Hi Adrian, Awesome channel and awesome watch. Mainly due to your videos I began to view the 36 Explorer again as a viable option. I’m now on my AD’s waiting list for one. Quick question, I have recently bought several of your excellent straps and I currently require a couple more of your 20mm Broad Weave Storm Grey NATO’s. Any idea as to when you will have them back in stock? Keep up the good work…. Cheers! Checked your website later and more were available. I’ve purchased two more. All the best and Cheers!
I’ve been watching your comments regarding the Explorer 1 for some time. Because of your passion for the Ref 14270, I asked my jeweler (no longer a Rolex dealer) to find one for me. He came up with a “Swiss Made” iteration (circa 1999 or 2000). Subsequently, I called a Rolex franchise jeweler, and was told that his store might be able to get me a 124270 “sooner rather than later.” Because of this, I declined the offer of $7850.00 for the 14270. I went to THREE Rolex distributors in the Pittsburgh area, and basically told them that a reference 124270 was my grail for a Rolex. I told them the story about Everest, the Ian Fleming story, and mentioned the different movements, and about how the 214270 would no doubt become very collectible because of its two iterations with the hand size. One day after visiting Louis Anthony Jewelers, I was notified that they had a 124270 available. My wife and I went to the store the next day, and I immediately bought the watch. It is everything you’ve reported. It’s understated, but it has a big presence on your wrist. The time jumps out at you, and it’s very comfortable to wear. I’ve kept my Rolex Daytona with the Zeneth movement in my safe, and today, it was joined by my Oyster Perpetual 124300 yellow dial. This 124270 just rocks, and I’ll be wearing it as my “go to” for a long time. I’ve enjoyed your opinions, and your UA-cam publications, and always look forward to your presentations. Kind regards, Dennis Fair
I’ve been wearing mine for a week. One thing you forgot to mention is the weight. It is 117g w 1 link removed and the most comfortable Rolex on wrist that I wear. The case is 36.1mm on my caliper and the clasp is 16.2mm. It is a wholistic and complete design for sure. It’s spectacular and the more I wear it the more I like it. The bracelet taper makes it VERY comfortable as well. It’s a home run but only the experts will be interested in it. It is also the lowest profile and most discreet watch I own.
A huge thank you for starting the review with the box, then opening and showing the watch right away. I'm amazed how many watch reviews show the box for 3 minutes, then open it and start thumbing through the little book that comes with it for a few more minutes before getting to the actual watch. Nobody's tuning in to see a review of the book that describes how to set the time. But almost every reviewer does this. Thanks so much Adrian for getting right into it! And as always, just a fantastic review!
Haha. Thanks so much for noticing. I hate that too. Showing the box adds a nice level of intrigued to the video, but the unboxing process doesn’t make good content. 👍🏻
It's my only criticism of watch videos with 'same' watch comparisons. Keeping them on the same side for the length of the video would help tremendously.
I’ve been drooling over an Explorer I for years but decided to wait for what I assumed would be an upgraded movement and some anti-reflective coating. The 39 seemed perfect to me, but the 36 didn’t seem too small. Once the 124270 was announced, I was planning a move across the country so I had to wait some more to get resettled both logistically and financially. About 6 months ago I got put on a Tier 2 waitlist… I’m told Tier 2 watches like the Explorer I have their own waitlist where watches get allocated to the AD, but not to a specific customer so it’s up to the AD who gets it, while Tier 1 (aka ultra rare or expensive) watches get allocated to a specific customer from the get go… well 6 months passed and no call so I decided to stop by this past Friday while I was in the mall and I spoke to a different salesman, told him my story and that I couldn’t remember who had helped me there. I filled out one of their waitlist forms again because they had no record of me. We spent an hour talking about watches and family. Then Memorial Day weekend passes and this morning, 3 days later, I get a call from the new salesman asking if I still wanted my Explorer I. He said he got a call from their headquarters listing the watches due to them, and when he heard there was a 124270 on the list he immediately had it overnighted to them for me. He enjoyed our conversation and felt bad I had fallen off the radar earlier in the year. So, 6 months and 3 days, or just 3 days? Who cares? I’ve got an Explorer I on my wrist. Some day my son will.
@@gabrielddc the watch is almost perfect. The case, the dial, the movement are. The bracelet tapers a bit too much, 19-14. The lack of 19mm strap options is annoying; one would think the big players like Everest and Rubber B would get on that already since this case isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. I wish the clasp had been upgraded to the glidelock, but then there would be less reason to go for the Sub. But it’s amazingly comfortable. You don’t even know you’re wearing it. Overall, huge upgrades, the 36mm size is just plain classy and understated, and will have this for life.
I got one! Exactly because as you have said everything about this watch has been designed for this watch. The original explorer was 34 then many decades the 1016 at 36 mm. This watch is a tool watch. A field watch. You can wear it for work for dinner for a walk for shower for a trip and it just completes you without over-rolexing. You have a gem on your wrist that acts subtle while others will bling with oversizes and effects. Its a watch of true gentlemen, architects, sportspeople, designer and people who show off with their passion and ideas rather than with their watch.
I bought one today, it's stunning in every way. I already know it will spend more time on my wrist than any of my other watches. And it hasn't even cost anything in real terms, it's already worth more on the used market than I paid from an AD.
I always loved my 39mm Rolex Explorer and thought it was nearly a perfect watch, but there was always something that was not quite right that I couldn’t explain….until now. I’ve just become the lucky owner of the new 36mm Explorer and the question is not “isn’t it too small?” but the realisation …. “it’s no longer to big”
Just picked this Explorer up from a local AD. First purchase, located 3 blocks away from home. Was on a waitlist for 6 months. I got the call and didn’t hesitate to take it home. It is the perfect Rolex. More refined than the 39mm and an upgrade from the 114270. If you’ve been wearing watches since the late 80’s. The size is a throwback to pre-1990’s. It takes a day to get use to the size coming from a Speedmaster and 20 years of wearing watches over 40mm. From what I hear guys in the Midwest are getting calls for Subs and Explorers despite the shortage. I guess the Rolex supply is coming around to Chicago.
I have a 114270 and waiting to hear back from my AD about this new reference. I have a running history with them just playing the waiting game. This video has caused more anxiousness. Thank Adrian!
This might be an unpopular opinion, but as someone whose grail has long been an 114270 and who was initially ecstatic to see the 36mm return, I started to cool on it the more photographs I saw and I couldn’t put my finger on why. This video finally helped me do that. As small as the dimensional changes are on the new one, they amount to a watch with much less pleasing proportions to my eye. The minutely smaller, yet thicker and longer link-to-link case. The 1mm reduction in lug width leading to an even more aggressive taper. The larger numerals. All of those tweaks conspire to make a watch that looks more bulbous and case-dominant to my eye. It’s lost a bit of the under-the-radar charm of the old 36mm and feels more like jewelry to my eye, another crowned bauble on a bracelet. That said, excellent video, Adrian. This is the most thorough, spec-driven comparison of the two watches I’ve seen so far. And who knows, it’ll likely sway more viewers to desire the new one more than the old one. Like I said, my opinion is probably an unpopular one.
Purchased one last week and have the older 39mm version, need to do a side by side comparison to show how different it is from the 39 in all the right ways but the 39 is also fantastic
I don't own a Rolex, and I probably never will. I simply can't afford one... But if, by some miracle, I could choose any Rolex, it would be this new 36mm Explorer in all-steel. Great design and proportions of the case, dial and bracelet. Definitely a luxury watch but in an understated fashion. Perfect!
I’ve had my 124270 for about 5 months now…… still absolutely love it…… I’ve come back to watch this review again to remember how I felt when I first watched it before I had purchased mine…… your passion became my passion , hope you own one of these by now
Even though I have a similar wrist size to yours Adrian, I still love my 39mm Explorer. However, I'd really enjoy seeing you do a 39 vs 36 side by side video because everything about the new 36 has been done so well.
36mm will feel much smaller, I actually think it wears smaller than a dj36. But the 36mm hands down is pure proportions love. So it really depends on that I think.
I had asked my local AD recently about the 124270. I wasn’t quite sure if the 36MM would look “right” on my 7 1/8” wrist. After 2 months of waiting (stunning I know), I got the call and he said “You still in the market for the explorer?”. I eagerly drove over to the AD and tried it on with my family in tow. I will simply say that it came home with me and it is a beautifully crafted timepiece. Thanks for the great videos.
