and papers dated March 2026, at RM47,000.

Specifications

Brand :	Rolex
Model Name :	Explorer II
Reference :	226570
Material	Steel
Movement :	Rolex Calibre 3285, 70 hours Power Reserve, Automatic
Case Diameter :	42mm
Bracelet / Strap :	Steel
Features :	100m depth rating, Blue luminescence on dial, GMT feature - second time zone with independent hour hand

Condition

Brand New, Unworn Condition, Complete Original Set with Box and Papers dated March 2026. 

Warranty

5 year original manufacturer warranty. 

 

Further Insight from Our Specialist Team

Read our Full Review here :

The Case for the Explorer II: Is This Rolex's Best Sports Watch? 

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