The video review this post is based on wasn’t sponsored. I bought this watch with my own money 18 months ago. However as usual, sponsored or not, I’ll always tell you what I really think.
You can click on this link to see my full video review for lots of extra details and video footage including many macros. The photos above are screen captures from my review:
https://youtu.be/OQzhT6JxdHY?si=mowYx70mv4LvzK\_a
Specs:
-316L Stainless Steel Case and Bracelet
-36mm across
-12mm thick
-42.9mm lug to lug
-20mm lug width
-Screwdown unsigned caseback
-Screwdown signed crown
-NH38 Movement (ST2130 and SW200 versions are also available)
-21,600 BPH
-41 hour power reserve
-Matte Black Dial
-Swiss Super-Luminova GL Old Lume
-Box sapphire crystal with AR coating
-Water resistance is 200m
-Weight on bracelet adjusted to my 7” wrist is 122 grams
-2 year warranty
-Price is around $220 USD
Lows:
-The macros here are really not great, especially when looking at the hands and indices This isn’t only a pretty messy watch up close, generally speaking, but it’s messy specifically compared to its competition. San Martin, Watchdives, Englemaan, Militado, and many others, do much cleaner work, based on my experience.
-In that same vein, the watch also came with a pretty significant ding on the lug. Combined with the dial flaws, the finishing is a bit of a downside, overall. I acknowledge it might just be my unit, but I can only review the watch that is in front of me.
Mids:
-Price is a bit of a mid here because there is so much pressure at this price point. I bought this one for about $179 USD 18 Months ago and already at that time you could argue it was a bit pricey for what you get considering the rough finishing, inside and out, and no on the fly micro-adjustment. Since then, it’s gotten a bit more expensive retailing for around $220. This is certainly not a bad deal, all things considered, this watch fills a niche, wears well, and notably can be found on sale, which helps, but the competition in this space is getting so tough at this price range.
-This is a homage of one of the more recognizable watches on earth. Yes that’s pretty handy when you want to try out the Explorer experience, or just own an affordable alternative full stop. That said, especially when compared with homages of discontinued vintage watches, this one stands out as feeling supremely unoriginal. Yes…I know that’s kind of the point, but I think for many you either buy it *because* it’s a homage or you skip it, there’s not much middle ground here.
-The knurling on the caseback that allows you to open it up, is much like the knurling found on an actual Rolex, and while that’s a nice touch, and in that sense a positive thing, it adds a complication that is pretty unnecessary when factoring in any self-servicing options here. Rolex casebacks require special tool fittings to get the caseback open, so that same thing applies here. It sort of seems like an unnecessary flourish for something you’ll rarely see. It does look cool though, so I’ll call it a mid.
-Fauxtina is always divisive. Most people either love it or hate it. I personally like it a lot. It’s debatable whether or not it really fits on the model of Rolex this is homaging, but hey I’m never down on fauxtina. I feel like it’s been arbitrarily vilified. As I said, I like it, but some don’t, so it’s a mid.
Highs:
-The bracelet is pretty well finished, is held together with screws, and has a decent micro-adjust, despite that I would prefer an on-the-fly version. Add to that, it’s quite solid and comfortable, and there’s very little to find fault with here. They did a pretty good job.
-This watch does wear pretty well. The 36mm case size is great and so much better than many of you might expect. I love 36mm. The overall experience of wearing this watch daily is really pleasant. No complaints in that department.
-The NH38 is a good movement. Those of you who hate ghost dates will be particularly happy here as this is a no-date movement. I think despite it being a relatively thick movement that often catches the blame for leading to microbrand watches being thicker than those made with their Miyota competition, they managed to keep the overall watch thickness pretty well managed here. With the 36mm case size, 12mm is certainly manageable, especiallly since that’s also factoring that cool box sapphire crystal.
-I want to mention this crystal specifically. I love box sapphire crystals and this one is no exception. It’s luxurious looking and makes this watch seem a little more special.
-Overall the packaging and included extras are really a nice touch. It does make the experience feel more premium than is the case with many affordable brands. I think this could be of particular significance if your intention was to give this watch as a gift.
-This is a pretty sturdy feeling watch, with a scratch resistant crystal, and 200M of water resistance, which is actually more than the real Explorer offers. I like that it feels like a real modern field watch. You can go out and get dirty, and unlike the real explorer scratches aren’t likely to hit quite so hard due to the price of admission here.
-This watch is a good bet if you want to try out the Classic Rolex Explorer shape, size, and look. If you’re in the market for a modern, or neo-vintage Explorer, while this one isn’t identical, it’s a prettty good way to test the waters. It definitely helped me out a lot. The first day with this thing I knew I was sure about my desire for the real thing but for some it might take longer, and you might want to wear one of these around for a few weeks or months. It’ll likely do the trick.
-This design is super legible and an absolute classic. This is of course because this watch is a homage, but despite that, or rather because of that, this watch’s design is truly excellent. Simple, but not boring, and I don’t tire of looking at it. If the homage thing doesn’t hold you back, you’ll probably love the way it looks.
Conclusion:
I do like this watch, but I feel because it’s a homage of such a well known watch you’re sort of constantly reminded of what it *isn’t,* rather than appreciating it for what it *is*. If we set aside people who specifically want an Explorer homage, I think this watch would be improved if they had made an original field watch that was Explorer inspired but more of its own thing. That said, there are other issues as well. Finishing flaws, and a relatively high price point in this very competitive space means it’s probably worth comparison shopping with brands like Watchdives, and in particular, San Martin. If you’re buying one to test out the Explorer experience before taking the leap there, I can also say that while this does do the trick, there are other watches out there that will offer something very similar for less money. There are a lot. This is a pretty good watch but certainly not a slam dunk recommendation. What do you think about this watch? I’d like to hear about it.
If you read all of this, I thank you!