I am so glad Rolex finally put anti-reflective coating on the underside of the crystal of the Explorer 1. For years I have come close to purchasing one, but every time I tried it on in the shop, it looked far too reflective for a 'tool' watch. But now it seems that Rolex has finally taken steps to solve this problem. Thanks Adrian for a great review.
Will be interesting to see. Most of the time I look at my OP just to see it sparkle. If it takes a bit longer to see the time (which it doesn't), that's fine by me! Maby some of that will get lost with the AR..
I started watching this video last year after I visited an AD and expressed my interest in an Airking or an Explorer 1 . The more I read and watched online the more I decided it was the Explorer I really wanted . Following an 9 month wait and on a random visit to the AD I walked out with an Explorer on my wrist …. I absolutely love this watch . Thank you Adrian for the brilliant review which helped me reach the Explorer decision.
I’m in the process of waiting, reminding, hoping I can get one from my local AD. I’ve lusted after a 36 explorer for a long time. I don’t really lust after a lot of watches but that little explorer is perfect for me, I want to wear it every day.
@@Eric-le8wu hi did you buy watches previously? I’m on the list for it but never bought a watch from the AD before , does that make a massive difference
I love mine! I think it's designed from the ground up to be the ultimate explorer in 36mm and all other watches be damned. Other 36mm watches use 20mm bracelet but this would look better with the 19mm? 19mm it is. Does it look better with a stronger taper? Yes, smaller clasp unique to the explorer it is!
Yesterday at lunch I received “THE” email from my AD. Picking up this afternoon or tomorrow. I absolutely cannot wait to get it. Coming from a 114270 here as well. A modern 36mm Explorer is a watch that I always thought would be the perfect GADA piece, and it’s something I never thought Rolex would ever do… downsize and return to a size they had abandoned. So excited right now, hard to concentrate at work 😁
I think Rolex are now simply designing watches the best they can be without worrying about the numbers. Sub is now 41mm and larger bracelet? Well it looks more elegant now and better proportioned despite raising alarm bells with those who look at the numbers. The same is now true for the Explorer.
@@aussieexpat absolutely agree. Watches should have thought out into their overall design, including how the bracelet interacts with the case and how the lugs transition. If that means on less common lug width I don’t think that should be an issue. I don’t see why Rolex would force a watch to have a 20mm lug width just because that’s the size most people have straps in.
@@kuokliangchin2078 for me it’s the bracelet/clasp that is the main upgrade I wanted. A bonus is the newer movement and, AR on the crystal and the lumed slightly larger 3-6-9.
Adrian, thanks for the video and appreciate your favorable comments on the 36mm size being ideal for a watch of this intention. Dive watches can be larger and dress watches perhaps less than a 36mm, but for an all-round watch and one of this thickness the 36mm just fits; at least it fits me with a 6.5” wrist. Not sure that I’ll tire of the bracelet but do you have plans to sell a 19mm calfskin that will fit within these lugs?
'Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours watch'...but in the case of the new Explorer, it's beyond my control! Like you, I am obsessed with this watch; the 39 was never going to do it for me, so I am ecstatic with this release. Your film has confirmed it for me: this is the Grail. The effect of the newly tapered strap and the AR coating is stunning. That face. Those numerals. The proportions. The sublime simplicity. I'm now at the mercy of my AD. God help me. Thanks for the film.
A lot of people preferred the old 36mm over the 39mm but I thought the old 36mm was blocky. The wide bracelet didn't suit it & contributed to the clunky look. The 39mm looks more proportional to the bracelet. This new 36mm keeps that same proportion. Like the watch is now the focal point & the tapering bracelet accentuates it. Looks great.
This is my first Rolex and I cannot be happier. Got it two weeks ago and have been wearing it every day since. I'm the kind of guy who swaps watches every other day but this one just... fits. I used to nod along to Adrian's enthusiasm for the Explorer while not really seeing it. Oh boy do I get it now.
@@aussieexpat I went into my local AD and asked for it. But I think how you ask makes a big difference. In my time there I saw three people who walked in and asked for a Sub or GMT, who walked out again in a huff when told they had to register interest. Potential flippers. Instead I made a point of showing I'm a watch lover, I filled in the form but stayed to try other watches. Actually fell in love with a Cartier Santos. Had a great chat and got on with the AD. Got the call three weeks later. Apparently that was the only 124270 in the first delivery of 2021 models, and the guy pushed to give it to me over someone who had previously bought a Datejust.
@@aussieexpat I'm in the UK. London as well, so big busy city where you would expect extremely high demand. As shown by the three people who showed up asking for Subs in the 45 minutes I spent in the shop.
As a 114270 owner I see it as a hit and miss. I mostly like it but I prefer the proportions of the older dial as far as the size of the numerals, indices and text. However it is a massive improvement over the 39mm
Best reviews on UA-cam. Love your approach and “voice”. You have what can’t be taught...”authenticity”. I trust your reviews. Furthermore, I got on two Rolex waiting lists using your advice. Thanks again from North Carolina in the US!
Last week my local AD called me and finally I got it and really love it. Two years ago, I purchased 214270 39mm but I’m honestly say that I don’t like the 39mm one. Perhaps that’s because of your 14270 videos impressed me :) About the watch, I checked the caliber and it keeps -1.1/week Also noticed that this caliber differs from 214270 so when adjusting time, it needs anticlock wise movement to adjust time. That is the only one thing surprised me.
What’s the motivation for going back to 36mm? Simple. 1) Sell the watch to both men and women 2) The “big watch” craze is ending, so having a smaller sized “professional” watch in the lineup makes sense Simple as that in my view.
I also think it just looks better. To me, the Explorer is a 36mm watch. I didn’t like the look of the larger models, they just didn’t look right to me. I also think Rolex are just running out of ideas. It’s pretty crazy that people are talking about this as some kind of stunning new release, when the Exp 1 has been a 36mm watch for most of its existence
Big watch craze is ending - I've been hearing that since 2016 or something. Nothing is changing, it's just the fact that Rolex never made an actual big watch, except for the Seadweller (mostly thick, not VERY big). So nothing changes. I'm hoping more for the ROLEX craze to end lol, it's so boring to see the same 2-3 watches everywhere it's getting ridiculous.
Rolex has slimmed down its OP36, Date Just36 and now Explorer range. BlackBay 58 is super popular and the new Speedmaster wears much smaller. Would you like me to keep going? It’s obvious watches are trending towards smaller sizes again. The Sub is for pretentious non watch people, that’ll stay big.
Love everything from the ref.124270 also! Thanks for the review. It looks like Rolex made a mistake with the 39mm and they corrected by bringing back the original size. The new movement and bracelet makes it even better.If 36mm was good enough for Ian Flemming it's good enough for me!
A "funny" thing happened to me. I recently bought an 114270 from 2006 which I love. Talking to an AD, he explained that the 124270 wasn't that hard to get these days. Damn...why did I buy a used Explorer with a few scratches rather than a new one with a better movement, a stronger bracelet etc.? And then finally I was able to try out this new model yesterday, out of curiosity. And I realized that the new one is really great...but it's more "dressed up" and elegant. And that's exactly what bothers me a little. The 114270 and 14270 feel really more like tool watches in my opinion. When I put mine next to it, with its traces and scratches, well, I thought the old one had more charm (just my opinion). Needless to say, my wallet was also relieved. Great video as always. Cheers from France
Very interesting take, I am considering getting the current production reference and had not heard that before re: the dressiness of this compared to previous references. Do you think the glossy dial is partially to blame? The matte of the 214270 on the case of the 124270 would be interesting to see.
