How To Use Your Rolex Explorer II - Set & Change Time, GMT | Bob's Watches

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00:00 Intro
00:07 Rolex Explorer II Overview
00:40 Vintage Explorer II 1655
01:07 Setting Date
01:34 Setting Time
02:00 AM PM Indicators
02:18 GMT Function
02:42 Outro

Rolex released the Explorer II in 1971 via ref. 1655. The concept behind its design was to offer a highly reliable reading while spending long periods in dark environments, such as caves and the Arctic region.

Its design set includes a fixed 24-hour bezel and an extra hand on the dial that the wearer can use to track day and night hours. Depending on the year released, the extra hand will operate independently of the other hands on the dial, effectively making it a dual-time, or GMT, watch as well.

Other vital tool watch amenities include a luminous display on the dial, resilient stainless steel, a self-winding Perpetual movement, and a waterproof Oyster case. Modern examples of the series will also feature a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, making the Explorer II the perfect go-anywhere, do-anything luxury watch.

Depending on the year produced, the operating instructions for the Explorer II will vary. The extra hour hand on the dial did not become independent of the central hour, minute, and seconds hands until ref. 16550 hit the market in 1985. On its predecessor, ref. 1655, the two hour hands are linked and cannot be adjusted separately, making the extra hour hand solely an AM/PM indicator.

The hour hands on references produced after 1985 are independent and can also operate as a GMT watch by reading a second time zone on the bezel.

Aside from the 24-hour hand on the dial, the Explorer II operates much like any date displaying Rolex watch.

HOW TO SET THE EXPLORER II – THE DATE
Step 1: Unscrew the winding crown and pull it out to the first position.

Step 2: Rotate the crown to advance the 12-hour hand forwards or backward in 1-hour increments until the correct date is displayed in the window at 3 o’clock. The 12-hour hand on ref. 1655 will operate differently and will not jump from hour to hour.

*During this step, it is important to keep AM and PM hours in mind because the date will only switch over after the hour hand has passed the 12-hour marker twice.

TO SET THE TIME
Step 1: Pull the crown out to the second position. You will hear a faint click, and the seconds hand will come to a complete stop.

Step 2: Before you set the time, ensure that the two hour hands are synchronized by rotating the crown until the 24-hour hand is pointing at the 12-hour marker. If the 12-hour hand is not also pointing at 12 o’clock, repeat the previous step to sync the hour hands.

Step 3: Turn the crown until the correct time is displayed on the dial.

*It is important to keep AM and PM hours in mind during this step as well. An easy way to do this is to look at the 24-hour hand. If it is on the right side of the dial, it is AM. If it is on the left side of the dial, it is PM.

Both hands are now displaying the same time. If you wish to utilize the Explorer as a dual-time watch, set the 24-hour hand to your secondary time zone and adjust the 12-hour hand forwards or backward to set it to your current location.

Local time will be displayed on the dial via the 12-hour hand, while home time will be displayed via the 24-hour hand against the graduations on the bezel.

Step 4: Once you are finished adjusting the time and date, push in the winding crown and screw it back into the case. It is important not to skip this step as it reestablishes the case’s waterproof seal. The movement will not be protected against moisture or dirt if the crown is not screwed back into the case.

The Explorer collection debuted under ref. 1655, which was then replaced by ref. 16550 in 1985. With it came an upgraded movement and a then-new independent 24-hour hand on the dial. Ref. 16550 was a transitional Explorer II that remained in production until ref. 16570 replaced it in 1989. Aside from a newer movement, its design was very similar to ref. 16550.

The first “modern” Explorer II came to market in 2011 via ref. 216570, featuring a larger 42mm case and the return of the famed “Freccione” arrow hand last seen on vintage ref. 1655. It was recently discontinued to make way for the current iteration of the Explorer II, ref. 226570, which is powered by a newer cal. 3285 Perpetual movement.

[waynesilva]

You were explaining everything so so fast I didn’t get a word about setting a second time zone.

[Cull_Obsidian]

The way I (more easily) set my 216570:

Pull the crown out all the way to hack the seconds. Do this at a full second marker eg 40 seconds or whatever is closest. Then set the correct 24 hour hand time as well as minutes (I live in the Uk so GMT) then push the crown in to the first position when your reference time (I use an atomic clock app) hits the second you’re at.

Then set whatever primary time you wish to display along with the date. This makes it two steps instead of three

[Whyknot]

This guy made it seem like taking a crash course on rocket science

[bushpig]

If my local time is half an hour out from GMT time is this possible to set? Eg Adelaide = GMT+10.5hrs

[michaelkahan]

That was the most confusing tutorial I've ever watched.