Rolex Explorer I 39mm Review "Ultimate" A3131 Clone

[airking]

Hello All,

I purchased a Rolex Explorer I 39mm from a fellow member a while back and figured I share a breif review of this watch. The watch was a catch & release originally from Lay.

Overall, my experience with this watch has been great so far (I have been using it for a month now). Although I was weary of the Rolex clone movement, it has been performing great. Much better than some gen swiss eta movements I have. I did not have a chance to take a picture of the movement when I opened it a while back but from a distance, this could pass off as Rolex movement. When you come closer though, its pretty obvious that its not a Rolex (at least for those who have seen a real rolex movement). I think its cool to have this movement as a novelty more than anything.

The watch definitely feels solid and looks good. I've never handled a gen of this so I can't comment on how close it is. The main giveaways for me is the crown, the rehaut engraving (not perfectly centered and kind of a bit high), and the hands (didnt even catch this until I read a thread here).

Here are some pics:

The below pic reveals the only quality issue I found so far. If you notice, the bracelet is coming apart (see gap in the middle link) on the first link from the SEL. This is apparent on both sides of the bracelet. Although the bracelet has not come out, I am a bit worried it might eventually. I hope I can find a 'fix' for it before that happens.

 

[Bonesey]

Looks good mate. Glad to hear that the 3131 movement is decent enough. A lot of the dealers are only offering some of the new Rolex watches with either this movement or a 'swiss' ETA.

 

[airking]

from the looks of the gear placement, it seems like the 3131 might just be a dressed up a2836. so hopefully it proves to be as reliable as the a2836 despite the painted gears and extra fake bridge. i guess time will only tell on if this proves to be reliable or not.

 

[co-axial]

Nice fine shots there airking. Thanks for sharing. Thinking of this one for a while now, but with low beat.

 

[believer123]

Nice, that one is next on my list.

 

[AHX]

from the looks of the gear placement, it seems like the 3131 might just be a dressed up a2836. so hopefully it proves to be as reliable as the a2836 despite the painted gears and extra fake bridge. i guess time will only tell on if this proves to be reliable or not.

It definitely is a dressed up A2836.

Now... that Explorer is nice! I've always been a little bit fascinated with the Explorer, firstly because Ian Fleming wore one and the James Bond of the books wore one. Also, because it looks very similar to the Milgauss, they probably share the same case and crystal? Difference is the case seems to be brushed on yours, and your bracelet mid links definitely are. Seems weird, logically the Milgauss being a bit of a scientist's watch and the Explorer quite dressy you'd think the reverse would be true, brushed Millie and polished Explorer.

Actually on that case, looks like either just the tops of the lugs are brushed or it's just the camera lighting.

I'm curious though, what's wrong with the crown? I thought it shared the same crown as the Milgauss which I thought looked accurate to gen.

 

[Bonesey]

It definitely is a dressed up A2836.

Now... that Explorer is nice! I've always been a little bit fascinated with the Explorer, firstly because Ian Fleming wore one and the James Bond of the books wore one. Also, because it looks very similar to the Milgauss, they probably share the same case and crystal? Difference is the case seems to be brushed on yours, and your bracelet mid links definitely are. Seems weird, logically the Milgauss being a bit of a scientist's watch and the Explorer quite dressy you'd think the reverse would be true, brushed Millie and polished Explorer.

Actually on that case, looks like either just the tops of the lugs are brushed or it's just the camera lighting.

I'm curious though, what's wrong with the crown? I thought it shared the same crown as the Milgauss which I thought looked accurate to gen.

I wouldn't call the Explorer dressy as such. Yeah it's quite understated in design but its claimed origins are within the boundries of harsh conditions as are most of the Rolex sport watches. It went to the top of Everest, South Pole etc as part of an advertising and marketing scheme. The dress watches are your datejusts and day-dates.

The watch is also fully brushed apart from the case sides and the bezel. Which i think makes it look far more functional than the Milguass. However the new Milgauss is a far more blinged up version compared to the vintage 1019 which had a fully brushed upper case, bracelet and bezel, but with the sides of the case polished.

Obviously I wouldnt have started my search into older 1016 explorers if i didn't like them, and I do like the new one, but the older lumed numbered dials are just lush. Guess I could have a new one and mirror it with a vintage model

 

[airking]

It definitely is a dressed up A2836.
I'm curious though, what's wrong with the crown? I thought it shared the same crown as the Milgauss which I thought looked accurate to gen.

Unfortunately, it does not have the same crown as the milgauss. If it did, it would be a lot closer to the gen than the crown it has now imo. I can't find the right word to describe it but basically the milgauss and the gen explorer crowns have more of a peak/indent at the end where the rolex crown logo resides. This one doesnt have that, its more flat/fat. I would recommend looking at the gen pics side by side to get a good idea.

 

[AHX]

I wouldn't call the Explorer dressy as such. Yeah it's quite understated in design but its claimed origins are within the boundries of harsh conditions as are most of the Rolex sport watches. It went to the top of Everest, South Pole etc as part of an advertising and marketing scheme. The dress watches are your datejusts and day-dates.