I want to post about my journey to getting the Explorer and my thoughts throughout regarding choosing between the older references and the current one. I was torn between the 114270 and 124270. Constantly jumping between the 2 models and being nitpicky about every aspect of the watches - was getting obsessive about all the details. Despite the 124270 being the "better" watch in every way (on paper), I had gripes with the 19mm bracelet and aggressive 5mm taper. So there began my search far and wide online for a 114270 (Chrono24, watchfinder etc). Also spent a fair amount of time sauntering around Hatton gardens and Bond street hoping I'd find a good deal...months go by...and nothing. So I thought to myself, why not have a proper look at the 124270 in the flesh - maybe I'd like it? So I popped myself into Rolex Harrods to have a look. And I must say...I oddly didn't mind the smaller bracelet/taper...and something in me felt an unexplainable affinity to this watch. I felt the proportions between the case size and bracelet width + taper just felt so...comfortable to look at and aesthetically pleasing. It was bizarre...something that was previously a huge negative for me...was now an aspect which I appreciated. I guess Rolex did design this reference from the ground up and every aspect of it has been carefully thought through. So I ended up putting my name down on the waiting list, which I was informed would be around 2-3 years, possibly more (tbh even the AD had no way of predicting when). Fast forward to just under 2 months later...I was about to seal a deal on a preowned 114270 (2008), which ultimately fell through, I get a call from Rolex Harrods literally the NEXT DAY to inform me that the 124270 was available and I could collect it immediately. I could not believe my luck. Currently sitting here, 5 days later, writing this with my beautiful new timepiece on my wrist and falling more and more in love with it. To anyone that critiques the size, bracelet width, taper, "plainness" of the watch, dimensions, proportions etc, to that i say - Rubbish! This. Watch. Is. Perfection.
I have a 1016 explorer bought new in 1988. Its 35.5mm diameter 43mm lug to lug and weighs 96g you hardly know its there. It's got acrylic domed crystal, a pressed clasp, it doesn't have solid end links and the lume gave up a long time ago. I am sure the movement isn't a patch on the latest one. Would I swap for the latest one? Not a chance. I wouldn't mind one of the new ones but I will never part with the old one. Do you ever have to wind yours? If I haven't been using mine for months as soon as I pick it up it starts. My Seiko's need a good shake and even one or two of the swiss ones need a couple of winds to get them going.
Well, we now know! The 36mm was reintroduced to make room for the new 40mm! The 40mm probably fits me better, but I prefer the charm of the smaller understated 36mm.
Thanks for the review. But how does it look of the bracelet? You said lug to lug is measured to the end link, but I'd think that the actual lug length is shorter on a new watch. Is it the case like with all current rolexes (including 39mm exp) where there is not much space between the springbars and case? Then the old watch may work better on a strap or nato.
@@WristHunt I tried it too.. it is a bit smaller than the 36mm OP. The OP surprisingly has a great size for me at true 36mm and 20mm bracelet. The exp I is still acceptable for me size wise but the real problem is it really sucks on strap on nato.. It is bracelet only watch.
I've always loved the explorer. I've also always thought that 38mm would be perfect for this piece. So I guess I'll have to wait until the next model when they bring the size back up.
Gorgeous,if you'd of asked a year ago I'd possibly not even watched a video on it,but after watching reviews and doing my homework it really does grow on you,I'll defiantly be getting one
1:02. Is the difference in the dial texture actually this pronounced? I think we're looking at the new explorer on the right and old explorer on the left? They're both nice for different reasons, but i'd choose the one on the left given a choice.
I am 100% with you on this one. Literally word for word. I had the chance to side by side the 36mm 124270 with my 39mm 214270mk2 at my local AD last weekend and whilst there's literally no reason for me to buy it, if i didn't already have the 39mm i'd be 100% gunning for the new 36mm. It's just perfect and returns the Explorer I back to it's roots as a 36mm. As a package it's just spot on, new movement, new case, new dial, new bracelet... Best watch that Rolex currently make by far. It's an end game watch that could be worn every day.
How does one actually obtain this watch? My AD keeps saying they have no info whatsoever on its release yet I keep seeing videos pop up on UA-cam from people who are getting these. This is definitely the watch I've been waiting for. Thanks.
A lot of the time it’s based on having a history with the AD. My friend bought a Tudor, IWC, snd a Rolex for his wife from an AD in New York. 4 months later he enquirer about the new 41mm Sub, and they had one for him 3 days later.
@@Michael-4 they said they haven’t gotten any of the new models in yet at all. But they think by August they will Be able to get me one since it’s a special occasion. I am not on the Preferred client list sadly.
@@alessio2257 Congrats on your degree BTW. I shall have a chat with some ADs. I got the impression you have to buy a few Datejusts before you even get a look in these days.
What do you think of the Sky Dweller? I have already a 39mm Smiths Everest which does not compare to a Rolex, but, if I could only buy one..Explorer or Sky Dweller...which would you choose?
Got mine a week ago and im in love with it. But somehow the clasp is either on the right or the left side. How much links do you have on each side? Cant choose between 5 on each or 4/6
I was concerned at first too. But once you realize that it was done to make the case proportions and relationship between the dial and bracelet width look gorgeous, it's the best choice. Basically, rolex don't care how the numbers feel, they care about how the watch looks.
3:34 At this price point there should not have a kind of dented on the dial either when applying the index or the hand.It look not right.I have difficult time to differentiate these two watch actually
As an extremely happy owner of the 39mm with a 7.25" wirst... I'm glad they brought the 36mm back for my smaller wristed gents. I feel like we now have the best of both worlds for each wrist size. If my wrists were any smaller I'd be on top of the 36mm. The 39mm fits me like a glove so I won't ever be letting it go.
I think it’s more of a personal taste thing, rather than based on wrist size tbh. I’ve been collecting for 20 years now, have owned dozens of watches, including lots of Rolex, and I don’t recall this obsession with wrist size to case size that everyone seems to have these days. I’m 6’3, 230lbs, snd my daily is a 36mm Rolex. That’s just my preference, it’s not really anything to do with my wrist size, I just think it looks better, but I’ve also worn everything from 34mm to 46mm. It’s not like there is a formula everyone needs to stick to, you just happen to prefer a larger looking watch.
The bracelet tapers from 19 mm to 14 mm and the clasp is 16.2 mm. Thats a big difference. As a reference: my 16610 with a 93150 bracelet tapers from 20 mm to 15 mm, with a 16.5 mm clasp. 36 mm watch: 19-14 mm 40 mm watch: 20-15 mm Makes total sense.
I’ll stick to my 214270, but I’m very happy for you that Rolex brought the size back down to 36 bc I was sure you were gonna love it ! Thanks for the vid Adrian ! Cheers
I believe the 214270 will be revered as the Goldilocks Explorer. I'm strongly of the opinion that a 41mm Explorer will also be introduced in the coming year or 2. So I'm with you: the 214270 MkII is ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴᴇ.
@@anthonysmith2982 I guess I would have been happy with either one! Started to save up in 2014 to finally get the explo in 2018 - so the 36 wasn’t available at the time (if you wanted a new model). I’ve been dreaming of it for 4 years, and It’s been such a great companion for the last 3 years that I would never see myself getting rid of it ! But if I didn’t already have it and was looking to get my first explorer, this new 124270 would be a fantastic choice !
Yeah.. I agree. 39mm 214270 is my preferred Explorer size and I'll hang on to mine with my dear life. IMHO, it's neither big nor small. Just the perfect size for most people (both genders).
it looks the same to me.... as first glance. But then you look at the details and the new changes. I want one. Do I get this model or do I save for a Sub/GMT like 5513/1680 or even a 1675. Might have to come back to this video again
@@Pete...NoNotThatOne Agree, after taking a closer look at the dial, it does feel like everything on the dial are cramped together into a smaller dial having bigger texts and markers. Now i cannot unsee it lol
“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry That watch embodies this phrase. Did you get it new from watches of Switzerland or another AD?
It looks better proportioned than the 39 it replaces. That said, do you think the old 39mm version will go up in price though? The new 36 trades at crazy premium, but do you think it will come down as production catches up and the initial craze come down a bit?
Bark & Jack straps... do these fit the new 2021 Explorer for which the spring bars (barrettes) are located more closely to the case as there's only 1 mm to put a strap through !?
