Explorer II 16570 - Black Dial - Watch Only - 1998

Explorer II 16570 - Black Dial - Watch Only - 1998

A 1998 Rolex Explorer II reference 16570 with the sought-after black dial, one of the last expressions of the model in its classic 40mm proportions before the 2011 reference 216570 introduced the larger 42mm case. This example is from the Caliber 3185 generation, the workhorse GMT movement that powered the 16570 through its mid-1990s update.

Details:

• Reference: 16570
• Year: 1998
• Case Size: 40mm, Oystersteel
• Bezel: Fixed Oystersteel with engraved 24-hour scale
• Dial: Glossy black with applied luminous markers in white gold surrounds
• Movement: Rolex Caliber 3185, automatic with GMT 24-hour function, approximately 50-hour power reserve
• Bracelet: Oyster, Oystersteel with Oysterclasp
• Water Resistance: 100 meters

Set Includes:

• Watch only, no box, no papers

Condition:

• Pre-owned in good overall condition with honest signs of wear consistent with age and use
• Case retains original geometry with light scratches and surface marks across polished bevels and brushed flat surfaces
• Bezel shows minor wear from regular wrist time, engraving crisp and legible
• Dial, hands and crystal present cleanly with no significant marks
• Bracelet displays the expected stretch and patina of a 27-year-old example, structurally sound, Oysterclasp closes correctly
• Running accurately, all functions including the GMT complication operating as intended

The fixed engraved bezel and orange 24-hour hand are the defining identifiers of the 16570, allowing the wearer to read a second time zone or differentiate AM from PM during extended periods without natural light.