Rolex Submariner vs Rolex Explorer II

Engineering excellence for your daily adventures.

From Sea to Summit: Rolex's Adventure Companions

Whether you're looking to scale the highest summits or dive the deepest trenches, Rolex has the watch for you. The Submariner and Explorer II reflect the brand’s commitment to practical engineering for real professional needs. Both watches benefit from Rolex’s renowned quality and reliability and are guaranteed to survive the adventures they are made for; one being at home beneath the waves and the other made to endure some of world's most challenging alpine environments. Here’s a look at why each model stands out from the crowd.

The Submariner: An Icon for the Seas

Debuting in 1953, the Rolex Submariner quickly earned its reputation as the definitive dive watch, used by divers who needed gear they could trust in life or death situations. Key features like its unidirectional rotating bezel and 300 metre depth rating came from genuine safety considerations rather than mere aesthetics.

 

Over the decades, the Submariner has evolved into an icon of both utility and luxury.

Reference: "Swiss Only" 14060

Reference: 16570 Explorer II (Polar & Black)

The Explorer II: Your travel companion

Introduced in 1971, the Explorer II tackles an entirely different challenge—helping explorers maintain their sense of time where day and night become indistinguishable, such as in deep caves or polar regions under extended darkness. Its fixed 24-hour steel bezel and prominent GMT hand allow wearers to track a second-time zone or maintain regular day/night cycles.
 
The Explorer II comes in black and white dial options, featuring a distinctive red or orange GMT hand that highlights the second time zone. This makes it ideal for travelers, explorers and researchers who need precision timekeeping of two regions.

Which One Speaks to You?

Choose the Submariner if you want a dive watch known for its underwater heritage but equally capable of complementing a suit and tie. Its journey from a diver’s tool to a luxury staple shows Rolex’s talent for blending technical excellence with timeless style.
 
Whereas if your adventures take you to remote or extreme environments and you want the added benefit of tracking a second-time zone, you need the Explorer II.

 

Whether you’re diving deep or venturing where the sun never rises, both watches demonstrate Rolex’s dedication to precision, resilience, and a straightforward approach to design. Whichever adventure path you choose, you’re getting a timepiece built to be passed last generations.