The Rolex Explorer II 226570 is the current-generation Explorer II with the black dial. 42mm, fixed steel bezel with 24-hour engravings, orange GMT hand. The Explorer II is the tool-watch GMT. No rotating bezel. No two-tone bracelet. No polished surfaces on the bracelet. It was designed for cavers and polar explorers who operate in places where daylight is ambiguous and 24-hour time is more useful than a date. VSF Watch Factory got the case proportions, the GMT movement, and the dial right.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Factory | VSF Watch Factory |
| Reference | 226570 (Explorer II 42mm, black dial) |
| Movement | Dandong 3285 automatic GMT, 1:1 clone, independent jumping hour hand, 72-hour power reserve |
| Case dimensions | 42mm diameter |
| Material | 904L stainless steel |
| Bezel | Fixed 24-hour graduated, brushed steel with black enamel engravings |
| Dial | Matte black with white gold-plated luminous indices, orange GMT hand |
| Bracelet | 904L steel Oyster, fully brushed, Oysterlock clasp with 5mm Easylink extension |
The bezel. Fixed steel with 24-hour engravings filled in black enamel. It does not rotate. The 24-hour scale pairs with the orange GMT hand to track a second time zone on a military-time format. The bezel is brushed radially and reads the same from any angle. The black enamel fill stays dark and will not discolor. VSF got the engraving depth and the brushing right.
The orange hand. The GMT hand is bright orange and it is the only color on the watch. The dial is matte black. The bezel is brushed steel. The indices and Mercedes hands are white gold. The bracelet is fully brushed. The orange GMT hand draws the eye first and identifies the Explorer II from any distance. In the dark the lume is blue Chromalight across the rest of the dial and the orange hand does not glow. VSF matched the orange correctly.
The movement. Dandong 3285 automatic GMT with a 72-hour power reserve. Independent jumping local hour hand. The GMT hand tracks a second time zone on the 24-hour bezel. The local hour hand jumps in one-hour clicks without stopping the running seconds. The date is driven through the hour hand. This is the correct GMT movement for the Explorer II and it is the same architecture VSF uses in the GMT-Master II models.
The case. 42mm in 904L steel. The lug brushing and the polished case flanks are the standard Rolex sports watch finishing. No crown guard gaps. At 42mm the Explorer II has more wrist presence than the GMT-Master II at 40mm. The larger size is part of the tool-watch identity.
The bracelet. Fully brushed Oyster with an Oysterlock clasp and a 5mm Easylink extension. No polished center links. The all-brushed finish hides scratches and matches the utilitarian identity of the watch. The Easylink folds out to add roughly half a link of extension. No Glidelock on the Explorer II line, same as the Oyster Perpetual. The bracelet is comfortable and the articulation is smooth.