The Rolex Explorer II 226570 is the current Explorer II: a 42 mm Oystersteel watch with a fixed 24-hour bezel, an orange 24-hour hand, a date with Cyclops and the calibre 3285 with 70 hours of power reserve, offered with a black dial or the white "Polar" dial. Rolex introduced it in April 2021 for the Explorer II's 50th anniversary, replacing the 216570 that had carried the same case since 2011. This guide covers the specifications, what the 24-hour hand is for, the Polar versus black decision, how the 226570 compares with the 216570 and the 40 mm 16570, retail and dealer prices in 2026, and what to check before buying. Bizak & Co. sources the 226570 to order; the Explorer II collection lists the configurations we can seek.
Last reviewed on September 21, 2026 by Filip Biczak. Prices are dated observations, not quotes.
Rolex Explorer II 226570 specifications
| Attribute | 226570 |
|---|---|
| Case | 42 mm Oystersteel, about 12.5 mm thick, roughly 50 mm lug to lug, 21 mm lug width; screw-down Twinlock crown with crown guards |
| Bezel | Fixed, engraved 24-hour graduation in Oystersteel |
| Movement | Calibre 3285, automatic, independently adjustable 12-hour hand, Chronergy escapement, 70 hours power reserve, Superlative Chronometer to plus or minus 2 seconds a day |
| Dial | Black lacquer with white gold surrounds, or white "Polar" lacquer with black-edged markers; Chromalight; orange 24-hour hand; date at 3 with Cyclops |
| Crystal | Sapphire with Cyclops |
| Bracelet | Oyster three-piece links, Oysterlock safety clasp, Easylink 5 mm extension |
| Water resistance | 100 m (330 ft) |
| Predecessors | 216570 (2011 to 2021), 16570 (1989 to 2011), 16550 (1985 to 1989), 1655 (1971 to 1985) |
Source: Rolex, Explorer II 226570 white dial and Rolex, Explorer II 226570 black dial; the Explorer collection page lists both models alongside the Explorer 36 and 40.
What is the orange 24-hour hand for?
The Explorer II was designed in 1971 for cave explorers and polar scientists who could not tell day from night. The orange hand makes one revolution a day and points at the fixed 24-hour bezel, so the wearer reads whether it is 3 in the morning or 3 in the afternoon. Since the calibre 3185 of 1989 the 12-hour hand has been independently adjustable, which turns the same layout into a second-time-zone display: set the orange hand to home time and jump the main hour hand to local time. The 226570 keeps both uses. It differs from the GMT-Master II in having a fixed rather than rotating bezel, which means one extra time zone rather than two, and a case that reads as a tool watch rather than a traveller's watch.
Polar white or black dial?
| White Polar (226570-0001) | Black (226570-0002) | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | White lacquer with black-edged markers; the Explorer II most people picture | Black lacquer with white gold surrounds; quieter, closer to the 1971 original |
| Legibility | Best in daylight; the orange hand stands out | Better at night with Chromalight |
| Retail, 2026 | Same as black | Same as white |
| Bizak catalogue ask, 21 Sep 2026 | US$13,860 brand new | US$13,090 brand new; US$10,229 pre-owned |
| Secondary demand | Higher; the Polar is the more requested | Lower; easier to source |
Both dials cost the same at retail, so the gap on the secondary market is demand for the Polar. If you want the watch rather than the nickname, the black dial is usually cheaper and easier to find.
226570 vs 216570 vs 16570: which Explorer II?
| 226570 | 216570 | 16570 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case | 42 mm, slimmer lugs and crown guards | 42 mm, wide "maxi" case | 40 mm |
| Movement | 3285, 70 h, Chronergy | 3187, 48 h, Paraflex | 3185 then 3186, 48 h |
| Years | 2021 to date | 2011 to 2021 | 1989 to 2011 |
| Lume | Chromalight, blue | Chromalight, blue | Tritium then Luminova, green |
| Bracelet | Oyster, Easylink | Oyster, Easylink | Oyster, folding clasp |
| Bizak catalogue, 21 Sep 2026 | US$13,090 to 13,860 new | US$11,159 to 12,089 new; from US$8,369 pre-owned | Ask for a quote |
The 226570 is the one to buy new: the 70-hour movement and slimmer case fix the two complaints about the 216570. The 216570 is the value route to the 42 mm Polar, especially the 2011 and 2012 examples whose white dials aged to cream. The 16570 is the 40 mm Explorer II for smaller wrists and the one with a vintage following; a black-dial 16570 is still one of the cheapest steel Rolex sports watches.
How does the Explorer II 226570 wear?