The watch is also fully brushed apart from the case sides and the bezel. Which i think makes it look far more functional than the Milguass. However the new Milgauss is a far more blinged up version compared to the vintage 1019 which had a fully brushed upper case, bracelet and bezel, but with the sides of the case polished.

Obviously I wouldnt have started my search into older 1016 explorers if i didn't like them, and I do like the new one, but the older lumed numbered dials are just lush. Guess I could have a new one and mirror it with a vintage model

Yeah you're right, dressy was not the term I meant as it's not comparable to actual Rolex dress watches. But it's more uhh, understated than the Milgauss, I'll put it that way. And yeah I know today's Milgausses are quite a bit flashier than the old models, but I'm still a big fan. The polished looks great but I'm already acquiring scratches, by next year I'll have a totally brushed bracelet lol

Unfortunately, it does not have the same crown as the milgauss. If it did, it would be a lot closer to the gen than the crown it has now imo. I can't find the right word to describe it but basically the milgauss and the gen explorer crowns have more of a peak/indent at the end where the rolex crown logo resides. This one doesnt have that, its more flat/fat. I would recommend looking at the gen pics side by side to get a good idea.

Ah okay, I getcha. To be honest I looked at my own crown more than your photo when you mentioned them as I assumed they were the same. I get what you mean by the peak.

 

[watchdogg]

This is a V2 Explorer. (Correction... I cannot tell if V1 or V2). I am leaning toward V1 given the crown looks right and dial markers are more 36mm like. The V2 markers are different than the 36mm version.

They say the case is 39mm and the Milgauss is 40mm, but who knows if they are the same with these REPs. You would have to put them side by side.

One thing is certain, the rehaut is very close but just a degree off. Regardless of the height of the lettering, they should line up exactly like the Milgauss. 1,2,3,5 should all have the X above the marker and the 7,8,9,10,11 should all have the R. Would be nice to know if anyone has experience with a properly aligned rehaut with the model.

The hands are also incorrect as they are using some over sized mercedes style... they look like the what is on the new Subs and DSSD.

However, the dial is very good and better than the V1 39mm. The V1 markers are too stubby and the 12 marker is to small.

 

[airking]

i can confirm that the milguass is a bit bigger than the explorer 1 (i.e. they dont use the same case). yeah, the rehaut is not lined up as you mentioned. i wonder if you specially ask a dealer to get one with it lined up if they would be able to. maybe they'll fix all these things in the v3.

 

[phillycheez]

interesting... i love how the new explorer I rocks the glide lock clasp. That bracelet just makes any rolex wear ten times better.

 

[Bonesey]

interesting... i love how the new explorer I rocks the glide lock clasp. That bracelet just makes any rolex wear ten times better.

+1 to that. Such a lovely clasp. Even the comfort link clasp of the Milly and GMT is really nice.

 

[jrodshibuya]

I haven't figured out how to use the comfort link clasp on my GMT yet. Glide-lock is by far the best I think.

 

[Bonesey]

Comfort link is pretty easy Jrod. Open up the clasp fully and look at the inside, on the end furthest away from the rolex crown. In there is a link that can fold on itself in half. Give it a pull and it should expand. You can then fold it flat and close the clasp again. It basically gives you an extra half link and the idea that is as your wrist expands whilst in the air or you get warmer etc you can let the band out a little. I wear my Milgauss tighter than most of my other watches so it's a nice little feature.

 

[Member X]

I've got one of these and I love it

I've no idea if it's a v1 or v2, I didn't know different versions existed! Have you got pics to illustrate the differences?

I saw the gen in the window of the AD the other day - I didn't get a good look as I was eyeing up the DJII I was going to try on (not to buy, I'm not that silly lol) but the case looked a lot more brushed in the gen than the rep, and also like it might be thinner. I will have to see if I can try it on and see how different it is!

Either way, this is a great looking rep and it's not a common model, so I very much doubt anyone would call you out on it

 

[MacAnthony]

This thread has been resting for quite a while, but I would like to say thanks to airking for sharing.

P.S. By the way, I've seen that type of problem with a rep bracelet and the solution was to remove, clean and glue the pins that hold together the links. These pins where only held by poor friction and it was only a matter of time until they would slip and the watch would fall.

 

[airking]

Wow, talk about bringing back the dead lol.

Thanks for the advice MacAnthony. A while back I did something similar to what you mentioned but used rubber cement and although it seemed to have reinforced it, the gap still remains.

But maybe some of you may be happy to know that I still have the watch and t still works! Aside from changing the hands everything is as good as when I got it. Check it out:

Notice you can still see the gap in the bracelet.

 

[Ephry73]

Any reviews of the movement? I am really liking this explorer

 

[airking]

Id say it has performed just as good as any Asian 2836 considering I got this in 2011 and have had no issues 2 years later. Granted its not my daily wearer but I'd say its pretty good.

Keep in mind this isn't the same movement as the sa3135. This is just a dressed up a2836 with a fake bridge, modified rotor, and painted gears. I don't know if this is as common now as it was 2 years ago.