Today we’ll be doing a comparison between the Rolex GMT Master on my left reference number 116710 versus the Explorer ii reference number 216570. We’ll be talking about the price, the dial the case, the bracelet, the buckle and I’ll talk about the movement towards the end of the video.
Compare Prices: |
More Videos: |
Comparison Transcript: Rolex GMT-Master vs Rolex Explorer II
Today we’ll be doing a comparison between the Rolex GMT Master on my left reference number 116710 versus the Explorer ii reference number 216570. We’ll be talking about the price, the dial the case, the bracelet, the buckle and I’ll talk about the movement towards the end of the video. So as of December 2016 you can get the GMT at a retail Rolex store for 8,450 dollars or you can get it for as low as 7,300 dollars at JazTime.com For the Explorer ii you can get that get this watch at a Rolex retailer for 8,100 dollars or you can get it at JazTime for as low as 6,300 dollars.
Reviewing the GMT-Master II dial vs White Explorer II dial:
So let’s go ahead and move on to comparing the dials now. So as you can see very very obvious contrast from the black dial on the GMT with the white dial on the Explorer ii. They both have the Mercedes hands as you can see indicated by the hour marker which is a larger hour marker but one thing I notice is that the hands on the GMT are a little bit smaller than the hands on the Explorer ii and that’s attributed because of the case size of the Explorer ii just a little bit bigger so it has a little more readability on the hands.
They both however do have the maxi dial which means that the markers are 30 percent larger than normal Rolex hour markers and hour markers are obviously the circular markers with the index index markers. We also have that contrast of color the GMT uses a black with white text for great contrast and also indicates a GMT hand which is an additional hand attracts a 24 hour cycle with has a with green fashioned in 18 karat white gold to prevent tarnishing.
On the Explorer ii we have the orange hand with an orange accent and a name the Explorer name there in orange and that creates a little contrast there as well which is very nice. Besides that pretty much the rest is the rest are pretty much the same we have the date at the three o’clock position with a cyclops lens that sits on top of that sapphire crystal for magnification and easier viewing of the date and yeah all the hour markers are luminous for up to eight hours as well and they are all fashioned in 18 karat white gold to prevent tarnishing as well.
Comparing Bezels: GMT-Master 2 and Rolex Explorer 2
So let’s go ahead and move on to the bezel now. So there’s a huge difference in the bezel as you can see the GMT Master has a black ceramic bezel which is highly durable highly scratch resistant and that black that you see there will never fade as the black has been baked into the ceramic so very very nice there very nice durability to scratch resistance overall It has a 24 hour cycle graduated all around and the Explorer ii has that same 24 hour cycle graduated all around as well except that the bezel is just a simple steel brushed steel bezel. Not to doubt that steel.
That steel is Rolex’s in house 904l steel which is very durable in the issued standard the aisi 316l steel and provides much more of a shine as well. But overall Overall the ceramic I believe wins out because of that very nice scratch resistance as you don’t want to scratch up the bezel as polishing the bezel can be very hard to do as you have all these these hour indicators. So I believe that ceramic is much better.
Comparing Case Sizes: GMT-Master’s II and Explorer II
So I’m gonna go ahead and show you the side profiles of these watches. So here’s the side profile of the watches Very very similar. Almost looks about the about the same but the Explorer II has a little more little more going for it with that sort of dome look there However, these both would fit under a suit cuff very nicely even a dress coat very nicely as well. Like to also mention they also do high polish on the sides of the case for a little more shine as well.
Additionally the case sizes of these watches so the case size of the GMT of the GMT is 40 millimeters in diameter and that’s from my index finger to my thumb here That’s 40 millimeters in diameter. The Explorer ii is two millimeters larger being 42 millimeters in diameter which attributes to that larger larger hands and tiny bit larger markers for that easier view easier readability of the dial.
Where is the difference of the bracelets?
