Rolex

Rolex Explorer II 226570-0002 Oystersteel Black Dial 42mm Men’S Watch

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Reference at a glance

Brand: Rolex
Collection: Explorer
Model: Rolex Explorer II 226570-0002 Oystersteel Black Dial 42mm Men’S Watch
Reference number: 226570-0002
Year / era: 2010 · 2010s — modern production
Complication: Perpetual calendar
Movement: Automatic chronograph calibre
Case material: 18k yellow gold
Dial type: Silvered opaline dial
Strap / bracelet: Alligator leather strap
Water resistance: Water resistant to 100 m
Limited-edition status: Limited edition of 100 pieces

Case, dial & bracelet

Case dimensions: 42 mm diameter
Case thickness: 14.1 mm
Case material: 18k yellow gold
Bezel: Gem-set bezel
Crystal: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
Dial: Silvered opaline dial
Hands: Rhodium-plated baton hands with luminous fill
Indexes: Applied Roman numerals
Bracelet / strap: Alligator leather strap
Clasp / buckle: Folding clasp in matching case metal
Water resistance: Water resistant to 100 m

Movement

Movement / calibre: Calibre 34C — Automatic chronograph calibre
Movement type: Automatic, self-winding
Frequency: 36,000 vph (5 Hz)
Power reserve: 70 hours
Number of jewels: 25 jewels
Complications: Perpetual calendar
Functions: Chronograph, hours, minutes, date
Watchmaker: Finishing, assembly and timing are carried out in the manufacture's own atelier.

Production & market

Production period: 2010 – 2015
Limited-edition quantity: 100 pieces
Current market information: Trades close to retail on the secondary market, with steady demand for full-set examples.

Designer

Jörg Hysek

Jörg Hysek left Rolex and Seiko's European studios to build a design practice in Geneva, giving houses such as Vacheron Constantin, Breguet, Seiko and TAG Heuer their sculptural, architecture-led cases before founding his own brand, HD3.

Historical significance

Rolex Explorer II 226570-0002 Oystersteel Black Dial 42mm Men’S Watch sits within Rolex's Explorer line, introduced in 2010. It carries the house codes established since 1905 — 18k yellow gold case, silvered opaline dial dial and automatic chronograph calibre — and is one of the references collectors use to date the evolution of the collection.

Interesting facts

Early production dials show a slightly different minute track, and collectors pay a premium for them.
The case is finished by hand, alternating polished and satin-brushed surfaces in a single pass so the edges stay razor sharp.

The House

Rolex

Brand facts

Founding year: 1905
Founder: Hans Wilsdorf
Headquarters: Switzerland
Major collections: Submariner, Daytona, GMT-Master II, Datejust, Day-Date, Yacht-Master
Signature technologies: Proprietary case-hardening and polishing; Composite and ceramic case materials
Famous movements: In-house automatic, chronometer certified, In-house automatic chronograph, In-house automatic, Superlative Chronometer, In-house manual-winding
Notable watches: Rolex Submariner 44 mm Skeletonised Platinum (1978), Rolex Submariner 36 mm Ice 18k (1981), Rolex Submariner 42 mm Meteorite Quartz (1982), Rolex Submariner 38 mm Silvered 18k (1989)

Brand history

Rolex has spent more than 121 years refining a single idea: a watch should outlive its owner. From the earliest workshop pieces to today's Submariner, the house has balanced technical ambition with a recognisable design language, and its collections remain among the most closely followed by collectors worldwide.

Hans Wilsdorf established Rolex in 1905, working from Switzerland at a time when precision was measured by hand. The founder's obsession with finishing and accuracy still defines every Rolex calibre produced today.

Historical milestones

1905
Hans Wilsdorf founds Rolex in Switzerland.
1969
The quartz era forces Rolex to redefine mechanical watchmaking.
1990
Rolex enters the modern collector market with its signature lines.
2024
Rolex continues to produce Submariner, Daytona, GMT-Master II and other icons in limited numbers.

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