Inside Our Collections | The Rolex Explorer

Blake Buettner, Kat Shoulders, and Zach Weiss sit down today to discuss a favorite in their collections, the Rolex Explorer. We talk about the notoriety of the Explorer in the Rolex lineup and how believe it or not, its under appreciated.
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Experience Enthusiasm

[@boop8621]

That whole box discussion was mind-numbing

[@dannyg6592]

Love this episode and the format. I own a 124270 Explorer, and I love it. Very comfortable to wear. Sporty yet classy - robust yet elegant. And it flies under the radar screen. There is a reason it is so iconic - it works for every occasion (my wrist size is 6.75").

[@teeandcakes2707]

I love the 124270 Explorer, so much so that I hardly wear it. Bought it from an AD so I can pass it on to my 3 year old son when he digs up my grave and pries it off my dead hand.

[@tfergieman]

I mirror this sentiment! I have the same wrist size. I would also add…it can be acquired with a minimal wait time!

[@umq5147]

I love this concept. Very informative, casual and not rushed Keep it up!

[@I-Libertine]

The "polar" is the white Airking with black Arabics and black outlined soapbar indexes. From circa 2006-2014. Simply smashing. My all time favorite Rolex.

[@terryfenner8142]

Really enjoyed this episode and enjoy this concept of taking a peak into your personal collections 👍

[@wornandwound]

More to come!

[@SeniorChaChaCha]

I got the 124270 last year and have been wearing it consistently. The best.

[@Peter_WongVI]

"Inside our Collections," I dig it!

[@wornandwound]

Thanks for watching!

[@sportsracer5]

Excellent video - a chill conversation between three knowledgeable owners. I especially liked the packaging comparison... I feel like you don't see that aspect of the hobby very often! W&W is killing it with their content these days.

[@wornandwound]

Thanks so much! 🙌

[@rich2kite]

I prefer the old packaging ... Leave the blinger presentation to the yachtsman and day date

[@mattpyfer3296]

Great episode and format. My favorite watch by far. Have a 114270 and agree with Zach on its presence and comfort, but have to say Kat’s 124273 is killer, the gold really brings a different but classy vibe

[@wornandwound]

Thanks for the feedback and congrats on your Explorer!

[@HenryLLy]

Fun conversation! It was fun to listen to. :) I love Kat’s 124273! It’s an awesome watch and I love what they did to this generation’s case shape. If I could, my dream collection would be a nicely patina’d 1016 and the TT Exp. A titanium Explorer would be great to see! I love how small and light the Explorer is and being able to shave more weight be interesting.

[@wornandwound]

Lots of votes for a titanium Explorer, we hope Rolex is listening! Haha

[@inCanada55]

Consider an "all gold" Explorer! Red gold!

[@johnbenton5102]

"I've seen people call it boring"-Zach Weiss I'm sure that was from Zach Kazan haha!

[@bernal4444]

I have the 39mm mk1 and I like it a lot on my 7.25 wrist. I do like the look of the 36mm but it’s small on me. Would love a Sotc video from you guys!

[@jirikrajnak9047]

You guys left me salivating.

[@wornandwound]

Haha, you’re welcome!

[@nycmaverick]

How long did it it take to get the watch from request allocation?

[@bjoernaltmann]

The Explorer is very tempting as it is so understated. - Rolex seem to follow the approach of "we put all the money in the watch and not in the box" - which I like. Omega sometimes really goes over the top with their boxes, and they are also specific to the watch model or at least the line. But in the end they just need to be stored somewhere - unless you want to keep the watch on display inside the open box in a cabinet. Then it's quite nice.

[@wornandwound]

Very true!

[@andrpers14]

Love the explorer. Has pretty much parked other watches in my collection. Use my 114270 as a daily but sometimes my 1016 get some air time. Have paired the 1016 with a period correct jubilee, so those two together works for almost all scenarios and the bracelets makes them different in a way🙏🏼 No idea what Rolex would have to do in a new release for me to get into it. Matt dial maybe and some tweaks? Lug width needs to go back to 20mm 😳

[@wornandwound]

Good idea!