Some quick thoughts - while I have no experience with the 39mm Explorer, I did get to spend a bit of time with the 39mm Air King, which I believe wore very similarly, and I have had the same last gen 36mm you wear regularly. I found the 39mm case and bracelet to feel very much like a 'watch made of a variety of parts Rolex already had laying around the shop.' It always seemed clunky to me - that very special balance between the old 36mm case and the oyster bracelet really made the older versions of the Explorer feel special - in the 39mm that balance was lost. The 36 was simply more elegant and understated than its larger cousins in the Rolex sports line up, despite retaining the ruggedness appropriate to its mountaineering legacy. The old 36 always felt like a very well designed tool watch, and the aesthetics felt like a happy side effect. It felt like the beauty and elegance were incidental to what otherwise was a very pragmatic and functional design. That was always the appeal for me, I guess. Now, watching your review of the new 36mm, I suspect that Rolex may have simply decided to return to the watch's mountaineering roots - - at least for the sake of aesthetic philosophy if not practical design. Perhaps the return to 36mm was a way for Rolex to acknowledge that the larger sizes had lost some of what made the Explorer unique. With regard to the new 19mm lug width and slimmer bracelet, I am a bit torn however (and in fairness I've not seen this new watch in the flesh, so to speak, but I am simply working from your video and still images). The new model does indeed seem like a more integrated design, and it does show the benefits of employing many of the new innovations Rolex has included in the rest of the line, so technically I'm inclined to think it is a 'better' design. Accepting that, something is missing for me. The rework has lost some of the geometry of the previous 36mm models. Perhaps inadvertently, with the old bracelet and 36mm case, the transitional curve from the watch-head, through the lugs and into the bracelet was a slighter angle, than the new watch exhibits. That old curve was one of the things I always loved about the 36mm Explorer, and was perhaps the hallmark of the watch; in my mind almost on par with the 3 - 6 - 9 dial. That curve defined the Explorer for me. I think I'm going to miss it.
Adrian, do you plan on reviewing the two-tone in the metal? That watch is so strange - really don’t know what to make of it. Would love to hear if your opinions changed since your initial reaction after the launch. Regards from New York.
Hi i Love my 36mm explorer very much … but just wonder where to get the 19mm width third party strap .. rubber or leather .. as per my knowledge it is not selling at rubber b website or else where ….
Love my 214270 Explorer and happy I got one at the 39mm sizing, beyond perfect for my wrist. No idea why they went smaller...maybe for a more unisex appeal?
Now I know the difference and improvements. Simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication as they say.... I have pleaded my case to my nearest AD yesterday and hope I can get a call... sooner than expected.
Looks like you’ve sold this one to yourself! Good job too! Hope you get it and enjoy it!!!! Do you keep your 1998 one though?... I love the Explorer but with my 7.25 inch wrist, I’m delighted I got the 39mm before it was discontinued. I just wish they offered both sizes with the new movement but there you go!
I'm not so lucky. I was considering that or the new Speedmaster Pro for my milestone birthday next year. Now the Explorer is out of the running. I have the same size wrist as you, and 36 is just too small for me. I wish they offered both sizes, like they offer multiple sizes in the OP.
@@RedwoodAggie I think that in the next 12 months, Rolex might offer the Explorer again in 39mm. They know there is a market for it. I hope so because what they say is true, the Explorer truly is the one and done collection! The only alternative that I can think of is the Omega Aqua Terra for now. It’s a great watch also?... Mind you, the new Moonwatch is pretty iconic too and beautiful! Maybe that should be my next watch! Only another 2.5 years to my big 50!
You think this would work on a 7.25 inch wrist, or would be too small? Wasreally going to go for the 39mm one, but as we all know, they discontinued it :(
I own a 114270 and I love it, I never felt that 39 mm was Ok, proportions doesn't fit. New one improves: Bracelet (it was not very dificult) Movement Dial look with bigger numbers and dots (I like in this model, not sure in for example in the 126610LV). Not super about superluminova "feeling" against Chromalight. What's your impression?.
I'm confused with the lug to lug indicated for ref 124270 as 45.5 mm in 1:27 as I'm seeing in many other channels like Hafiz it's about 43 mm only. I wish it is 45.5!
Been on this channel for a couple of years now. Have a few other channels that I check out on a regular basis. But this bloke doesn't piss me off like some of the others. Ten out of ten. Top bloke.
That Rolex is for the owner to enjoy, I wear lots of small watches and they fit like a glove, to be honest I don’t see the point of having a watch over 38 mm if it’s not a dive or chronograph watch. The dial on a 36mm watch is the same size as a 40mm dive watch anyway. Trends and fashion play a big part in watch design but not suitability unfortunately
Similar boat for me. All of mine are ~37mm, with the exception of the dive and chrono (39 and 40). With a smaller wrist, they just feel and look right.
I’m not quite ready to purchase an RE1 and previously I had remarked that I didn’t understand what all the fuss is about. But after recently buying a Ball Engineer Master II - strikingly close to the RE1 - I totally get why ppl love the explorer. The Ball is so striking in its finishing and I can only imagine how much better the Rolex looks.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Check out our coffee: barkandjack.com/
Or our straps!
Hi Adrian, Awesome channel and awesome watch. Mainly due to your videos I began to view the 36 Explorer again as a viable option. I’m now on my AD’s waiting list for one. Quick question, I have recently bought several of your excellent straps and I currently require a couple more of your 20mm Broad Weave Storm Grey NATO’s. Any idea as to when you will have them back in stock?
Keep up the good work…. Cheers!
Checked your website later and more were available. I’ve purchased two more.
All the best and Cheers!
Nice video.
My coffee showed up today! Very excited. I can’t wait for my NATO to make its trip across the pond.
Sell Kcups coffee
Thanks Adrian, but your coffee is not available in the UK?
I’ve been watching your comments regarding the Explorer 1 for some time. Because of your passion for the Ref 14270, I asked my jeweler (no longer a Rolex dealer) to find one for me. He came up with a “Swiss Made” iteration (circa 1999 or 2000). Subsequently, I called a Rolex franchise jeweler, and was told that his store might be able to get me a 124270 “sooner rather than later.” Because of this, I declined the offer of $7850.00 for the 14270. I went to THREE Rolex distributors in the Pittsburgh area, and basically told them that a reference 124270 was my grail for a Rolex. I told them the story about Everest, the Ian Fleming story, and mentioned the different movements, and about how the 214270 would no doubt become very collectible because of its two iterations with the hand size. One day after visiting Louis Anthony Jewelers, I was notified that they had a 124270 available. My wife and I went to the store the next day, and I immediately bought the watch. It is everything you’ve reported. It’s understated, but it has a big presence on your wrist. The time jumps out at you, and it’s very comfortable to wear. I’ve kept my Rolex Daytona with the Zeneth movement in my safe, and today, it was joined by my Oyster Perpetual 124300 yellow dial. This 124270 just rocks, and I’ll be wearing it as my “go to” for a long time.
I’ve enjoyed your opinions, and your UA-cam publications, and always look forward to your presentations. Kind regards, Dennis Fair
Have to admit, the simplicity of this watch is really charming.
I’ve been wearing mine for a week. One thing you forgot to mention is the weight. It is 117g w 1 link removed and the most comfortable Rolex on wrist that I wear. The case is 36.1mm on my caliper and the clasp is 16.2mm. It is a wholistic and complete design for sure. It’s spectacular and the more I wear it the more I like it. The bracelet taper makes it VERY comfortable as well. It’s a home run but only the experts will be interested in it. It is also the lowest profile and most discreet watch I own.
A huge thank you for starting the review with the box, then opening and showing the watch right away. I'm amazed how many watch reviews show the box for 3 minutes, then open it and start thumbing through the little book that comes with it for a few more minutes before getting to the actual watch. Nobody's tuning in to see a review of the book that describes how to set the time. But almost every reviewer does this. Thanks so much Adrian for getting right into it! And as always, just a fantastic review!
Haha. Thanks so much for noticing. I hate that too. Showing the box adds a nice level of intrigued to the video, but the unboxing process doesn’t make good content. 👍🏻
I had a really hard time keeping track of which one was the new one.
Agree
It's my only criticism of watch videos with 'same' watch comparisons. Keeping them on the same side for the length of the video would help tremendously.
Amen
me either
Exactly.
Now right. Then left. Then right. Then left. Argh, forget it.
