For a number of years, modern consumer trends have been favoring larger watches. As a result of this, Rolex’s 34mm references have become somewhat forgotten in all the excitement and shuffle that surrounds their larger, sport/professional watchlines. However, recently it seems that smaller-sized watches are starting to make a comeback, and Rolex’s once-overlooked, 34mm watches now represent some of the best values for the money among all Rolex timepieces, both vintage and contemporary.When it comes to Rolex sports watches, the Submariner and Explorer II are amongst the most beloved. And despite the fact that they are both tough, purpose-built timepieces, they’re just about as different as it gets in nearly all respects.But if you’re not very familiar with either watch, comparing these two industry titans can seem daunting. So here, I’m breaking down everything you need to know – and compare – about the Rolex Submariner and the Rolex Explorer II.True sports watches, both the Submariner and Explorer II were built by Rolex with specific jobs in mind – and the hint lies in their names. Unsurprisingly, the Submariner is a divers watch, built to time out scuba dives and withstand the unrelenting pressure of 300-meter (1,000 foot) depths. In fact, this watch has been one of the world’s top diving watches since it was first released back in 1953.The Explorer II, on the other hand, was originally introduced in 1971 for speleologists who work in deep underground caverns. But like the original Rolex Explorer – the watch that provided its foundation – the Explorer II appeals to adventurers and explorers of all kinds, especially since its popular 40th anniversary remodel.
Both bezel and dial use real ceramic material, platinum coating on the bezel markers can prevent fading. The dial uses the same material as genuine watch. Central hour and minute hands are skeletonized on the center, both hands are sword-shaped, which is one of the iconic features of Omega Seamaster. V6 uses genuine Swiss Superlume material on hour markers and hands, check the lume light in dark conditions, it will surprise you.Rubber band is an ideal choice for such a diver’s watch. It is waterproof, the band still feels comfortable even it gets wet. Besids, rubber strap can better fit different sizes of wrist than any other bands. Do you like one of the three Omega Seamaster Diver watch? There are heavy pictures below.
The Datejust and Date have always featured identical functions – a self-winding time and date movement with an instantaneously changing date display. Additionally, the two watches have often run on the same calibers as well (as have the smaller versions of both models) with both switching to quickset date movements in the late 1970s.However, today the current-production Datejust 36 and Datejust 41 watches are powered by the latest generation Caliber 3235 movement with a 70-hour power reserve, while the Date 34 still runs on the previous generation Caliber 3135 with a 48-hour power reserve.Overall, the Rolex Date is the smaller and simpler version of the Rolex Datejust with fewer options available from the factory but offering near-identical functionality.Holiday season is right around the corner and for many of us, that means traveling somewhere to spend some quality time with family. Whether you’re flying across the country for Thanksgiving, to another country for winter break, or voyage frequently as part of your day-to-day life, here are some of our favorite Rolex watches for women who travel.Given that the Rolex GMT-Master watch was invented for people who fly planes for a living, it comes as no surprise that this would be a top pick for a travel watch.
No, I’m not talking about the Submariner and Explorer II’s famously good looks – we’ll get there in a minute. Both timepieces have a pretty long history with Rolex, and over the years, they have been worn and beloved by many famous faces.The Submariner is famous for its James Bond appearances, author Ian Flemming writing, “He could not just wear a watch. It had to be a Rolex.” Over the years, Sean Connery’s 007 wore a Submariner ref. 6538 and Roger Moore sported a ref. 5513. And as one of the most popular Rolex models ever, we often see the Submariner sported today on the wrists of celebrities and dignitaries alike – whether they’re scuba divers or not.The Rolex Explorer II has graced its fair share of celebrities and famous explorers too. Hollywood actor, Jason Statham can frequently be spotted at red carpet events sporting a vintage ref. 1655 – the very first Explorer II reference. Meanwhile, Prince Harry prefers the modern version of the watch, and owns the 42mm Explorer II ref. 216570 with a white “Polar” dial.This is where the differences between the Submariner and the Explorer II become very apparent. First up, the Submariner has a colored unidirectional timing bezel that today is available in black, blue or green. And before Rolex started using modern, scratch-resistant Cerachrom (aka ceramic) bezels on the Submariner in 2007, it featured an aluminum bezel. The bezel is really one of the main selling points of this watch, as its color really adds some great personality to the wrist, and is one of the defining characteristics of the Rolex Submariner collection.The waterproof Oyster case on the Submariner clocks in at 40mm, and along with the bracelet, can be either constructed from Oystersteel (904L stainless steel), solid 18k yellow gold, or Rolesor (two-tone steel and gold). This is another big selling point for a lot of collectors, as the combinations of alloys and bezels really allow for a lot of style and creativity. And before I forget: the Submariner has always featured an Oyster bracelet, but in recent years was updated with the improved Glidelock clasp, which allows for tool-free adjustment for a perfect fit.