[@rodsalvador3608]

Have you seen the box Longines use for the Legend diver? Holy smokes, that thing probably costs half as much as the watch to build. Anyway, I've had on the 14270 for a few days and I'm already looking at the 124273. Love the casual two tone vibe!

[@rich2kite]

I sold my 39mm and bought both new ref 36mm version ... Much lovelier and feels so good on wrist. A solid gold release would be amazing but that is such a wish

[@VanWatches]

I like how zach subtly rolled his eyes when she said she didnt like 36mm watches 😂

[@wornandwound]

Haha, Kat is coming around!

[@LeoVinteler]

I own the 114270, my first and only Rolex. The most comfortable watch I have, and the one I wear the most in my collection. 🙋🏻‍♂️🍻

[@mitchmitchell9588]

My wife bought me the rolessor (is that the right term for two tone?) as a present. Within a year, we were having it resized for her wrist…against my will and with my protestations. It’s a great watch. The movement runs with precision, the gold is very subtle and disappears in certain light, and it’s a beautiful dial. I believe it’s closer to 35 than 36 mm, but it has a great presence. Not for everyone, but a watch that deserves respect.

[@akashchatterjee2004]

I feel for you..

[@wornandwound]

Haha, good on you! Now that means you get to replace it with something else right?

[@mitchmitchell9588]

@@akashchatterjee2004 Thank you. It's a heavy burden I bear. 🤣

[@mitchmitchell9588]

​@@wornandwound Yes! I will tell my wife that y'all said it was OK to buy a new watch...😜

[@perudolux]

My favorite watch.

[@AuctionStyle]

Two tone: Tremendously underrated watch! It’s a rebel! Conversational starter for sure!! Don’t see this often!!

[@bradcrafton4929]

Great work guys, I am a proud owner of the 124270. I also want add another Explorer to the collection. Like Kat I would like to see an all gold Explorer, maybe rose gold. For my personal collection, I will be picking up an earlier 14270 or 114270 later on.

[@wornandwound]

Right on!

[@RobinHood-us7sg]

Great idea for vid 🤙🏻

[@wornandwound]

Glad you enjoyed and thanks for watching!!

[@RobinHood-us7sg]

@@wornandwound I’m a fellow owner of the 124270 🤙🏻

[@rossi2sfa]

As an owner of a 124270 Explorer, I din´t like how much the bracelet tapers to the clasp. But that's my only complaint. Titanium would be nice...

[@inCanada55]

I have the 124270 Explorer so this W&W review caught my eye. Great discussion. Just a bit top-heavy when the topic of Rolex "boxes" popped up. Yes, the old boxes (an original of which I own and adore for my 1981 Pepsi GMT-Master) are nostalgically charming, and the new luxo-boxes are blingy, but you should be pretty much out of racetrack thereafter, on that subject. Boxes aside, I think Kat made a really interesting observation when, on the subject of future 'dream' Explorers, she said (in contrast to Blake's proposed light-weight 'Titanium' model) that perhaps an "all-gold" version might be a future offering. Kat made the comment while wearing her bi-metal Explorer 124273, which I think has a real interesting look. It seems possible that Kate's 124273 is but a "stepping stone" -- a half-way point or maybe a test-market -- for a next generation "all-gold" Explorer. I actually think that such a bank-buster would sell, and I can picture an Explorer in red gold with glossy black dial and red gold applied hour markers (perhaps sans lume, as there's no way you'd be spelunking in darkness with that little slice of heaven on your wrist). When you consider that so many other models already have all-gold references (President, Submariner, Daytona, Sky-Dweller, to name some), and as Rolex is no longer as slow as it once was to dodge tradition, it makes perfect sense that an all-gold 36mm Explorer could emerge soon. What a stunner that could be, if you could actually find one.

[@wornandwound]

Thanks for the insight and watching!

[@_sr]

I like the classic size 36 mm 👍🏻

[@janihellberg6911]

I owned the 39 mk2 and allthough I liked it, there was something off about it for me. Then they came out with the new tt and I fell in love. Owned it for litle under two years now and love it. I feel it's porpotions are better than 39:s and the gold on the dial makes it bit more interesting. Great choice Kat.😊👍

[@wornandwound]

Thanks!! And great choice!