I’ve been drooling over an Explorer I for years but decided to wait for what I assumed would be an upgraded movement and some anti-reflective coating. The 39 seemed perfect to me, but the 36 didn’t seem too small. Once the 124270 was announced, I was planning a move across the country so I had to wait some more to get resettled both logistically and financially. About 6 months ago I got put on a Tier 2 waitlist… I’m told Tier 2 watches like the Explorer I have their own waitlist where watches get allocated to the AD, but not to a specific customer so it’s up to the AD who gets it, while Tier 1 (aka ultra rare or expensive) watches get allocated to a specific customer from the get go… well 6 months passed and no call so I decided to stop by this past Friday while I was in the mall and I spoke to a different salesman, told him my story and that I couldn’t remember who had helped me there. I filled out one of their waitlist forms again because they had no record of me. We spent an hour talking about watches and family. Then Memorial Day weekend passes and this morning, 3 days later, I get a call from the new salesman asking if I still wanted my Explorer I. He said he got a call from their headquarters listing the watches due to them, and when he heard there was a 124270 on the list he immediately had it overnighted to them for me. He enjoyed our conversation and felt bad I had fallen off the radar earlier in the year. So, 6 months and 3 days, or just 3 days? Who cares? I’ve got an Explorer I on my wrist. Some day my son will.
Prekladač
Mazel tov!
Congratulations! Did you like the Watch? I still thinking that it is small for my 17cm wrist. But I will try it.
@@gabrielddc the watch is almost perfect. The case, the dial, the movement are. The bracelet tapers a bit too much, 19-14. The lack of 19mm strap options is annoying; one would think the big players like Everest and Rubber B would get on that already since this case isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. I wish the clasp had been upgraded to the glidelock, but then there would be less reason to go for the Sub. But it’s amazingly comfortable. You don’t even know you’re wearing it. Overall, huge upgrades, the 36mm size is just plain classy and understated, and will have this for life.
Wish my dad was into watches! Haha
I got THE call yesterday!! Currently wearing my 36mm explorer! Simplicity & wearability
I got one! Exactly because as you have said everything about this watch has been designed for this watch. The original explorer was 34 then many decades the 1016 at 36 mm. This watch is a tool watch. A field watch. You can wear it for work for dinner for a walk for shower for a trip and it just completes you without over-rolexing. You have a gem on your wrist that acts subtle while others will bling with oversizes and effects. Its a watch of true gentlemen, architects, sportspeople, designer and people who show off with their passion and ideas rather than with their watch.
I already got the call! picking mine up tomorrow
AHHHH CONGRATS! 🎉🎉🎉
Congratulations- pray for me 🙏🏾
Wow that's quick
How on earth did you do that?!
Congrats Brian. You'll love it.
I bought one today, it's stunning in every way. I already know it will spend more time on my wrist than any of my other watches. And it hasn't even cost anything in real terms, it's already worth more on the used market than I paid from an AD.
I always loved my 39mm Rolex Explorer and thought it was nearly a perfect watch, but there was always something that was not quite right that I couldn’t explain….until now. I’ve just become the lucky owner of the new 36mm Explorer and the question is not “isn’t it too small?” but the realisation …. “it’s no longer to big”
what's your wrist size? I'm a 7 1/2 inch and do worry that the 36mm would be too small.
Just picked this Explorer up from a local AD. First purchase, located 3 blocks away from home. Was on a waitlist for 6 months. I got the call and didn’t hesitate to take it home. It is the perfect Rolex. More refined than the 39mm and an upgrade from the 114270. If you’ve been wearing watches since the late 80’s. The size is a throwback to pre-1990’s. It takes a day to get use to the size coming from a Speedmaster and 20 years of wearing watches over 40mm. From what I hear guys in the Midwest are getting calls for Subs and Explorers despite the shortage. I guess the Rolex supply is coming around to Chicago.
I have a 114270 and waiting to hear back from my AD about this new reference. I have a running history with them just playing the waiting game. This video has caused more anxiousness. Thank Adrian!
This might be an unpopular opinion, but as someone whose grail has long been an 114270 and who was initially ecstatic to see the 36mm return, I started to cool on it the more photographs I saw and I couldn’t put my finger on why. This video finally helped me do that.
As small as the dimensional changes are on the new one, they amount to a watch with much less pleasing proportions to my eye. The minutely smaller, yet thicker and longer link-to-link case. The 1mm reduction in lug width leading to an even more aggressive taper. The larger numerals. All of those tweaks conspire to make a watch that looks more bulbous and case-dominant to my eye. It’s lost a bit of the under-the-radar charm of the old 36mm and feels more like jewelry to my eye, another crowned bauble on a bracelet.
That said, excellent video, Adrian. This is the most thorough, spec-driven comparison of the two watches I’ve seen so far. And who knows, it’ll likely sway more viewers to desire the new one more than the old one. Like I said, my opinion is probably an unpopular one.
Purchased one last week and have the older 39mm version, need to do a side by side comparison to show how different it is from the 39 in all the right ways but the 39 is also fantastic
Please do!
This is like the 10th time I’ve watched this video over the last year or so! I just keep coming back to the Explorer. Thanks mate!
I don't own a Rolex, and I probably never will. I simply can't afford one... But if, by some miracle, I could choose any Rolex, it would be this new 36mm Explorer in all-steel. Great design and proportions of the case, dial and bracelet. Definitely a luxury watch but in an understated fashion. Perfect!
Miracles happen. I hope you're able to acquire an Explorer sooner or later. It really is perfect.
I’ve had my 124270 for about 5 months now…… still absolutely love it…… I’ve come back to watch this review again to remember how I felt when I first watched it before I had purchased mine…… your passion became my passion , hope you own one of these by now
Even though I have a similar wrist size to yours Adrian, I still love my 39mm Explorer. However, I'd really enjoy seeing you do a 39 vs 36 side by side video because everything about the new 36 has been done so well.
36mm will feel much smaller, I actually think it wears smaller than a dj36.
But the 36mm hands down is pure proportions love. So it really depends on that I think.
I had asked my local AD recently about the 124270. I wasn’t quite sure if the 36MM would look “right” on my 7 1/8” wrist. After 2 months of waiting (stunning I know), I got the call and he said “You still in the market for the explorer?”. I eagerly drove over to the AD and tried it on with my family in tow. I will simply say that it came home with me and it is a beautifully crafted timepiece. Thanks for the great videos.
I am so glad Rolex finally put anti-reflective coating on the underside of the crystal of the Explorer 1. For years I have come close to purchasing one, but every time I tried it on in the shop, it looked far too reflective for a 'tool' watch. But now it seems that Rolex has finally taken steps to solve this problem. Thanks Adrian for a great review.
Will be interesting to see. Most of the time I look at my OP just to see it sparkle. If it takes a bit longer to see the time (which it doesn't), that's fine by me! Maby some of that will get lost with the AR..
I started watching this video last year after I visited an AD and expressed my interest in an Airking or an Explorer 1 . The more I read and watched online the more I decided it was the Explorer I really wanted . Following an 9 month wait and on a random visit to the AD I walked out with an Explorer on my wrist …. I absolutely love this watch . Thank you Adrian for the brilliant review which helped me reach the Explorer decision.
I’m in the process of waiting, reminding, hoping I can get one from my local AD. I’ve lusted after a 36 explorer for a long time. I don’t really lust after a lot of watches but that little explorer is perfect for me, I want to wear it every day.
Forget it. Stump up the 40% flipper tax or move on.
Be patient man , it's more rewarding. I got the call a few days ago and I'm wearing it right now. Don't support the grey dealers and pay more.
@@Eric-le8wu hi did you buy watches previously?
I’m on the list for it but never bought a watch from the AD before , does that make a massive difference
I love mine! I think it's designed from the ground up to be the ultimate explorer in 36mm and all other watches be damned. Other 36mm watches use 20mm bracelet but this would look better with the 19mm? 19mm it is. Does it look better with a stronger taper? Yes, smaller clasp unique to the explorer it is!
Yesterday at lunch I received “THE” email from my AD. Picking up this afternoon or tomorrow. I absolutely cannot wait to get it. Coming from a 114270 here as well. A modern 36mm Explorer is a watch that I always thought would be the perfect GADA piece, and it’s something I never thought Rolex would ever do… downsize and return to a size they had abandoned. So excited right now, hard to concentrate at work 😁
I think Rolex are now simply designing watches the best they can be without worrying about the numbers. Sub is now 41mm and larger bracelet? Well it looks more elegant now and better proportioned despite raising alarm bells with those who look at the numbers. The same is now true for the Explorer.
