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BP realeses 2006 version of Explorer II

RDRoss

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Who did you guys order from?
Right from the second post.

Thanks for sharing, also read it within the TDs section.

 

pompompurin

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For your modding inspiration, here is a bp 16570 (although 2836-2 version, which appears to share a sinilar case to the vr3186 version) that was modded and superfrankened.

Build specs
- BP 16570 explorer ii watch (2836-2 version)
- Gen polar dial
- Gen hands
- Gen date disc
- Gen bezel
- Replica 604 crown
- VR3186 movement
- Swiss 5330 tube
- Replica 25 295c crystal with LEC and better clarity

Mods
- Opening up the crownguards internally.
- Regulating the movement.
- Polished-off the rehaut engravings and rebrushed the rehaut.
- Custom movement ring to fix the vr3186 movement in place.
- Completely softened the the lugs and all edges.





 
Last edited:

Reaps

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Maybe I'm making a fool of myself but the Explorer shouldn't have such aggressive chamfers right?
 
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lukko

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For your modding inspiration, here is a bp 16570 (although 2836-2 version, which appears to share a sinilar case to the vr3186 version) that was modded and superfrankened.

Build specs
- BP 16570 explorer ii watch (2836-2 version)
- Gen polar dial
- Gen hands
- Gen date disc
- Gen bezel
- Replica 604 crown
- VR3186 movement
- Swiss 5330 tube
- Replica 25 295c crystal with LEC and better clarity

Mods
- Opening up the crownguards internally.
- Regulating the movement.
- Polished-off the rehaut engravings and rebrushed the rehaut.
- Custom movement ring to fix the vr3186 movement in place.
- Completely softened the the lugs and all edges.







Good work here buddy (y)
Maybe I'm making a fool of myself but the Explorer shouldn't have such aggressive chamfers right?

Yep, totally wrong here.

Cg’s, lugs, and bezel are things that i always fixed at least on these

Unfortunally these BP are like this from years ago.

In the past the BP version was more accurate: here a pictures of the old BP on the left e the actual batch on the right. You can see easily the CG’s, lugs, the bezel numbers (the “8” for example), that was better on the old version. But the best 16570 still the old good Noob. Quite rare to find those days.

32As7SI.jpg
 
Last edited:

KJ2020

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Maybe I'm making a fool of myself but the Explorer shouldn't have such aggressive chamfers right?
That is true. Though you can find many examples of gens that have been polished where the chamfers were made wider. This is done to eliminate nicks and gouges.

2a9zwt.jpeg


Here is an original unpolished 16710 from 1990, which is the exact same case used for the 16570.

KqzZgW.jpeg
 

Mr-Rolex

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Very excited about these, just placed an order!

Not perfect however, like others have mentioned, there doesn't seem to be alot of consistency amongst the gen 16570. Many of them have suffered some pretty bad polishing jobs over the years and frequently have some strange lugs/ crownguards. Since it is an entry level watch in the Rolex catalog, they seem to have changed hands alot and often end up with less then qualified "jewelers" who think they know how to properly refinish these.

Also, there was many variations out there in terms of dials, bracelets (sel's), cases (bracelets)- I feel this makes the flaws/ inconsistencies less noticeable to the average (normal) person. That excludes all of us ;)