[@mpetrinobassist]

The real question tho, where did Blake get his cool vintage looking NY hat from?

[@wornandwound]

Urban Outfitters in Nashville 👍

[@friskjidjidoglu7415]

7:01 it has a bezel, just not a rotating one

[@JAPAN4K]

Wow very good nice. I'm a big fan of you＋👍🔔

[@wornandwound]

Thanks for watching!

[@tiongloo3473]

Love the Rolex Explorer 1 MK2. It has been discontinued n prices inching up a fair bit. My only Rolex.

[@wornandwound]

Good choice!

[@missouriboy66]

Was just gifted a Rolex reference 224270 40mm Explorer, and I can say it’ll be my daily driver for many years to come.

[@wornandwound]

Awesome!

[@inCanada55]

I've dreamed of getting gifts like that!

[@IanBlaustein]

I would also love to see the numerals changed to something more like the 1016--the modern Explorer is great but it's not BEAUTIFUL. The 1016 is beautiful. Titanium would be wonderful, but it's not the Explorer that needs it--it's the Explorer II! Gimme a titanium Explorer II Polar and I'd be back with modern Rolex.

[@alanmentzer8756]

My choice: 39mm MKII For Watches and Wonders new release: a return to 39-40-41mm with both the traditional black dial and a new "Arctic white." No precious metals for this field watch, but titanium would be very cool.

[@wornandwound]

We’ll see!

[@RedwoodAggie]

I am always up for discussions around the Explorer. What I would like to see is an updated 39mm Explorer, but I don’t think that is going to happen. I am a bit of a giant, so it were better on me. What I think is slightly more plausible would be a titanium version in the “41mm” case. Apparently those are only 39.5 when measured by calipers, which would explain why the OP 41 wore smaller than expected when I tried it on. The titanium would help negate the size increase. I think of the Grand Seiko Night Birch, but a Rolex execution. I would like a full gold Explorer 36 more than two tone. I know a lot of people would love a white dial Explorer. I think that would be executed better the renders, but I don’t think they would give fans what they want like that. Rolex clearly puts much thought into their design, though some could argue that causes them to play it safe a bit too much. I could use the Datejust palm dial as exhibit A against that argument, but I think people are missing the days when something like an Explorer II 1655 or Turnograph was in the catalog.

[@wornandwound]

Great idea!

[@VMIyanks04]

Funny how watching this now, we all scoffed at Kat’s comment about if we’ll see an Explorer 41, and she was basically right! Now with the 40mm I don’t know what Explorer to get! I’m normally a purist (I have the new Speedy with hesalite) so I kind of want the 36mm, but the 39 and 40 also work for me! I guess it’ll all just come down to price and availability at the time I’m ready to buy.

[@inCanada55]

If you're a true 'purist', it's tough to understand how a 39 or 40 allows you to remain in that company! Recall why Coke "Classic" was brought back.

[@Number_006]

Great vid. 👏 And kudos for adding Kat to the team. A real coup imho. Nice to get a feminine perspective!

[@wornandwound]

Appreciate it!

[@Gearsandco]

I want a 124270 really bad😭.

[@Levi_1911]

Thanks for the vid. I love my Explorer! I have a 14270 from 1997 and is a birth year watch for me. Its my favorite Rolex model and I like the vintage. My grail is a 1016 mk1 matte dial.

[@wornandwound]

Good choice!

[@mrb6597]

I just got the new 40mm Explorer and am struggling with the size. The dial could stand to be much bigger with all the stuff they jammed onto there. Nice watch, but seems like 41mm would be much better (a true 41mm, not like this phony baloney "40mm" measurement)

[@akashchatterjee2004]

The non-green evergreen watch

[@top5alpha748]

The old box was the same for the datejust 16322. I’ve seen the manuel of the older explorer and they have a picture of some dude in a cave which is as explorer you can get. The datejust has a horse jockey. Rolex did lose that charm a bit. That being said I own the 124270 and it never leaves the wrist.

[@lamaludwig1470]

The standard green box for the Explorer communicates imo what an uninspired mass product such a Rolex is. Combined with the high price, I find it a bit boring. But on the other hand, it is the quintessence of the practical Rolex for every day. I would like to see a hardened bezel and 39mm. Cheers from Switzerland

[@MIZRAIM1906]

The explorer I is truly a watch you don't think about wearing because there are none available to wear.

