The Rolex Explorer 214270 is the 39 mm Explorer I that Rolex made from 2010 until 2021: an Oystersteel watch with a black 3-6-9 dial, no date, calibre 3132 and 100 m of water resistance. It sits between the 36 mm Explorers of the 1990s and 2000s and the pair Rolex launched in 2021, the 36 mm 124270 and the 40 mm 224270, and it is now sourced pre-owned. This guide covers the specifications, how the early and 2016-updated dials differ, how the 214270 compares with its successors and with the Explorer II, how it wears, what Bizak's catalogue asked on 1 October 2026 and what to check before buying. Bizak & Co. sources the 214270 to order; the Explorer collection lists the examples we can seek.
Last reviewed on October 1, 2026 by Filip Biczak. Prices are dated observations, not quotes.
Rolex Explorer 214270 specifications
| Attribute | 214270 |
|---|---|
| Case | 39 mm Oystersteel, screw-down Twinlock crown, no date window |
| Movement | Calibre 3132, automatic, about 48 hours of power reserve, Superlative Chronometer certified |
| Dial | Black, with Arabic numerals at 3, 6 and 9 and baton markers elsewhere; luminous display (Chromalight from the 2016 update) |
| Crystal | Scratch-resistant sapphire, flat, no Cyclops |
| Bracelet | Oyster, three-piece links, Oysterlock folding clasp with Easylink extension |
| Water resistance | 100 m (330 ft) |
| Production | 2010 to 2021 |
| Predecessors | 114270 (about 2001 to 2010) and 14270 (about 1989 to 2001), both 36 mm |
| Successors | 124270 (36 mm) and 224270 (40 mm), both introduced in 2021 |
Source: the Rolex Explorer collection page lists the current Explorer 36 and Explorer 40 that replaced this reference, and Rolex watch care and service covers servicing. Rolex no longer lists the 214270, so figures for it come from the watch itself and from period references.
What did Rolex change on the Explorer I in 2010?
The 214270 was the first Explorer I to grow beyond 36 mm. The case moved to 39 mm in 2010, the crown guards and lugs became broader, and the movement became the calibre 3132, which carries the later Parachrom hairspring and the Paraflex shock absorbers that Rolex had introduced across its modern calibres. The look stayed faithful to the 1953 original: black dial, luminous 3-6-9, plain polished-and-brushed Oystersteel and nothing else on the dial except the Explorer name and the chronometer text. It is a watch with one function, telling time clearly in poor light, and the larger case was Rolex's answer to buyers who found the 36 mm size too small.
Mk1 or Mk2: how do the two 214270 dials differ?
Collectors divide production into an early dial from 2010 and an updated dial from about 2016, informally called Mk1 and Mk2. Rolex does not use those labels, and the reference number on the card and case is the same. The commonly cited differences are the lume and the hands: the updated watch moved to Chromalight, which glows blue rather than green, and its hour and minute hands and dial printing were revised. Because dials were sometimes replaced at service, the safe check is that the dial, the lume colour and the card date tell one consistent story. Ask for photographs of the dial in daylight and, if possible, in the dark, and match them against the date on the warranty card.
214270 vs 124270 vs 224270: which Explorer?
| 214270 | 124270 | 224270 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 39 mm | 36 mm | 40 mm |
| Movement | 3132, about 48 h | 3230, about 70 h | 3230, about 70 h |
| Years | 2010 to 2021 | 2021 to date | 2021 to date |
| Status | Discontinued; pre-owned | Current production | Current production |
| Bizak guide | This page | 124270 guide | 224270 guide |
The 214270 sits between the two current sizes. Choose the 124270 if you want the original 36 mm proportions, the 224270 if you want a case closer to 40 mm with the newer movement, and the 214270 if the in-between 39 mm size and the earlier-generation look are what you want. All three are Explorer I watches with no date and no 24-hour hand.
Is the 214270 an Explorer II?
No. The Explorer II has a fixed 24-hour bezel, an orange 24-hour hand and a date, and it is a separate line; the current model is the 42 mm 226570, covered in our Explorer II guide. The Explorer I, which includes the 214270, has a plain smooth bezel and a three-hand dial. Some retailer category pages mix the two, so confirm the reference on the card before you pay.
How does the Explorer 214270 wear?
