Rolex Explorer II

A new Rolex Explorer II lists at $10,600: that is Rolex’s 2026 US retail price, before tax, for the 42 mm 226570 with a white “Polar” or a black dial. On Bizak, prices start at $7,906 for a pre-owned 40 mm 16570, $10,306 for a 216570 and $11,968 for a pre-owned 226570. Every watch is sourced to order: reserve with a $200 deposit, credited to the final price; after your deposit we review a verified sourcing option with you, with watch-specific photos and a current quote, before you commit the balance.

Rolex Explorer II (Explorer 2) price by reference

“Rolex list” is Rolex’s 2026 US suggested retail price, before tax, for a new watch from an Official Rolex Jeweler; Rolex no longer lists the 16570 or 216570. “Bizak from” is the lowest live catalogue price for each reference and dial on 19 October 2026, pre-owned or new as the listing states; tap a price to open that watch and reserve it.

Reference and dial	Made, size	Rolex list	Bizak from
226570, white (Polar)	2021 to today, 42 mm	$10,600	$11,999 pre-owned; $14,094 new
226570, black	2021 to today, 42 mm	$10,600	$11,968 pre-owned; $12,925 new
216570, white (Polar)	2011 to 2021, 42 mm	No longer listed	$11,540 pre-owned; $12,464 new
216570, black	2011 to 2021, 42 mm	No longer listed	$10,306 pre-owned; $11,130 new
16570, white (Polar)	Late 1980s to 2011, 40 mm	No longer listed	$8,046 pre-owned
16570, black	Late 1980s to 2011, 40 mm	No longer listed	$7,906 pre-owned

Bizak also lists a 226570 with a black PVD/DLC coating on the case and bracelet, at $14,879 new. Rolex makes the Explorer II only in Oystersteel, so the coating is an aftermarket modification, not a Rolex version.

Rolex list price vs market price

Rolex sets one US list price for both 226570 dials: $10,600 before tax in its 2026 catalogue, up from $8,550 when the 226570 was launched in 2021, the Explorer II’s 50th anniversary year. That price applies to a new watch bought from an Official Rolex Jeweler. Bizak is an independent dealer, not affiliated with Rolex, so its prices are market prices: on 19 October 2026 its lowest ask for a 226570 was $1,368 above list pre-owned and $2,325 above list new. The 216570 it replaced started $294 below the current list price, and a 40 mm 16570 at $7,906, $2,694 below it.

16570, 216570 or 226570: what changes

Rolex launched the Explorer II in 1971 as the heir to the Explorer, for speleologists, volcanologists and polar explorers: its 24-hour hand points to a fixed bezel graduated in 24 hours, so the wearer can tell day from night when daylight gives no clue, and it shows the date. Since the 1980s the hour hand can also be set on its own, which lets the 24-hour hand keep a second time zone. Every reference since has kept that layout; size, movement and the colour of the 24-hour hand are what separate the three you can buy today.

Explorer II	16570	216570	226570
Made	Late 1980s to 2011	2011 to 2021	Since 2021
Case	40 mm	42 mm	42 mm, narrower lugs
Movement	Calibre 3185, later 3186	Calibre 3187, 48 h reserve	Calibre 3285, about 70 h reserve
24-hour hand	Red	Orange, back from the 1971 original	Orange
Lume	Tritium, then LumiNova, then Super-LumiNova	Chromalight	Optimised Chromalight
Bracelet	Oyster	Oyster, 21 mm at its widest	Oyster, 22 mm at its widest, Easylink 5 mm extension
Bizak from	$7,906	$10,306	$11,968

The 226570 looks much like the 216570, and the differences are in the details: narrower lugs around a wider bracelet, white gold hands on the black dial and a small Rolex crown between “Swiss” and “Made” at 6 o’clock. Our Explorer II 226570 guide covers the current model, and the Explorer II 16570 guide the 40 mm reference’s dial and lume generations. Every 16570 is on our Explorer II 16570 page and every 216570 on our Explorer II 216570 page. Deciding between an Explorer II and an Explorer? Read Explorer II vs Explorer: what the 24-hour hand adds.

Polar or black: does the dial change the price?

Collectors call the white-dial Explorer II the Polar; Rolex simply calls the dial white and lists both 226570 dials at $10,600. The first Explorer II, the 1655 of 1971 to 1985, came only with a black dial; the white dial arrived with the 16550 in 1985 and has been offered beside the black one ever since. In Bizak’s catalogue on 19 October 2026 the white dial cost more new and on the 216570: $14,094 against $12,925 for a new 226570, and $11,540 against $10,306 for a pre-owned 216570. Pre-owned, the two 226570 dials were $31 apart and the two 16570 dials $140 apart. Every white-dial Explorer II is on our Explorer II Polar page, and our Explorer II Polar dial guide shows how the dial changed by generation.