@@aussieexpat absolutely agree. Watches should have thought out into their overall design, including how the bracelet interacts with the case and how the lugs transition. If that means on less common lug width I don’t think that should be an issue. I don’t see why Rolex would force a watch to have a 20mm lug width just because that’s the size most people have straps in.
@@aussieexpat Same with new Oyster Perpetual, actually a much improved watch
Can I ask ur motivation for upgrading? Is it the movement and bracelet? Case?
@@kuokliangchin2078 for me it’s the bracelet/clasp that is the main upgrade I wanted. A bonus is the newer movement and, AR on the crystal and the lumed slightly larger 3-6-9.
I'd rather stick with the 14270. Don't like smaller 19mm lug width and taper to 14mm
Seen it in the flesh??
Adrian, thanks for the video and appreciate your favorable comments on the 36mm size being ideal for a watch of this intention. Dive watches can be larger and dress watches perhaps less than a 36mm, but for an all-round watch and one of this thickness the 36mm just fits; at least it fits me with a 6.5” wrist. Not sure that I’ll tire of the bracelet but do you have plans to sell a 19mm calfskin that will fit within these lugs?
'Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours watch'...but in the case of the new Explorer, it's beyond my control! Like you, I am obsessed with this watch; the 39 was never going to do it for me, so I am ecstatic with this release. Your film has confirmed it for me: this is the Grail. The effect of the newly tapered strap and the AR coating is stunning. That face. Those numerals. The proportions. The sublime simplicity. I'm now at the mercy of my AD. God help me. Thanks for the film.
A lot of people preferred the old 36mm over the 39mm but I thought the old 36mm was blocky. The wide bracelet didn't suit it & contributed to the clunky look. The 39mm looks more proportional to the bracelet. This new 36mm keeps that same proportion. Like the watch is now the focal point & the tapering bracelet accentuates it. Looks great.
This is my first Rolex and I cannot be happier. Got it two weeks ago and have been wearing it every day since. I'm the kind of guy who swaps watches every other day but this one just... fits.
I used to nod along to Adrian's enthusiasm for the Explorer while not really seeing it. Oh boy do I get it now.
@@aussieexpat I went into my local AD and asked for it. But I think how you ask makes a big difference.
In my time there I saw three people who walked in and asked for a Sub or GMT, who walked out again in a huff when told they had to register interest. Potential flippers. Instead I made a point of showing I'm a watch lover, I filled in the form but stayed to try other watches. Actually fell in love with a Cartier Santos. Had a great chat and got on with the AD.
Got the call three weeks later. Apparently that was the only 124270 in the first delivery of 2021 models, and the guy pushed to give it to me over someone who had previously bought a Datejust.
@@aussieexpat I'm in the UK. London as well, so big busy city where you would expect extremely high demand. As shown by the three people who showed up asking for Subs in the 45 minutes I spent in the shop.
@@aussieexpat Speedmaster. Could have helped but surely any old flipper could be wearing a good watch...
As a 114270 owner I see it as a hit and miss. I mostly like it but I prefer the proportions of the older dial as far as the size of the numerals, indices and text. However it is a massive improvement over the 39mm
Best reviews on UA-cam. Love your approach and “voice”. You have what can’t be taught...”authenticity”. I trust your reviews. Furthermore, I got on two Rolex waiting lists using your advice. Thanks again from North Carolina in the US!
Thanks so much. I'm really glad you like the content. I love making it.
You need to understand how to use "quotations marks". "!"
@@jaybee1196 LOL. Typing from a beach and Antigua. Pardon the grammar. Drinks and sun don’t lend to perfect rules of grammar and punctuation.
@@beginningbourbon7385 living the life eh?
@@lukas2284 At the moment, enjoying a great time. Then back to reality Monday.
Last week my local AD called me and finally I got it and really love it. Two years ago, I purchased 214270 39mm but I’m honestly say that I don’t like the 39mm one.
Perhaps that’s because of your 14270 videos impressed me :)
About the watch, I checked the caliber and it keeps -1.1/week
Also noticed that this caliber differs from 214270 so when adjusting time, it needs anticlock wise movement to adjust time. That is the only one thing surprised me.
What’s the motivation for going back to 36mm? Simple.
1) Sell the watch to both men and women
2) The “big watch” craze is ending, so having a smaller sized “professional” watch in the lineup makes sense
Simple as that in my view.
I also think it just looks better. To me, the Explorer is a 36mm watch. I didn’t like the look of the larger models, they just didn’t look right to me.
I also think Rolex are just running out of ideas. It’s pretty crazy that people are talking about this as some kind of stunning new release, when the Exp 1 has been a 36mm watch for most of its existence
Big watch craze is ending - I've been hearing that since 2016 or something. Nothing is changing, it's just the fact that Rolex never made an actual big watch, except for the Seadweller (mostly thick, not VERY big). So nothing changes. I'm hoping more for the ROLEX craze to end lol, it's so boring to see the same 2-3 watches everywhere it's getting ridiculous.
@@PoltergeistWorks complete agree. It’s so bizarre to me to see people talking about a regular Sub being their ‘grail’
Rolex has slimmed down its OP36, Date Just36 and now Explorer range. BlackBay 58 is super popular and the new Speedmaster wears much smaller. Would you like me to keep going? It’s obvious watches are trending towards smaller sizes again. The Sub is for pretentious non watch people, that’ll stay big.
@@nathanf3230 so you think a ‘real’ watch person is one who follows trends?
Adrian - I have a 14270. am i dumb if i get the 124270 and keep a purist two watch collection???
Just picked this up a few days ago. First Rolex and it is absolutely perfect. Great video !
Congrats!
Congrats.
Watch for life.
That's an AMAZING pick up for a FIRST rolex!
@@aussieexpat
...I was thinking the same thing after I just wrote my obligatory 'congrats' before!
Good for him!
Just sold the 39 (mk2) and got the 36mm (124270). Super happy. Will never look back
Dial size on the 39 is way too big. The 124270 has all the proportions right. I did the same move as you.
Love everything from the ref.124270 also! Thanks for the review. It looks like Rolex made a mistake with the 39mm and they corrected by bringing back the original size. The new movement and bracelet makes it even better.If 36mm was good enough for Ian Flemming it's good enough for me!
A "funny" thing happened to me. I recently bought an 114270 from 2006 which I love. Talking to an AD, he explained that the 124270 wasn't that hard to get these days. Damn...why did I buy a used Explorer with a few scratches rather than a new one with a better movement, a stronger bracelet etc.? And then finally I was able to try out this new model yesterday, out of curiosity. And I realized that the new one is really great...but it's more "dressed up" and elegant. And that's exactly what bothers me a little. The 114270 and 14270 feel really more like tool watches in my opinion. When I put mine next to it, with its traces and scratches, well, I thought the old one had more charm (just my opinion). Needless to say, my wallet was also relieved. Great video as always. Cheers from France
J’ai eu la 39 , et depuis peu la nouvelle 36. Elle est bien plus belle en tous points . Tellement confortable , et le cadran est superbe .
Very interesting take, I am considering getting the current production reference and had not heard that before re: the dressiness of this compared to previous references. Do you think the glossy dial is partially to blame? The matte of the 214270 on the case of the 124270 would be interesting to see.
I love the explorer. I am surprised that they did away with the 39mm version.
I want to post about my journey to getting the Explorer and my thoughts throughout regarding choosing between the older references and the current one.
I was torn between the 114270 and 124270. Constantly jumping between the 2 models and being nitpicky about every aspect of the watches - was getting obsessive about all the details. Despite the 124270 being the "better" watch in every way (on paper), I had gripes with the 19mm bracelet and aggressive 5mm taper. So there began my search far and wide online for a 114270 (Chrono24, watchfinder etc). Also spent a fair amount of time sauntering around Hatton gardens and Bond street hoping I'd find a good deal...months go by...and nothing. So I thought to myself, why not have a proper look at the 124270 in the flesh - maybe I'd like it? So I popped myself into Rolex Harrods to have a look. And I must say...I oddly didn't mind the smaller bracelet/taper...and something in me felt an unexplainable affinity to this watch. I felt the proportions between the case size and bracelet width + taper just felt so...comfortable to look at and aesthetically pleasing. It was bizarre...something that was previously a huge negative for me...was now an aspect which I appreciated. I guess Rolex did design this reference from the ground up and every aspect of it has been carefully thought through. So I ended up putting my name down on the waiting list, which I was informed would be around 2-3 years, possibly more (tbh even the AD had no way of predicting when). Fast forward to just under 2 months later...I was about to seal a deal on a preowned 114270 (2008), which ultimately fell through, I get a call from Rolex Harrods literally the NEXT DAY to inform me that the 124270 was available and I could collect it immediately. I could not believe my luck. Currently sitting here, 5 days later, writing this with my beautiful new timepiece on my wrist and falling more and more in love with it. To anyone that critiques the size, bracelet width, taper, "plainness" of the watch, dimensions, proportions etc, to that i say - Rubbish! This. Watch. Is. Perfection.
