The strap size depends on the reference. Yours is engraved on the case back or between the lugs at 6 o'clock.
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20 or 21 mm
Verification: From our database, not yet verified
40 to 42 mm cases · 1985 to 2021
Indicative information. Check your watch before buying a strap: whatsmylugwidth.com is not responsible for an incorrect size.
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The story · Since 1979
Rolex built the Explorer II in 1971 for people who lose the sun: cavers, volcanologists, polar travellers. Haroun Tazieff wore his over a thermal suit on Etna and wrote to Rolex in 1972 that it kept running when his teammates' watches did not.
39 to 42 mm
Case growth from the 1971 ref. 1655 to the 2011 ref. 216570
Worn by
Haroun Tazieff, Oliver Shepard, Erling Kagge, Ed Viesturs, Alain Hubert
For the Transglobe Expedition, the first polar circumnavigation, Rolex fitted 1655 cases with GMT-Master dials and hands for legibility. Oliver Shepard, the land team's mechanic, medic and meteorologist, wore one engraved with his name.
Reference 16550 used calibre 3085, which let the hour hand be set independently, so the 24-hour hand could track a second time zone. The case grew from 39 to 40 mm, sapphire replaced acrylic, and a white Polar dial joined the black.
Reference 16570 kept the look and changed the engine, first calibre 3185, then the Parachrom-equipped 3186. Its lume moved from tritium to LumiNova and Super-LumiNova. An Explorer II accompanied Erling Kagge to both Poles and Everest between 1990 and 1994.
Reference 226570 brought calibre 3285 and its Chronergy escapement, for about 70 hours of power reserve. Rolex kept the 42 mm steel case and fixed bezel but redesigned case and bracelet for better balance.
The volcanologist and speleologist wore his Explorer II over his thermal suit amid sulphur dioxide and heat, and in 1972 wrote to Rolex that it had passed its first volcanic test on Mount Etna.
Mechanic, medic and meteorologist of the Transglobe Expedition land team, he wore a 1655 fitted with a GMT-Master dial, its caseback engraved with his name and the expedition dates.
Reached the North Pole in 1990, the South Pole alone in 1993 and Everest in 1994, all with an Explorer II on his wrist, becoming the first to complete the three extremes.
Completed his Endeavor 8000 project, all 14 peaks above 8,000 metres without supplemental oxygen, equipped with an Explorer II. He reached the summit of Annapurna, his last, at exactly two o'clock, his own turnaround deadline.
The polar explorer says the Explorer II was his first Rolex, that he still takes it on expeditions and wears it every day, using it with the sun as a compass on the Arctic Ocean.
Collectors call the 1655 the 'Steve McQueen', yet there is no evidence the actor ever wore one; he preferred the Submariner. Phillips puts it simply: legend becomes fact.
Italian collectors named the 1655 'Freccione', big arrow, after its orange 24-hour hand.
Oliver Shepard's Transglobe 1655 with GMT-Master dial sold at Antiquorum in Geneva on 16 October 2005 for CHF 43,700.
A circa 1973 ref. 1655 with Mark 1 dial, straight seconds hand and original bracelet sold for CHF 32,500 at Phillips' Geneva Watch Auction: SIX, against an estimate of CHF 12,000 to 18,000.
Between 1990 and 1994 Erling Kagge reached both Poles and the summit of Everest, with an Explorer II on his wrist for each.
42 mm case, 'Maxi' dial, orange 24-hour hand revived, calibre 3187 with Parachrom and Paraflex, Chromalight lume.
Case grew from 40 to 42 mm; the Oyster bracelet gained an Oysterlock clasp with Easylink extension of up to 5 mm.
Calibre 3185, later 3186 with Parachrom hairspring. White dials gained black outlines on hands and markers; late examples have an engraved ROLEX rehaut.
Early cases have holes drilled through the lugs to push out the bracelet pins; later 'no holes' cases need a tool between lug and bracelet.
First Explorer II with an independent hour hand (calibre 3085), Mercedes hands, a thin red 24-hour hand and the first white Polar dial.
Case grew from 39 to 40 mm.
Possibly three examples made for the Transglobe land team, with GMT-Master dial and hands in a 1655 case and fixed steel bezel.
Rolex Explorer II references in our database. Each card says where its width comes from: listed by the maker (linked to the maker's page in the details), two independent sources agree, or listed in our database and not yet verified by us.
Explorer II
Lug width: 19 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 40 mmYear: 1971Black dialCase material: Steel
Explorer II
Lug width: 20 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 40 mmYear: 1985White dialCase material: Steel
Explorer II
Lug width: 20 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 40 mmYear: 1989White dialCase material: Steel
Lug width: 20 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 40 mmYear: 1990Black dialCase material: Steel
Lug width: 20 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 40 mmYear: 1990White dialCase material: Steel
Lug width: 20 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 40 mmYear: 1998White dialCase material: Steel
Explorer II
Lug width: 21 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 42 mmYear: 2011White dialCase material: Steel
Explorer II Black
Lug width: 21 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 42 mmYear: 2021Black dialCase material: Steel
Explorer II White Polar
Lug width: 22 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 42 mmYear: 2021White dialCase material: Steel
Explorer II Explorer
Lug width: 20 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 40 mmWhite dial
Explorer II Explorer
Lug width: 20 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 40 mmBlack dial
Explorer II Explorer
Lug width: 20 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 40 mmWhite dial
Explorer II Explorer
Lug width: 20 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 40 mmBlack dial
Explorer II Explorer
Lug width: 21 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 42 mmWhite dial
Explorer II Explorer
Lug width: 21 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 42 mmBlack dial
No reference matches.
Rolex Explorer II references use 19 mm or 20 mm or 21 mm depending on the reference and case size, so check yours in the list below. The most common is 20 mm (9 of 15 references with a known width). These widths come from our database and are not yet verified.
No. 4 different lug widths appear across the line, often by case size or generation. Check the reference engraved on the case back or between the lugs.
On the 216570 and 226570, yes: the Oysterlock clasp includes the Easylink comfort extension link, which adds about 5 mm.
Not exactly. For the 226570 Rolex made the bracelet about 1 mm wider and shaved the inner faces of the lugs. Check the width for your reference before buying.
Early 16570 cases have holes drilled through the lugs, so the spring bars can be pushed out from the side. Later 'no holes' cases require a tool slipped between the lug and the bracelet.
Yes: 39 mm for the 1655, 40 mm from the 16550 of 1985, and 42 mm since the 216570 of 2011.
The gap between the two lugs that hold the strap, in millimetres. A new strap must match it exactly: 20 mm lugs take a 20 mm strap.
Most watches use spring bars, so any strap of the right width fits. Many smartwatches use their own band system instead, such as Apple Watch bands or Garmin QuickFit.