| The Rolex Explorer II was launched in 1971 primarily for | | | | first unscrewing the winding crown and then slowly |
| the speleologists (cave explorers). This model features | | | | turning it clockwise or counterclockwise. This |
| a fixed bezel engraved with 24-hour track and a | | | | adjustment will result in jumping of the hour hand one |
| special 24 hour hand (initially orange in color, now red) | | | | hour at a time without stopping the minute and |
| which together help to distinguish AM from PM. This | | | | seconds hands. In addition, the independently adjustable |
| feature has proved to be a boon fo cave explorers. | | | | 12-hour hand allows the wearer to simultaneously |
| They spend days together exploring deep caverns | | | | check the time in any two time zones. |
| where daylight is nil. As a result, keeping track of the | | | | The initial Rolex Explorer II model had the same caliber |
| time becomes difficult. Rolex GMT-Master II, an | | | | movement as that of the GMT-Master 1575. |
| improved version over the initial GMT-Master | | | | Some other common in the two include the following: |
| (introduced in 1954), was launched in 1983. This model | | | | * Mercedes hands in place of old, large stick hands |
| is meant for the pilots who need to travel through | | | | * A slimmer, scratch resistant synthetic sapphire |
| multiple time zones. It features a special 24 hour hand | | | | crystal |
| and a bi-directional rotating bezel, designed to display | | | | * Crown guards |
| the time of any two time zones simultaneously. | | | | * Cyclops lens over the date aperture |
| How does the Explorer II Resemble the GMT-Master | | | | * Self-winding and waterproof to 100 meters/330 feet |
| II? | | | | What is the Difference Between the Two? |
| The 24-hour engraved bezel and the extra 24-hour | | | | The major difference between the Explorer II and the |
| hand in the Explorer II make it resemble the | | | | GMT-Master II is that while the Explorer II features a |
| GMT-Master II. These features between the two | | | | fixed bezel, the GMT-Master II has a bi-directional |
| enable them to display the time in two different time | | | | rotating bezel. |
| zones. In both the models, the 24-hour hand points to | | | | The other areas where the two differ from each |
| the 24-hour time represented on the bezel. For | | | | other are cosmetic in nature. While the Rolex Explorer |
| instance, if it is 7:00 AM, the 24-hour hand will point to 7 | | | | II is available only in solid stainless steel, GMT-Master II |
| on the bezel. If it is 7:00 PM, it will point to 19 on the | | | | is available in 18k yellow gold, white gold, stainless steel |
| bezel. Another feature common to the two models is | | | | and in Rolesor (steel and gold). Also, there are many |
| the “jump hour” feature. This feature allows the | | | | dial options available in the GMT-Master II, unlike the |
| 12 hour hand to be set to a different time zone without | | | | Explorer II, which is available in only black and white |
| adjusting the 24-hour hand and bezel. This is done by | | | | dials. |