Perfect timing! At home with food poisoning but picking mine up on Sunday! 😁👍
Congratulations
I have a 1016 explorer bought new in 1988. Its 35.5mm diameter 43mm lug to lug and weighs 96g you hardly know its there. It's got acrylic domed crystal, a pressed clasp, it doesn't have solid end links and the lume gave up a long time ago. I am sure the movement isn't a patch on the latest one. Would I swap for the latest one? Not a chance. I wouldn't mind one of the new ones but I will never part with the old one. Do you ever have to wind yours? If I haven't been using mine for months as soon as I pick it up it starts. My Seiko's need a good shake and even one or two of the swiss ones need a couple of winds to get them going.
Well, we now know! The 36mm was reintroduced to make room for the new 40mm! The 40mm probably fits me better, but I prefer the charm of the smaller understated 36mm.
Thanks for the review. But how does it look of the bracelet? You said lug to lug is measured to the end link, but I'd think that the actual lug length is shorter on a new watch. Is it the case like with all current rolexes (including 39mm exp) where there is not much space between the springbars and case? Then the old watch may work better on a strap or nato.
I tried the 36mm yes.. 19mm lug width.. and tapering bracelet. It's a female watch to me.
@@WristHunt I tried it too.. it is a bit smaller than the 36mm OP. The OP surprisingly has a great size for me at true 36mm and 20mm bracelet. The exp I is still acceptable for me size wise but the real problem is it really sucks on strap on nato.. It is bracelet only watch.
I've always loved the explorer.
I've also always thought that 38mm would be perfect for this piece. So I guess I'll have to wait until the next model when they bring the size back up.
yes, 36mm a tad small (but doable) 39 a tad large (also doable)....37.5 or 38mm would have been perfect (for me).
Gorgeous,if you'd of asked a year ago I'd possibly not even watched a video on it,but after watching reviews and doing my homework it really does grow on you,I'll defiantly be getting one
Are you still keen on getting this watch? with one year since this video going live have any of your views changed?
1:02. Is the difference in the dial texture actually this pronounced? I think we're looking at the new explorer on the right and old explorer on the left? They're both nice for different reasons, but i'd choose the one on the left given a choice.
I am 100% with you on this one. Literally word for word. I had the chance to side by side the 36mm 124270 with my 39mm 214270mk2 at my local AD last weekend and whilst there's literally no reason for me to buy it, if i didn't already have the 39mm i'd be 100% gunning for the new 36mm. It's just perfect and returns the Explorer I back to it's roots as a 36mm. As a package it's just spot on, new movement, new case, new dial, new bracelet... Best watch that Rolex currently make by far. It's an end game watch that could be worn every day.
Hey Adrian, will B&J release a 19mm nato for 124270?
How does one actually obtain this watch? My AD keeps saying they have no info whatsoever on its release yet I keep seeing videos pop up on UA-cam from people who are getting these. This is definitely the watch I've been waiting for. Thanks.
Some ADs got it. But certainly not all.
You need luck. A lot of it. I’m fortunate enough to have had that luck last week.
A lot of the time it’s based on having a history with the AD. My friend bought a Tudor, IWC, snd a Rolex for his wife from an AD in New York. 4 months later he enquirer about the new 41mm Sub, and they had one for him 3 days later.
Change AD
Do you think it wears bigger or smaller than the 114270?
I just put an order in for one at my AD as a graduation gift for my geology degree. I can’t wait I’m so excited to get this piece.
Did they say how long you will have to wait? Are you on the 'preferred client list?
@@Michael-4 they said they haven’t gotten any of the new models in yet at all. But they think by August they will
Be able to get me one since it’s a special occasion. I am not on the Preferred client list sadly.
@@alessio2257 Congrats on your degree BTW. I shall have a chat with some ADs. I got the impression you have to buy a few Datejusts before you even get a look in these days.
I just got the call today and I picked up the explorer couldn’t be happier with this watch. It truly is curvaceous and even punchier than reviewed 😊
What do you think of the Sky Dweller? I have already a 39mm Smiths Everest which does not compare to a Rolex, but, if I could only buy one..Explorer or Sky Dweller...which would you choose?
19mm lug width (!?) and 36mm is a backwards step.
Got mine a week ago and im in love with it. But somehow the clasp is either on the right or the left side. How much links do you have on each side? Cant choose between 5 on each or 4/6
Hmmm. Mixed feelings about the slimmer bracelet. Thanks for posting so quickly!!!
Almost women's size !
Absolutely woman’s bracelet!
@@andreamatzner2496 So you need a 22mm bracelet to feel like a man?
I was concerned at first too. But once you realize that it was done to make the case proportions and relationship between the dial and bracelet width look gorgeous, it's the best choice.
Basically, rolex don't care how the numbers feel, they care about how the watch looks.
@@andreamatzner2496 here we go again, stop using big watches to overcompensate ur lack of man hood
3:34 At this price point there should not have a kind of dented on the dial either when applying the index or the hand.It look not right.I have difficult time to differentiate these two watch actually
As an extremely happy owner of the 39mm with a 7.25" wirst... I'm glad they brought the 36mm back for my smaller wristed gents. I feel like we now have the best of both worlds for each wrist size. If my wrists were any smaller I'd be on top of the 36mm. The 39mm fits me like a glove so I won't ever be letting it go.
I think it’s more of a personal taste thing, rather than based on wrist size tbh. I’ve been collecting for 20 years now, have owned dozens of watches, including lots of Rolex, and I don’t recall this obsession with wrist size to case size that everyone seems to have these days.
I’m 6’3, 230lbs, snd my daily is a 36mm Rolex. That’s just my preference, it’s not really anything to do with my wrist size, I just think it looks better, but I’ve also worn everything from 34mm to 46mm. It’s not like there is a formula everyone needs to stick to, you just happen to prefer a larger looking watch.
@@pejpm well said
Great video, new Rolex explorer looks hot. But my main takeaway is I need to get a white card to act as a reflector when shooting top down on a watch.
Look forward to your coverage of the Tudor announcement next Tuesday...
Lol fookin tudor with these colabs.
The bracelet tapers from 19 mm to 14 mm and the clasp is 16.2 mm. Thats a big difference. As a reference: my 16610 with a 93150 bracelet tapers from 20 mm to 15 mm, with a 16.5 mm clasp.
36 mm watch: 19-14 mm
40 mm watch: 20-15 mm
Makes total sense.
I’ll stick to my 214270, but I’m very happy for you that Rolex brought the size back down to 36 bc I was sure you were gonna love it ! Thanks for the vid Adrian ! Cheers
I believe the 214270 will be revered as the Goldilocks Explorer.
I'm strongly of the opinion that a 41mm Explorer will also be introduced in the coming year or 2.
So I'm with you: the 214270 MkII is ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴᴇ.
@@anthonysmith2982 I guess I would have been happy with either one! Started to save up in 2014 to finally get the explo in 2018 - so the 36 wasn’t available at the time (if you wanted a new model). I’ve been dreaming of it for 4 years, and It’s been such a great companion for the last 3 years that I would never see myself getting rid of it ! But if I didn’t already have it and was looking to get my first explorer, this new 124270 would be a fantastic choice !
Yeah.. I agree. 39mm 214270 is my preferred Explorer size and I'll hang on to mine with my dear life. IMHO, it's neither big nor small. Just the perfect size for most people (both genders).
@@acethis I have to agree with you sir !
I did like all answers to this comment. 214270 ❤️
Will you keep your current explorer or will the new one replace it?
He is so excited about a watch size I can care less about. But his excitement makes me smile.