Which Explorer II should you buy?

Lowest price: the 40 mm 16570, from $7,906 with a black dial or $8,046 in white.
The orange hand for less than list: a pre-owned black 216570 at $10,306, $294 under the 226570’s list price.
The current model: the 226570, from $11,968 pre-owned or $12,925 new, with calibre 3285 and about 70 hours of power reserve.
A Polar dial: from $8,046 in a 16570, $11,540 in a 216570 or $11,999 for a pre-owned 226570.
A smaller wrist: the 16570 is the last 40 mm Explorer II; today’s model comes only in 42 mm. Without the 24-hour hand, the Explorer 40 is the alternative.

What to check before you buy an Explorer II

The reference and dial. Rolex codes the current watch 226570-0001 with the white dial and 226570-0002 with the black. The reference and serial on the case should match the guarantee card.
The movement. Calibre 3185 or 3186 belongs in a 16570, 3187 in a 216570 and 3285 in a 226570.
Dial and lume. A 16570’s lume tells its era: tritium on early dials, then LumiNova, then Super-LumiNova, and an engraved rehaut appears only at the very end of production. A 226570 dial has the small Rolex crown between “Swiss” and “Made”, and the black 226570 has white gold hands.
Coatings and other changes. Rolex makes the Explorer II only in Oystersteel, so a black-coated case or bracelet is aftermarket work: ask what was changed, and compare its price with unmodified watches.
Rolex’s guarantee. Rolex gives a five-year international guarantee on new watches bought from its Official Jewelers, dated on the card at the sale, so the card date shows how much may remain.

Found your Explorer II? Open its listing and tap Reserve with $200. Our buyer protection page sets out the deposit terms, and our authentication page lists the checks made on the specific watch before dispatch. Selling or trading an Explorer II instead? See sell or trade your watch.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a Rolex Explorer II?

A new Explorer II 226570 lists at $10,600 in the US before tax, with either the white or the black dial. On Bizak on 19 October 2026, the 40 mm 16570 started at $7,906 pre-owned, the 216570 at $10,306 pre-owned and the 226570 at $11,968 pre-owned or $12,925 new.

Has the Explorer II gone up in price?

Yes. Rolex’s US list price for the 226570 was $8,550 when it was launched in 2021 and is $10,600 in Rolex’s 2026 catalogue, $2,050 more. Bizak’s lowest asks for a 226570 on 19 October 2026 were above that list price for both dials, by $1,368 or more pre-owned and $2,325 or more new.

How much is a used Explorer II 16570 or 216570?

On 19 October 2026 Bizak’s pre-owned 16570s ran from $7,906 to $9,166 and its pre-owned 216570s from $10,306 to $12,464; new 216570s were listed at $11,130 with a black dial and $12,464 in white. Rolex no longer makes either reference.

Does the white Polar dial cost more than the black?

Not at Rolex: both 226570 dials list at $10,600. In Bizak’s catalogue the white dial cost more for a new 226570 ($14,094 against $12,925) and for a pre-owned 216570 ($11,540 against $10,306), while the two dials of a pre-owned 226570 or 16570 were within $140 of each other.

What is the difference between the 16570, 216570 and 226570?

The 16570 is the last 40 mm Explorer II, with calibre 3185, later 3186, and a red 24-hour hand. The 216570 of 2011 grew to 42 mm, brought back the orange 24-hour hand and used calibre 3187 with 48 hours of reserve. The 226570 of 2021 keeps 42 mm with narrower lugs, a wider bracelet and calibre 3285 with about 70 hours.

Did the Explorer II always come with a white dial?

No. The original 1655, made from 1971 to 1985, came only with a black dial. The white dial arrived with the 16550 in 1985, and every Explorer II since has been offered in white or black. Collectors call the white version the Polar.

Is the Rolex Explorer II discontinued?

No. Rolex’s 2026 catalogue lists the Explorer II 226570 with a white or a black dial. The earlier references are discontinued: the 1655, the 16550, the 40 mm 16570 (made until 2011) and the 42 mm 216570 (2011 to 2021).

Is the Explorer II a GMT watch?

Yes. Rolex lists the 226570’s calibre 3285 with a GMT function: the orange hand turns once every 24 hours against the fixed 24-hour bezel, and because the hour hand sets on its own, it can show a second time zone. The GMT-Master II uses the same calibre with a rotating 24-hour bezel.

Is the 216570 the “Steve McQueen” Explorer II?

No. Collectors give the “Steve McQueen” nickname to the original 1655 of 1971 to 1985, although there are no known photographs of McQueen wearing one; he was photographed with a Submariner. The 216570 is the 42 mm Explorer II made from 2011 to 2021.