At 39 mm the 214270 wears as a compact tool watch: noticeably larger than the 36 mm Explorer without reaching the presence of a 40 mm sports model. The smooth bezel and plain dial keep the visual weight low, and the Oyster bracelet with the Easylink extension lets you gain a few millimetres in warm weather. Wrists of roughly 16 to 18 cm (6.3 to 7.1 inches) are comfortable with it. It has no Cyclops and no date, so the dial is symmetrical and quick to read. Because the sizes sit so close, trying one on beside a 36 mm and a 40 mm is the best way to decide.
Why buy a discontinued Explorer 39?
- Size. It is the only 39 mm Explorer I, a size no current model offers.
- Simplicity. No date, no complication, one of the cleanest dials Rolex has made.
- Fixed supply. Production ended in 2021, so every example is pre-owned and the pool no longer grows.
- Trade-offs. Pre-owned only, an older 48 hour movement, and any remaining Rolex warranty depends on the date on the card.
How much is a Rolex Explorer 214270? Dated prices
- Retail. Rolex has discontinued the 214270 and no longer publishes a list price for it; the current Explorer prices are on the Rolex collection page linked above.
- Bizak catalogue asks. On 1 October 2026 our sourced catalogue listed three pre-owned 214270 examples at US$8,141 each, all sourced to order.
- Wholesale movement. Our Q2 2026 wholesale report recorded 214270 asks moving from US$7,800 to US$7,100, a fall of 9.0 percent, between 1 April and 23 June 2026. Those are dealer asks, not sales.
Those figures describe what we saw and will move. Ask for a dated quote for the exact year, dial and set; our Rolex price guide explains how to compare quotes.
Is the Explorer 214270 a good investment?
Treat it as a watch to wear. Supply is fixed, but the wholesale asks we logged drifted lower through the second quarter of 2026, and a discontinued steel Explorer has no guarantee of appreciation. The buyers who are happiest with a 214270 choose it for the 39 mm size and the plain dial, then buy a correct, complete example near the middle of the market rather than paying for a nickname that this reference does not have. If resale matters, ask for a written cash-buy assessment before you commit.
Buying a used 214270: what to check
- Reference. The warranty card and the case should read 214270, not 124270, 224270 or an Explorer II reference.
- Dial and lume. Match the dial generation to the card date; a Chromalight dial on a watch sold in 2011 deserves a question.
- Case. Sharp lug chamfers and crisp polished edges; rounded corners mean repeated polishing.
- Bracelet. Hold the watch by the clasp; a sagging bracelet is stretched and costly to fix.
- Service history. Ask what was serviced, when and by whom, and whether a pressure test was done.
- Price against the band. A complete set offered far below the asks above is the most reliable warning sign.
Our authentication process describes what we inspect before dispatch.
Quick answers
How much is a Rolex Explorer 214270?
Rolex no longer lists the 214270. Bizak's sourced catalogue listed three pre-owned examples at US$8,141 each on 1 October 2026, sourced to order, and wholesale asks fell from US$7,800 to US$7,100 between April and June 2026.
What years was the Explorer 214270 made?
From 2010 to 2021. Rolex replaced it with the 36 mm 124270 and the 40 mm 224270 in 2021.
Is the 214270 an Explorer II?
No. It is an Explorer I with a smooth bezel and no date. The Explorer II is a separate line with a 24-hour bezel, currently the 226570.
What is the difference between the Mk1 and Mk2 dial?
They are collector labels for the early 2010 dial and the dial updated around 2016. The update moved to Chromalight lume and revised the hands; the reference is still 214270.
What movement is in the 214270?
The calibre 3132, an automatic chronometer with about 48 hours of power reserve. Its successors, the 124270 and 224270, use the calibre 3230.
Request an Explorer 214270 sourcing quote
Tell us the preferred year range or dial generation, condition and whether the warranty card is required, plus your budget and timing, through our sourcing enquiry form. We confirm the specific watch, photographs, papers and final price before you commit. Catalogue entries: 214270 pre-owned, 214270NL2 pre-owned, 214270-1 pre-owned; browse the Explorer collection, the pre-owned watches collection, or sell or trade your Explorer.
Related reading: Explorer 40 224270 guide · Explorer 36 124270 guide · Explorer II 226570 guide · Rolex waitlist explained.
0 comments