As a longtime Explorer fan and vintage Explorer owner, I admit to being a little confused when a photo of the two-tone Explorer showed up in my inbox around 2 a.m. Pacific time in April. Maybe I didn’t make enough cups of tea, and my eyes played tricks on me. I kept asking myself the big question, “Why?” What does this watch bring to the table that justifies its existence? When will someone want to put this on an all-steel Explorer or a chunkier two-tone sports watch like a GMT or Sub? Will it be a copy watch for everyday use if you want it to be?
Answering these questions would take some time to research this watch, which would be difficult due to the popularity of all replica Rolex sports watches. Rolex did not have a sample to lend me and getting a retailer to lend me one was impossible. Fortunately, a friend of mine quickly got a watch from Polachecks in Calabasas and was kind enough to send it to me for a week.
As far as two-tone watches go, this one is pretty understated. The two-tone doesn’t scream at you. It’s there when you want to enjoy it, but you won’t look like a minion in a bad ’80s movie. Don’t get me wrong, you’ll see the gold, but it’s a soft gold that feels right for our current moment. I like that fake Rolex didn’t give in to the temptation to use Everose here. I think that watch looks like a caricature of a two-tone explorer, and this one feels authentic and respectable.
The best thing about this watch is how comfortable it is. If you’ve never worn a 36 mm sports watch – Explorer, Oyster Perpetual, etc. – go ahead and try it on as soon as possible. It’s perfect for people with wrists under 7 inches. The new shape and strap shine and I sometimes find myself with a “wait, am I still wearing a watch?” The feeling. For something that doesn’t have a lot of gold, that’s rare. I also think the smaller size helps those who, like me, are shy about two-tone. It doesn’t have as much gold, and the black dial still dominates so that you can dabble in two-tone without much risk.
What’s more, after being isolated for over a year, the world is starting to look open again (recent events aside), and this is the kind of watch I want to wear. It’s fun, sparks conversations, and doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s a watch you want people to see you wearing, but it’s not a watch for women that will show off anything in front of them. I’m hard-pressed to think of a watch that would be more appropriate for that mood and moment.