Let’s go ahead and move on to the bracelets now. So here are the bracelets. As you notice the bracelet here on my left the GMT’s bracelet has much more of a shine than the Explorer ii’s bracelet and that’s because the GMT’s bracelet has a nice high polish going down straight down the center center of the three piece oyster bracelet and that high polish will get scuffed up a little more easily than the brushed steel but it’s absolutely worth it because that shine it gives is just absolutely amazing where as the Explorer ii was built with more durability in mind. Keep in mind that the GMT is more for more for people who, you know globe trot around and go they switch time zones very easily they get on planes-they get on planes and they switch time zones a lot more easily. This is more casual wear. The Explorer ii is made for people who go cave exploring go into exploring the jungles and such built with more durability in mind. That’s why you have this more brushed steel polished bracelet. Once again these bracelets are both made out of that very durable in house 904l steel.
Are there any differences in the clasp?
So moving on we have the clasps now. The clasps are pretty much the same size, same idea. The only difference is that the GMT’s has that high polish again straight down the middle. I’ll go ahead and show you how this clasp works. These are just safety folding safety folding oyster clasps as you can see there I popped the safety which is this little hinge. Oyster pops off and the bracelet and it comes off like that. On the clasp blade itself we have the Rolex name engraved there and I’m gonna go ahead and show you the Explorer ii’s now. So this the Explorer ii’s clasp same idea, pop open the safety pop open that oyster. You got that engraved name that has a satin more of a satin finish on the clasp blade opposed to the Explorer ii’s very minor-one very minor thing as you can see the GMT here has the high polish and the Explorer ii here has that kind of that brushed polish brushed steel there,’kay?
One thing I would like to mention is that they both have this feature very nice feature as a comfort a comfort extension link located at the back of the case as you can see there. You can adjust five millimeter five millimeters of adjustment for the bracelet and that’s used for hot days if your wrist swells up and you need that little little bit of comfort you can adjust that bracelet outwards five millimeters,’kay? So that’s five millimeters outwards and it’s five millimeters inwards. Very cool, very nice and easy function and that’s on both of these watches.
Comparing the Case Backs and Movements:
So I wanna go ahead and talk about the movements now. So I’m gonna show you the back of the case first. So this is the back of the case of the GMT It’s got a nice-it’s got a nice oyster case nice oyster case backing that holds that holds the movement and here’s the case backing for the Explorer ii very similar oyster case backing,’kay? But they are-they are different movements however so I wanna go into little bit detail of that. So the GMT runs a Rolex’s in house 3136 movement which is a GMT movement. It has a 30-a 48 hour power a 48 hour power reserve and is a perpetual mechanical, self-winding movement with.
GMT function with that hand I’ve shown you before that green hand was for the tracking of that and the Explorer ii is the 3187 movement which is just a upgrade of the the 3186 movement.What do I mean by upgrade? Well, it’s not that big of a upgrade it has a large-it’s just a little bit larger to fit that 42 millimeter case but it also has Rolex’s in house paraflex shock system which Rolex claims to absorb 50 percent more shocks from the watch to keep that balance wheel in check. If it comes out of place it will realign it and keep the watch ticking, okay? They both have the same water resistance 100 meters or 330 feet and that’s pretty much it in terms of the comparison there.
How do the Gmt-Master II and Explorer 2 Look on the wrist?
I’m gonna go ahead and show you it- show you these watches on my wrist now. So I’m gonna start with the GMT first? So this is the GMT on the wrist. Look at that very nice, very beautiful simple dial As you can see there that’s the profile of the watch nice and flat. Definitely fits under a suit cuff very nicely dress cuff very nicely? So there’s that. Let me go ahead and show you the Explorer ii. You’re probably wondering you’re probably wondering “hey Kevin, why didn’t you show how the GMT functions and such work?” Well we have lots of Youtube videos about these watches and individual reviews of these watches and you can check out how those functions work on those. I just strictly wanna do a comparison of just small little details that sets these watches apart from each other.
So here’s the Explorer ii very nice, very beautiful white, those orange accents with that GMT hand really definitely pop on the dial. Much easier view ability as you can see the markers are enlarged the hands are enlarged they’re much easier to read. Once again, this was made for cave exploring so you want as much view ability of the watch as possible? So I’m gonna go ahead and show you those side by side. If you have any questions about these watches check out out leave a comment below. We have the lowest prices guaranteed. We offer free shipping and a one year warranty and if you like the video please like, comment and subscribe. We have lots more to show you guys. Hope to see you guys soon.
Compare Prices: |
More Videos: |
