An Explorer 2 copy is a replica of the Rolex Explorer II, a 42 mm GMT watch with a fixed 24-hour bezel and an orange 24-hour hand. The best copies match the case size, the dial layout, the bezel engraving, and the bracelet feel. The four biggest tells are the bezel numerals, the Cyclops magnification, the hand stack order, and the GMT hand behavior. Check those points before anything else.
What the Genuine Explorer II Does
Rolex sells the Explorer II in reference 226570 with a 42 mm Oystersteel case, a fixed steel bezel engraved with 24-hour numerals, and calibre 3285. That movement runs at 28,800 vph, carries a 70-hour power reserve, and drives a 24-hour hand that sets on its own. Water resistance is 100 m. The older reference 216570 used calibre 3187 with a 48-hour reserve, so copies of that generation should show the same layout.
Specs to Compare
- Case diameter: 42.0 mm
- Case thickness: about 12.5 mm
- Lug width: 21 mm
- Water resistance: 100 m
- Crystal: sapphire with a Cyclops lens over the date
- Bezel: fixed, 24-hour scale, engraved and black-filled
- Dial: matte black, white gold markers, Chromalight lume
- Bracelet: Oyster, three-piece links, Oysterlock clasp
How to Check an Explorer II Copy
- Measure the case across the bezel with calipers. Expect 42.0 mm, with a tolerance of 0.2 mm.
- Measure the thickness at the crystal. A faithful copy lands near 12.5 mm; a thicker case sits high on the wrist.
- Inspect the 24-hour bezel. Numerals should be cut into the steel and filled with matte black paint, not printed on the surface.
- Look at the hand stack from the dial side. From bottom to top the order is hour, GMT, minute, seconds.
- Pull the crown to the second position and turn it. The 24-hour hand should jump in one-hour steps while the watch keeps running.
- Check the date window at 3 o'clock. The Cyclops should magnify the date about 2.5 times and sit centered over the aperture.
- Study the dial print. ROLEX and OYSTER PERPETUAL DATE should be crisp, level, and spaced like the original.
- Examine the hour markers. They should be white gold rings filled with lume, not painted plastic.
- Charge the lume with a light and watch the glow. Chromalight reads blue; cheap lume reads green or fades in minutes.
- Inspect the bracelet. Links should be solid, end links should fit the case with no gaps, and the clasp should carry the right code.
- Check the crown. A Triplock crown shows three dots under the coronet.
Movement Choices in Copies
Most Explorer II copies use one of three movements. The ETA 2893 and its clones offer a true GMT function with a jumping 24-hour hand. The Asian 2836 GMT adds a GMT module and often shows a stutter when you set the hand. The best copies now use a clone of the 3187 or 3285, which copies the bridge layout, the rotor engraving, and the 70-hour reserve. Ask which movement is inside before you buy, because the rest of the watch is built around it.
How to Choose the Best Explorer 2 Replica Rolex
Common Flaws to Reject
- Bezel numerals that are printed or too shallow
- A GMT hand that moves with the hour hand instead of on its own
- Cyclops magnification below 2x or above 3x
- Dial text that is blurry, off-center, or the wrong font
- Hollow end links and a rattling clasp
- Lume that glows green instead of blue
Care and Wear
Rinse the case with fresh water after contact with salt water or sweat, and dry it with a soft cloth. Have the gaskets checked once a year if you swim in the watch. Keep the bracelet clean with a soft brush and mild soap. A copy with a clone movement benefits from a service every three to five years, the same interval a Swiss movement needs.