@@MPD90 Tomahto Tomato... you get the message...lol
@@MPD90 👀😂🤣 F*ck outta here ... Inspector Gadget 🔎 🤓
@Mike D David Mitchell would be proud
it looks the same to me.... as first glance. But then you look at the details and the new changes. I want one. Do I get this model or do I save for a Sub/GMT like 5513/1680 or even a 1675. Might have to come back to this video again
Great Timing! - I think the old one looks better, dare I say it.
Me too
Way much better
The lugs of the old one are just beautiful. Looks way better to me.
Agree. The dial furniture on the new one just seems a bit overwhelming. It might look better on the 39mm.
@@Pete...NoNotThatOne Agree, after taking a closer look at the dial, it does feel like everything on the dial are cramped together into a smaller dial having bigger texts and markers. Now i cannot unsee it lol
Curious Adrian; did you get your hands on the 124270 after 2 years? Still planning to?
“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry That watch embodies this phrase. Did you get it new from watches of Switzerland or another AD?
Excellent quote!
@@ethansgarage1 Why did they add a thicker bolder font to the text on the dial? Looks less elegant.
It looks better proportioned than the 39 it replaces. That said, do you think the old 39mm version will go up in price though? The new 36 trades at crazy premium, but do you think it will come down as production catches up and the initial craze come down a bit?
Just got it yesterday!! Absolutely loving it 😎
Bark & Jack straps... do these fit the new 2021 Explorer for which the spring bars (barrettes) are located more closely to the case as there's only 1 mm to put a strap through !?
The phrase "money for old rope" comes to mind. Rolex are geniuses. Do almost nothing and there's not a dry seat in the house.
Some quick thoughts - while I have no experience with the 39mm Explorer, I did get to spend a bit of time with the 39mm Air King, which I believe wore very similarly, and I have had the same last gen 36mm you wear regularly.
I found the 39mm case and bracelet to feel very much like a 'watch made of a variety of parts Rolex already had laying around the shop.' It always seemed clunky to me - that very special balance between the old 36mm case and the oyster bracelet really made the older versions of the Explorer feel special - in the 39mm that balance was lost. The 36 was simply more elegant and understated than its larger cousins in the Rolex sports line up, despite retaining the ruggedness appropriate to its mountaineering legacy. The old 36 always felt like a very well designed tool watch, and the aesthetics felt like a happy side effect. It felt like the beauty and elegance were incidental to what otherwise was a very pragmatic and functional design. That was always the appeal for me, I guess.
Now, watching your review of the new 36mm, I suspect that Rolex may have simply decided to return to the watch's mountaineering roots - - at least for the sake of aesthetic philosophy if not practical design. Perhaps the return to 36mm was a way for Rolex to acknowledge that the larger sizes had lost some of what made the Explorer unique. With regard to the new 19mm lug width and slimmer bracelet, I am a bit torn however (and in fairness I've not seen this new watch in the flesh, so to speak, but I am simply working from your video and still images). The new model does indeed seem like a more integrated design, and it does show the benefits of employing many of the new innovations Rolex has included in the rest of the line, so technically I'm inclined to think it is a 'better' design.
Accepting that, something is missing for me. The rework has lost some of the geometry of the previous 36mm models. Perhaps inadvertently, with the old bracelet and 36mm case, the transitional curve from the watch-head, through the lugs and into the bracelet was a slighter angle, than the new watch exhibits. That old curve was one of the things I always loved about the 36mm Explorer, and was perhaps the hallmark of the watch; in my mind almost on par with the 3 - 6 - 9 dial. That curve defined the Explorer for me. I think I'm going to miss it.
Adrian, do you plan on reviewing the two-tone in the metal? That watch is so strange - really don’t know what to make of it. Would love to hear if your opinions changed since your initial reaction after the launch. Regards from New York.
I’d love to get hands on with the two tone. I have a feeling to could be quite cool.
I think a full gold version of it could be awsome !!!
@@i1p2p3o4c5a6m7p9o9 very much agree. Although I don’t see them doing that anytime soon
Hi i Love my 36mm explorer very much … but just wonder where to get the 19mm width third party strap .. rubber or leather .. as per my knowledge it is not selling at rubber b website or else where ….
WHAT. NEW. TRICK. IS. THIS. WITH. YT. TITLES?
PS I agree on the new Explorer, it looks great! Nice vid.
Wish they added watches to the base game of DAYZ. Love your content!
Love my 214270 Explorer and happy I got one at the 39mm sizing, beyond perfect for my wrist. No idea why they went smaller...maybe for a more unisex appeal?
Woman nowdays rock almost as many sports modal as man does, sub, gmt and ofc daytona. It's just simply getting back to its roots
Been waiting for this one from you 👍🏻
Hi Adrian, did you ever end up buying the new Explorer 36mm ?
Love the new look and feel. I'm on the waiting list. This one is a no brainer.
do the new one have glossy black dial like submariner, or same with the matt black of 39mm ?
Thanks, Adrian
Articulate critique.
Substantial, yet subtle upgrades.
I still prefer the 39mm case size.
Now I know the difference and improvements. Simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication as they say.... I have pleaded my case to my nearest AD yesterday and hope I can get a call... sooner than expected.
Every scuff on the 14270 is a part of your history. Would you really want to replace it with a shiny new model?
My thoughts exactly but it's his money
There are no more available for sale in France !
Have they all been shipped to PRC ?
Looks like you’ve sold this one to yourself! Good job too! Hope you get it and enjoy it!!!! Do you keep your 1998 one though?... I love the Explorer but with my 7.25 inch wrist, I’m delighted I got the 39mm before it was discontinued. I just wish they offered both sizes with the new movement but there you go!
I'm not so lucky. I was considering that or the new Speedmaster Pro for my milestone birthday next year. Now the Explorer is out of the running. I have the same size wrist as you, and 36 is just too small for me. I wish they offered both sizes, like they offer multiple sizes in the OP.
@@RedwoodAggie I think that in the next 12 months, Rolex might offer the Explorer again in 39mm. They know there is a market for it. I hope so because what they say is true, the Explorer truly is the one and done collection! The only alternative that I can think of is the Omega Aqua Terra for now. It’s a great watch also?... Mind you, the new Moonwatch is pretty iconic too and beautiful! Maybe that should be my next watch! Only another 2.5 years to my big 50!
not watched a video in a while. just got say you are absolutely killing it with the production value.Effort appreciated
You think this would work on a 7.25 inch wrist, or would be too small? Wasreally going to go for the 39mm one, but as we all know, they discontinued it :(
I own a 114270 and I love it, I never felt that 39 mm was Ok, proportions doesn't fit.
New one improves:
Bracelet (it was not very dificult)
Movement
Dial look with bigger numbers and dots (I like in this model, not sure in for example in the 126610LV).
Not super about superluminova "feeling" against Chromalight. What's your impression?.
I feel like they should have made it 37mm, that’d be perfect
36mm and 20mm bracelet + longer lugs would work too. (The real size is almost 35mm)
I'm confused with the lug to lug indicated for ref 124270 as 45.5 mm in 1:27 as I'm seeing in many other channels like Hafiz it's about 43 mm only. I wish it is 45.5!
Got my deposit down, just waiting for the call. Will be my first Rolex.
Been on this channel for a couple of years now. Have a few other channels that I check out on a regular basis. But this bloke doesn't piss me off like some of the others. Ten out of ten. Top bloke.
That Rolex is for the owner to enjoy, I wear lots of small watches and they fit like a glove, to be honest I don’t see the point of having a watch over 38 mm if it’s not a dive or chronograph watch. The dial on a 36mm watch is the same size as a 40mm dive watch anyway. Trends and fashion play a big part in watch design but not suitability unfortunately
Similar boat for me. All of mine are ~37mm, with the exception of the dive and chrono (39 and 40). With a smaller wrist, they just feel and look right.
I tried it on at the AD. Thought it was a bit small coming from a Sub. Do you get used to it?
They did it so in a few years they can come back with a 39 or 40 and everyone will be so excited
I’m not quite ready to purchase an RE1 and previously I had remarked that I didn’t understand what all the fuss is about. But after recently buying a Ball Engineer Master II - strikingly close to the RE1 - I totally get why ppl love the explorer. The Ball is so striking in its finishing and I can only imagine how much better the Rolex looks.