Rolex is introducing its new-generation Oyster Perpetual Explorer II. This technical watch, in Oystersteel, was created for the boldest explorers and now features a redesigned case and bracelet. This update brings enhanced visual balance and harmony to the timepiece while remaining true to its aesthetic heritage.

On the white lacquer dial, the hour markers – whose black coating is applied using PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) – and the black lacquer hour, minute and seconds hands stand out for their matt finish. The 24-hour hand retains its characteristic orange hue, which is the same colour as the Explorer II inscription that has featured on the dial since 2011.

The new-generation Explorer II also benefits from an optimized Chromalight display. In dark conditions, the intensity of the blue glow emitted by the hour markers and hands now lasts longer thanks to the innovative and exclusive luminescent material with which they are filled or coated. In daylight, these display elements also have a brighter white hue.

The new-generation Explorer II is equipped with calibre 3285, a movement at the forefront of watchmaking technology.

Like all Rolex watches, the Oyster Perpetual Explorer II carries the Superlative Chronometer certification, which ensures excellent performance on the wrist.

The Explorer II is heir to the privileged relationship that has long united Rolex and exploration. Presented in 1971, this robust and reliable watch quickly became an essential tool for explorers travelling to the far corners of the globe, often in extreme conditions. Thanks to its 24-hour display comprising an additional, orange hour hand and an engraved bezel, the Explorer II allows the wearer to clearly distinguish daytime from night-time hours. This is particularly useful in areas where it is difficult or even impossible to distinguish between day and night, such as underground or in polar regions, which experience six months of daylight and six months of darkness a year. In certain conditions, this display enables the watch to serve as a compass. The 24-hour display can also be used to show a second time zone.

The Explorer II features a date display, an additional orange 24-hour hand and a fixed bezel with 24-hour graduations, enabling day to be distinguished from night. It became the watch of choice for speleologists, volcanologists and polar explorers. Its hour markers and hands feature a highly-legible Chromalight display with long-lasting blue luminescence.

A paragon of robustness and reliability, the 42 mm Oyster case of the new-generation Explorer II is guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 100 metres (330 feet). Its middle case is crafted from a solid block of Oystersteel, a particularly corrosion-resistant alloy. The case back, edged with fine fluting, is hermetically screwed down with a special tool that allows only Rolex watchmakers to access the movement.

The Twinlock winding crown, fitted with a double waterproofness system and protected by an integral crown guard, screws down securely against the case. The crystal is made of virtually scratchproof sapphire and is fitted with a Cyclops lens at 3 o’clock for easy reading of the date. The waterproof Oyster case provides optimum protection for the watch’s movement.

Rolex uses Oystersteel for its steel watch cases. Specially developed by the brand, Oystersteel belongs to the 904L steel family, alloys most commonly used in high-technology and in the aerospace and chemical industries, where maximum resistance to corrosion is essential. Oystersteel is extremely resistant, offers an exceptional finish once polished and maintains its beauty even in the harshest environments.


The new-generation Explorer II is equipped with calibre 3285, a movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex that was released in 2018 and is fitted on this model from 2021. At the forefront of watchmaking technology, this self-winding mechanical movement led to the filing of several patents, and offers outstanding performance in terms of precision, power reserve, resistance to shocks and magnetic fields, convenience and reliability.

Calibre 3285 incorporates the Chronergy escapement patented by Rolex, which combines high energy efficiency with great dependability. Made of nickel-phosphorus, it is also insensitive to magnetic fields.

The movement is fitted with an optimized blue Parachrom hairspring, manufactured by Rolex in a paramagnetic alloy that makes it up to 10 times more precise than a traditional hairspring in case of shocks. The blue Parachrom hairspring is equipped with a Rolex overcoil, ensuring the calibre’s regularity in any position. The oscillator is fitted on the Rolex-designed and -patented high-performance Paraflex shock absorbers, increasing the movement’s shock resistance.

Calibre 3285 is equipped with a self-winding module via a Perpetual rotor. Thanks to its barrel architecture and the escapement’s superior efficiency, the power reserve of calibre 3285 extends to approximately 70 hours.