[@137Furon]

people are sleeping on the two tone explorer, you can buy them now for below retail! on secondary market and its both appealing to Men and women (IMO) for those that argue its a tool and shouldn't have gold on it ... rolex has made all of their watches have gold on them - why does the submariner get a pass (arguably the most tool watch they have) but the explorer does not?

[@alectang1614]

I had a difficult relationship with the Explorer. It was a watch that I had lusted for 5 years and I was finally able to buy the 214270 39mm in 2018. However, wearing it here in Hong Kong made me feel like wearing a uniform, devoid of personality, grinding through the monotonous life of the rat race. Everyone here has a Rolex (I see Daytonas, GMTs on a daily basis). Its versatility was also a double edged sword for me personally - I found it too dressy for shorts and T-Shirts but not formal enough for a tux. It was a real shame, I sold it after about a year or so and the wee profit funded towards another watch. However, seeing photos of it on Instagram reminds me of why I fell in love with the Explorer in the first place - It is a pretty little thing, in its utilitarian and sobering kind of way.

[@wornandwound]

Watches are funny that way, maybe one day it’ll make its way back

[@ditmerk]

The Green box does not feel like luxery. its feels super cheep compared to pretty much every other brand.

[@JackoWillMakeLives-loveu]

I’m sure Rolex will take your words under advisement

[@ditmerk]

@@JackoWillMakeLives-loveu Im pretty sure Rolex dont care. But i dont get why the WW guys thinks the box i luxury

[@wornandwound]

The box is a point of comparison between generations. The older style has much more character and style, where the new has a much tighter fit and finish, with a clean modern presentation that feels geared more toward the luxury end than the "this is a watch for the outdoors" end.

[@Delveinformation1]

The Explorer is for an experienced collector; no frills, no BS, and a true GADA watch, that makes you proud to wear. Speaking of the Rolex, I can't afford one so I have at lease five Lookalike watches. Lorier Falcon 3, Steinhart Adventure, and Tudor Ranger, etc....etc.... ad nauseum...even a CRONOS Chginese copy but beautiful nevertheless. WHERE DO ROLEX WEARERS GET THIS MONEY?

[@muhammadburhanuddin2170]

Pool the funds of all those 5+ lookalikes and you have enough for the real deal 🙂

[@ozzy1154]

Rich people exist, and they are WAY more prevalent than you would think.

[@avtex108]

I didn’t waste money on the shit watches you mentioned I only bought the Rolex. That’s how

[@haruhitotsushima9655]

el reloj no esta mal, pero es muy caro

[@bludgeonedbabyseal]

These aren't small watches, they are REAL watches. It is difficult to imagine famous Explorer wearers of the past, such as Ian Fleming, wearing the ridiculous multi-coloured satellite dishes of 40-42 mm that everyone craves from the brand now! They are just blingy statements, not watches.

[@typebflieger]

The Explorer is the only Rolex I care about and it’s the only watch that I currently own from the brand. I’d love to see the Explorer get into colored dials. A blue or grey dial would be amazing, IMO, especially if they go with a titanium or 925 case. But, come on. It’s Rolex. They’re not going to do any of that.

[@wornandwound]

One can wish!

[@FluxedState]

Remember when worn and wound was a brand for the people? Tastes of those running it just aren’t the same.

[@wornandwound]

That's a bummer you don't think we still are. Check out our video yesterday on a couple of Micro-brands or our recent Seiko reviews. We are lovers of ALL watches!

[@JamesAlexander14]

This is a tool watch. Why on Earth would you want it made from gold? It is tasteless and tacky.

[@xavious5017]

Get over yourself already. The Sub, GMT, Daytona; guess what? They were all tool watches at point of design. Rolex have stopped being a 'tool' watch brand a long time ago and have been infusing precious metals into 90% of their line. If you want a tool watch, get a Sinn.....

[@kat_wornandwound]

That’s fair, different strokes for different folks I suppose. But I also don’t take this hobby too seriously. Thanks for watching though!