At 42 mm with a lug-to-lug of about 50 mm, the Explorer II is the largest steel Rolex outside the Sea-Dweller and Deepsea, and it wears its size because the fixed bezel is steel and the dial is wide. The 2021 case slimmed the lugs and crown guards, so it sits flatter and looks less top-heavy than the 216570. Wrists above about 17 cm (6.7 inches) carry it well; below that, try the 40 mm Explorer or a GMT-Master II. The Easylink extension gives 5 mm without tools. There is no Jubilee option and no gold version; the Explorer II has only ever been steel.
How much is a Rolex Explorer II 226570? Retail and dealer prices in 2026
- Retail. Rolex's US list price for the Explorer II has sat in the low-to-mid US$10,000s in 2026, the same for both dials; the current figure is on the Rolex product pages linked above. It is among the easier steel professional models to obtain at an authorised dealer, and walk-in allocations do happen, though the Polar can take longer.
- Secondary market. In 2025 and 2026, unworn full-set 226570 examples have generally been asked at a modest premium to retail, with the Polar at the top, and pre-owned full sets at or a little above retail. The premium is far smaller than on the GMT-Master II.
- Bizak catalogue asks. On 21 September 2026 our sourced catalogue listed the black dial at US$13,090 and the Polar at US$13,860 brand new, a pre-owned black dial at US$10,229, and the previous 216570 at US$11,159 black and US$12,089 white new, with pre-owned examples from US$8,369, all sourced to order.
Those figures describe what we saw and will move. Ask for a dated quote for the exact dial, year and card; our Rolex price guide explains how to compare quotes.
Is the Explorer II 226570 a good investment?
It is a watch to own rather than to trade. The premium over retail is small, so there is little to gain from buying above retail and holding, and little to lose from buying near retail and wearing it. The Polar has held value better than the black dial, and discontinued Explorer IIs have appreciated slowly once Rolex stopped making them. Buy it because the orange hand and the fixed bezel are what you want; if resale matters, ask for a written cash-buy assessment before you commit.
Buying a used 226570: what to check
- Warranty card. Card serial and rehaut engraving should match; every 226570 is inside its five-year warranty until at least 2026, and most until 2028 or later. Rolex does not reissue cards.
- Bezel. The fixed steel bezel is brushed on top and polished on the edge; the engraved numerals should be crisp and unpainted. Deep scratches are permanent short of a bezel replacement.
- 24-hour function. From the first crown position the 12-hour hand should jump in one-hour steps while the orange hand stays put; the orange hand is set with the crown in the second position along with the minutes.
- Dial. A 226570 dial reads "Explorer II" with "Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified" and has the Rolex crown at 6 between "Swiss" and "Made"; a 216570 dial lacks the crown and an early 216570 Polar may show cream markers.
- Case. Sharp lug chamfers and even brushing on the case sides and bracelet; rounded edges mean polishing.
- Clasp. The Easylink should snap open and closed and the Oysterlock should hold; check the clasp cover for deep scratches, which show on the Explorer II's wide clasp.
- Price against the band. A full-set Polar offered well under the market is the single most reliable warning sign.
Our authentication process describes what we inspect before dispatch.
Quick answers
How much is a Rolex Explorer II 226570?
Rolex's US list price sat in the low-to-mid US$10,000s in 2026 for either dial. Bizak's sourced catalogue listed the black dial at US$13,090 and the Polar at US$13,860 brand new, and a pre-owned black dial at US$10,229, on 21 September 2026.
What is the difference between the 226570 and 216570?
The 226570 has the calibre 3285 with 70 hours of reserve, slimmer lugs and crown guards and a Rolex crown printed at 6 on the dial; the 216570 has the calibre 3187 with 48 hours and the wider case. Both are 42 mm with the same bezel and bracelet.
Which Explorer II is the Polar?
Any white-dial Explorer II. On the current reference it is the 226570-0001; the black-dial 226570-0002 is the same watch in the other colour.
Is the Explorer II a GMT watch?
Yes, with one extra time zone. The orange 24-hour hand reads against the fixed bezel and the 12-hour hand sets independently, so it shows home and local time. The GMT-Master II adds a rotating bezel for a third zone.
Is the Explorer II hard to get at retail?
Less so than the Submariner, GMT-Master II or Daytona. Authorised dealers allocate the black dial to newer clients within months in many markets; the Polar usually takes longer.
Request an Explorer II 226570 sourcing quote
Tell us the dial colour, preferred year range, condition and whether the warranty card is required, plus your budget and timing, through our sourcing enquiry form. We confirm the specific watch, photographs, card and final price before you commit. Catalogue entries: 226570 Polar white dial, 226570 black dial, pre-owned 226570, 216570 Polar; browse the Explorer II collection, the 226570 collection, or sell or trade your Explorer II.
Related reading: Explorer 40 224270 guide · GMT-Master II Batman guide · Diversifying a Rolex collection beyond the Submariner · Rolex waitlist explained.
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