Rolex Explorer II 226570 Market Value
A Rolex Explorer II 226570 is going for about $12,500 from dealers, 18% over retail (US retail is $10,600). Most asks we saw ran from $11,000 to $14,000. Prices as of October 1, 2026.
Our take
The Explorer II has the orange 24-hour hand and fixed steel bezel that go back to the original 1971 model. The current 226570 came out in 2021 with the newer Caliber 3285 inside.
It sells for only a little over retail right now, which makes it one of the better values among the steel sports watches. If you are curious about its movement, read our guide on the 226570 and Caliber 3285.
Related guide: Explorer II 226570 and Caliber 3285: What Owners Should Know
Asking price from our checks
Each dot is the typical (middle) dealer asking price on the day we checked. Since our first check on September 22, 2026, it is up $300.
See the numbers
| Checked | Typical ask |
|---|---|
| September 22, 2026 | $12,200 |
| September 23, 2026 | $12,500 |
| September 24, 2026 | $12,500 |
| September 25, 2026 | $12,500 |
| September 26, 2026 | $12,500 |
| September 27, 2026 | $12,500 |
| September 28, 2026 | $12,500 |
| October 1, 2026 | $12,500 |
US retail price over time
Rolex and Omega raise retail prices most years, so an old market price only makes sense next to the retail price at that time. The blue line steps up at each documented price. The orange dot is today's typical ask.
| Date | US retail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2022 | $9,500 | Professional Watches, Jan 2023 |
| January 1, 2023 | $9,650 | rolex.com (saved copy); Professional Watches, Jan 2023; Hodinkee, Jan 2023 |
| January 1, 2025 | $9,750 | rolex.com (saved copy); Watchdaydate, 2025 |
| May 1, 2025 | $10,050 | rolex.com (saved copy); rolex.com collection page (saved copy) |
| January 1, 2026 | $10,600 | rolex.com (checked Oct 9, 2026); rolex.com (saved copy); rolex.com collection page (saved copy) |
Where we could not document a price change, the line holds the last price we could confirm. All retail price history
Specs
| Case | 42mm Oystersteel |
|---|---|
| Movement | Caliber 3285, automatic GMT, about 70 hours of reserve |
| Bezel | Fixed steel, engraved 24-hour scale |
| Dial | White ("polar") or black |
| Water resistance | 100m |
| Bracelet | Oyster |
| Introduced | 2021 |
Questions people ask
Did the Explorer II really sell below retail?
Not on our numbers. Rolex raises retail most years, so compare any older price to the retail price at that time, not today's. Our retail history chart below shows the steps.
Polar or black dial?
The white "polar" dial is the classic choice. Prices for the two are close.
Compare with
Prices are dealer asking prices, not sale prices. Watches often sell for less than the ask, especially expensive ones. How we track prices.