Rolex Explorer II 42mm "Polar" White Dial Steel | Ref. 216570 | 2015 Box & Papers Full Set

The Story

The Rolex Explorer II is a timepiece born out of absolute technical necessity, designed specifically for polar explorers, volcanologists, and speleologists who operated in complete darkness beneath the earth for weeks at a time. First introduced in 1971, it provided an essential tool: a fixed 24-hour bezel synced to a dedicated GMT hand to allow adventurers to distinguish day from night instantly. This modern 42mm reference (216570) with the highly sought-after "Polar" white dial is a brilliant, rugged cult favorite among serious collectors, moving away from standard dive watch clichés to offer an imposing, military-grade aesthetic that marks its owner as a true purist.

The Craft: Polar High-Contrast Art & Bulletproof Architecture

The structural base of this watch is its commanding 45mm lug-to-lug, 42mm diameter case crafted entirely from 950 Oystersteel—Rolex’s proprietary superalloy that offers maximum resistance to harsh chemical corrosion and scratch wear.

The immaculate white "Polar" dial is a masterclass in high-altitude legibility. Rolex treats the applied white gold hour markers and hands with a satin-black coating, creating an absolute high-contrast frame that makes time reading effortless in extreme environments. The dial is dominated by the striking, oversized orange 24-hour hand, bringing back the beloved heritage look of the original 1970s reference 1655. The fixed satin-brushed steel bezel is deeply engraved with a 24-hour scale, functioning alongside a Cyclops date window at 3 o'clock.

Beneath the solid screw-down caseback beats the In-house Rolex Caliber 3187. This self-winding mechanical automatic movement features a GMT dual-time zone function where the local hour hand can be adjusted independently in one-hour increments. To survive high-impact expeditions, Rolex outfits the Caliber 3187 with its patented high-performance Paraflex shock absorbers and a blue Parachrom hairspring, ensuring ten times greater precision under shock resistance than standard movements. Backed by a Twinlock crown, the watch guarantees a professional 100 meters (330 feet) of water resistance.

Condition & Complete 2015 Heritage Presentation Set

This exceptional Explorer II Polar is presented in Very Good overall condition, exhibiting only light, honest signs of careful wear on its Oystersteel bracelet and case facets, completely consistent with proud, attentive ownership. The sapphire crystal is completely clean and scratch-free, and the radial brushwork across the fixed steel bezel remains perfectly defined with crisp factory black enamel inlay within the numbers. The integrated Oyster bracelet feels completely rigid with zero stretch, comfortably fitting wrists up to approximately 18.5 cm (7.3 inches).

The timepiece arrives as a True Complete Full Set, complete with its original Rolex green luxury inner and outer presentation boxes, operating user manuals, official chronometer booklets, the green serialized hang tag, and the original international warranty card officially stamped and dated in 2015. Fully checked and verified for amplitude and timing stability, this legendary polar explorer is backed by our 1-year Honeyrock mechanical warranty, ready for your next global transition.