BP realeses 2006 version of Explorer II

[rickyman94]

High Quality Black Hand Set for Rolex Explorer II 16570/16710 Cal. 3185/3186 | eBay

Case number :16710.

www.ebay.com

Thanks, do you have any experience with these? Is it a significant improvement over the BP?

 

[mclarendude]

Thanks, do you have any experience with these? Is it a significant improvement over the BP?

Nope. I'll maybe find out when I get my Polar.

 

[rickyman94]

I would not buy AliExpress hands, especially not for Rolex models
I have always been disappointed

Yeah I've had a hit or miss experience. Got some clean factory ones for by 6 digit builds and those were great, but it's definitely a mixed bag

 

[Karbon74]

Maybe this?

Watch Parts GMT 3185 Movement Luminous Watch Hands for 16710 16713 16700 Movement Hand

www.alibaba.com

 

[bowtiefanatc]

Anyone have any replacement hands for the Polar they'd recommend (besides gen)? I've seen some on Aliexpress but wondering if anyone has experience with these as an upgrade

Alibaba has them as well. $38 or so, but need to order 2

 

[bowtiefanatc]

Maybe this?

Watch Parts GMT 3185 Movement Luminous Watch Hands for 16710 16713 16700 Movement Hand

www.alibaba.com

I just got some silver ones in. Decent, GMT triangle is not gen like

 

[rickyman94]

Maybe this?

Watch Parts GMT 3185 Movement Luminous Watch Hands for 16710 16713 16700 Movement Hand

www.alibaba.com

yeah this is what I was looking at actually-- wondering if anyone had any experience with them

 

[bowtiefanatc]

yeah this is what I was looking at actually-- wondering if anyone had any experience with them

They are the same as BP

 

[lukko]

High Quality Black Hand Set for Rolex Explorer II 16570/16710 Cal. 3185/3186 | eBay

Case number :16710.

www.ebay.com

Stay away from them mate..

These are a downgrade and not an upgrade

Few years ago i’ve bought these with silver color.

These are ugly. Big triangle, big hands, but more than this the flat parts of GMT hand (the part when you touch with the tool for press the hand) is larger compared with the same hour hand part that is behind the gmt hand. Very ugly effect and miles away from gen


EDIT: i’ve find a pic in my gallery of these hands fitted. You can see the ugly central effect of gmt hand

 

[bowtiefanatc]

Stay away from them mate..

These are a downgrade and not an upgrade

Few years ago i’ve bought these with silver color.

These are ugly. Big triangle, big hands, but more than this the flat parts of GMT hand (the part when you touch with the tool for press the hand) is larger compared with the same hour hand part that is behind the gmt hand. Very ugly effect and miles away from gen


EDIT: i’ve find a pic in my gallery of these hands fitted. You can see the ugly central effect of gmt hand

Can confirm! Those are bad. I have a set.

 

[mclarendude]

Yikes. Happy I asked. I'll probably keep mine stock.

 

[rickyman94]

Yikes okay yeah glad I posted lol

 

[KJ2020]

High Quality Black Hand Set for Rolex Explorer II 16570/16710 Cal. 3185/3186 | eBay

Case number :16710.

www.ebay.com

Black GMT hand stalk

 

[bowtiefanatc]

I was going to mention that too lol.

I have a set sitting in my parts bin

 

[tribal]

Not worth the hype, Case is too fat, really big chamfers to mimic small Lugs. Bezel is wrong. etc.

 

[mandipan]

Not worth the hype, Case is too fat, really big chamfers to mimic small Lugs. Bezel is wrong. etc.

But the case can be reshaped gen-like right? And other parts can be swapped with gen like bezel

 

[bowtiefanatc]

But the case can be reshaped gen-like right? And other parts can be swapped with gen like bezel

Yes it can. And yes they can

 

[orchard1]

I seem to have evolved in my enjoyment of reps, I'm wondering if we all do.

At first, I only bought stuff from the NWBIG list, whether I really liked it or not, just because it was "the best." I don't really ever wear most of them, just knew that availability is often temporary, and didn't want to miss the chance to have one of each. I think I have pretty much the entire list now, other than some of the PAMs (I do like Panerai, but if I'm honest, they really only make 3 watches...Luminor, Radiomir, and Submersible...everything else is just variations in dials and case sizes) and nothing by Richard Mille...I just never fell in love with the design, and quite frankly, it's not something that most of us could pull off. $100k+ watches are not in the realm of possibilites for most of us.

Then it was modding vintage watches, trying to achieve (near) perfection, and building reps that didn't really exist on the market.
While I still enjoy building and trying to blaze new territory in modding, I'm also finding I like "project" watches quite a bit. Give me something that needs some TLC at a decent discount, and I can't say, "no."

But the last couple purchases I've made from dealers are watches like this...not perfect to fine scrutiny, but a decent quality rep that does the job. I picked up a BP 16610 because I couldn't justify the cost of paying more for the ARF (which is admittedly better) and the gen parts to make it better. I could have a near perfect franken ARF 16610, or for a few $grand more, I could just go gen, which I have my eye out to do. After I get the gen, I'll keep the BP for beating on, and wear the gen on special occasions. The BP 16610 may not look exactly like a gen 16610, but it looks exactly like a "Submariner from 20-40 years ago" if that makes any sense, in layman's terms.

I like this one for the same reasons. It's not a 1:1 copy, there are flaws, but it does look enough like an early generation Explorer 2 and the price is right. If it takes gen parts, I may swap a few in (I've got some bezels and gen crystals in the stash), and be done with it.

Im exactly on the same part of the journey here my friend. Im getting this despite its flaws and I'll enjoy the hell out of it.

 

[whoster]

i'm pretty new to the rep game but my first was a 1655 that i got from trusty and had modded to be "better". it's still very very flawed and i think i need the movement serviced soon but it still gets the most wrist time out of all my watches currently.

i'm pretty sure i'm gonna get one of these as well just to continue my Explorer II theme and maybe do a gen bezel/ better crystal swap and call it a day, and consider having the case shaped if i get sick of the chamfers at some point.

 

[tomtime]

Joined this forum just because I heard of the comeback for the 16570 and wanted to know more. After reading every post i am still not sure how to feel about it.

Case thickness, traingle placements and the 8s on the bezel are killing me. Would'nt mind spending a few extra € for a couple upgrades, but time is valuable and it seems like such a hastle to then finally have something decent

Looks like I have a lot more reading to do before I find a good neo vintage 40mm Rolex GMT