In horological circles, the Rolex Explorer I (Ref. 124270, 36mm & Ref. 214270/224270, 39mm/40mm) and Explorer II (Ref. 226570 / 216570, 42mm) are revered as the ultimate “NWBIG” (Not Worth Buying In Genuine) super clones. Why? Because their brushed 904L Oystersteel cases, smooth or fixed steel bezels, and high-contrast lacquered dials involve zero precious-metal plating—allowing Clean Factory and GMF to achieve 99.8% dimensional and visual parity with genuine Swiss retail pieces.
- Explorer I 124270 (36mm) Tapered Proportions: Clean Factory replicated the exact 19mm lug width tapering down to 14mm at the Oysterlock clasp, resulting in the most comfortable 36mm tool watch on Earth.
- 3-6-9 Chromalight Arabic Numerals: Unlike the 2010–2015 MK1 39mm Explorer that used solid metal numerals, Clean’s 124270 fills the 3, 6, and 9 white-gold-plated appliqués with long-lasting ice-blue Swiss Chromalight.
- Explorer II 226570 ‘Polar’ Matte Hands: On the 42mm Polar White dial, Clean perfected the matte-black PVD frames around the hour, minute, and seconds hands alongside the vibrant safety-orange 24-hour GMT arrow.
- Radial Brushed 24-Hour Fixed Bezel: The sunray-brushed steel bezel on the Explorer II features deep, recessed black-filled numerals that never chip.
1. Explorer I (Ref. 124270 & 124273): The 36mm Everest Icon
When you inspect our Rolex Explorer I M124270 36mm Black Dial 904L or the two-tone Rolex Explorer 124273 36mm Yellow Gold & 904L Steel VR3230 under a 10x loupe, the glossy black lacquer dial looks like liquid obsidian. Inside beats the no-date Calibre 3230 clone—meaning there is no “phantom date click” when you pull out the Twinlock crown: position 1 winds the mainspring, and position 2 hacks the seconds hand to set the time.
| Specification | Explorer I (Ref. 124270) | Explorer II Polar (226570 / 216570) | Clean Factory Benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Diameter & Thickness | 36.0 mm × 11.5 mm | 42.0 mm × 12.5 mm | Exact ±0.05mm Micrometer Match |
| Movement Calibre | Clone Calibre 3230 (No-Date) | Dandong DD3285 / Cal.3187 GMT | True No-Date / Jumping Hour GMT |
| Bracelet Taper | 19mm Lug → 14mm Clasp | 22mm Lug → 17mm Clasp | Solid 904L + 5mm Easylink |
| Dial & Hand Finish | Gloss Black + 3-6-9 Lume | Polar White + Matte Black Hands | Swiss Ice-Blue Chromalight |
| Bezel Architecture | Mirror-Polished Smooth 904L | Radial Sunray-Brushed 24h Fixed | Zero Tool Marks / Sharp Chamfers |
2. Explorer II 42mm (Ref. 226570 & 216570): Polar White vs Stealth Black
Originally designed for speleologists (cave explorers) working in total darkness who needed a 24-hour indicator to distinguish noon from midnight, the 42mm Rolex Explorer II 42mm 904L Steel GMT is the ultimate under-the-radar travel watch. Because it uses a fixed radial-brushed steel 24-hour bezel instead of a flashy ceramic ring, it flies completely under the radar while offering the exact same independent jumping local hour hand as the GMT-Master II.
- ⌚ Rolex Explorer I M124270 36mm Black Dial 904L — True No-Date Cal.3230 & 19mm Tapered Bracelet
- ⌚ Rolex Explorer II 42mm 904L Steel GMT — 24-Hour Orange Arrow & Independent Jumping Hour
- ⌚ Rolex Explorer I 124273 36mm 904L VR3230 — Luminous 3-6-9 Numerals & Easylink Clasp
- ⌚ Rolex Explorer I 124273 Two-Tone Yellow Gold — Ron’s Iconic Two-Tone Everest Explorer
Collector FAQ & Pre-Shipment QC Answers
Does the Explorer I 124270 have a ‘ghost date’ position on the crown?
No! Clean Factory uses the dedicated no-date VR3230/VS3230 calibre, so pulling the crown out goes straight to time-setting with zero phantom date click.
Why do collectors call the Clean Explorer I and II ‘NWBIG’?
Because all-brushed 904L steel cases with lacquered dials and no gold plating leave zero visual differences from genuine watches, even under side-by-side macro photography.