The new-generation Explorer II is fitted with an Oyster bracelet. Developed at the end of the 1930s, this three-piece link bracelet is known for its robustness.

The Oyster bracelet on this new watch features the Rolex-designed and -patented Oysterlock folding safety clasp, which prevents accidental opening. It is also equipped with the Easylink comfort extension link, developed by the brand, which allows the wearer to easily adjust the bracelet length by approximately 5 mm. In addition, a concealed attachment system ensures seamless visual continuity between the bracelet and case.


The Cyclops lens is one of the most distinctive Rolex features, and one of the most recognizable. Named after the one-eyed giant of Greek mythology, the Cyclops lens magnifies the watch’s emblematic date display two and a half times for easy reading. Behind the Cyclops, as with every feature of a Rolex timepiece, lies a history of invention, research and development, and the endless search for perfection.


Like all Rolex watches, the Oyster Perpetual Explorer II is covered by the Superlative Chronometer certification redefined by Rolex in 2015. This designation testifies that every watch leaving the brand’s workshops has successfully undergone a series of tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria. These certification tests apply to the fully assembled watch, after casing the movement, guaranteeing superlative performance on the wrist in terms of precision, power reserve, waterproofness and self-winding. The precision of a Rolex Superlative Chronometer is of the order of −2 /+2 seconds per day – the rate deviation tolerated by the brand for a finished watch is significantly smaller than that accepted by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC) for official certification of the movement alone.

The Superlative Chronometer status is symbolized by the green seal that comes with every Rolex watch and is coupled with an international five-year guarantee.

References	:	Case 226570 • Bracelet 78KB00
Category	:	Oyster Perpetual Professional
Case	:	Oystersteel Oyster (monobloc middle case, screw-down case back and winding crown)
Safety	:	Integral crown guard
Diameter	:	42 mm
Middle case	:	Oystersteel, satin finish with polished sides
Bezel	:	Oystersteel 24-hour graduated Engraved graduations and numerals, black coating via electrolytic technique
Case back	:	Oystersteel, solid, screw-down with fine fluting
Winding crown	:	Twinlock in Oystersteel, screw-down, double waterproofness system
Crystal	:	Scratch-resistant sapphire with anti-reflective coating Cyclops lens over the date withdouble anti-reflective coating
Waterproofness	:	100 metres (330 feet)
Movement	:	Calibre 3285, Manufacture Rolex Mechanical movement with bidirectionalself-winding via Perpetual rotor
Precision	:	–2 /+2 sec/day, after casing
Functions	:	Centre hour, minute and seconds hands; independent rapid-setting of the hour hand Time shown by conventional hands and in24-hour format via additional 24-hour hand(day/night distinction) or Local time via conventional hands, reference time via additional 24-hour hand Instantaneous date at 3 o’clock, secure setting via the hour hand Stop-seconds for exact time setting
Oscillator	:	Frequency: 28,800 beats/hour (4 Hz) Paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring Rolex overcoil Large balance wheel with variable inertia High-precision regulating via four gold Microstella nuts Traversing balance bridge High-performance Paraflex shock absorbers
Escapement	:	Chronergy with optimized energy efficiency Paramagnetic nickel-phosphorus pallet fork and escape wheel
Jewelling	:	31 rubies
Power reserve	:	Approximately 70 hours
Dial	:	White lacquer Matt hour markers in 18 ct white gold Black coating via PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) Highly legible Chromalight (long-lasting luminescence, blue glow) Hands in 18 ct white gold, coated with matt black lacquer except the 24-hour hand, which is coated with orange lacquer Highly legible Chromalight (long-lasting luminescence, blue glow)
Certification	:	Superlative Chronometer (COSC + Rolex certification after casinge) International five-year guarantee
Bracelet	:	Oyster, three-piece solid links Oystersteel, satin finish with polished edges
Buckle	:	Oysterlock folding safety clasp Easylink comfort extension link (approx. 5 mm)
Prix public	:	8,050 €