Brand new with stickers. First launched in 1971 as a watch designed specifically for cave explorers, the Rolex Explorer II was created to be a supplementary addition to the existing Explorer collection, rather than a direct replacement for the time-only model that had existed since 1953. Adding both a date display and an additional 24-hour hand, the Explorer II was created to provide a clear reference of day and night hours – even while operating in total darkness, deep below the Earth’s surface.

Produced between 2011 and 2021, the Rolex Explorer II reference 216570 is a 42mm stainless steel sports watch that features both a date display and GMT functionality. Although it closely resembles the current-production version of Rolex’s iconic speleologist’s watch, the ref. 216570 represented a major turning point for the collection when it first made an appearance at Baselworld 2011 and it now occupies an important position in the model’s history. If you’ve been thinking about adding one of these Rolex sports watches to your collection, here is everything you need to know about the reference 216570 Explorer II. White dial .