Hi fellow watch enthusiasts.

Besides the aesthetic and the movement, what is the difference between the Explorer and the OP? Is the Explorer designed to withstand harsher environments?

Thank you in advance.

Only difference is the bracelet clasp

 

And (for the newest Explorer 36mm) the case. Strap lovers beware...

 

true..i was thinking of 39mm

 

Mercedes hands.
The knowledge that you own a "stainless steel sports model".
Date function.

I think it turns on how much you need a date function and if the "comfort" of having a sports model over an "everyday watch" is a big deal to you.

 

OP nor Exp have date function.

 

I think they are pretty similar for the most part, but considering they are so close in price on the grey market, I don't know why you would even consider the OP. Historically speaking, the OP was the entry level model and the Explorer was the basic "professional" sports watch. Rolex pricing is out of whack, so if I had to choose today it would definitely be the Explorer.

 

Thank you, everyone. Just realized I wasn’t very clear in my original post. I meant to ask about the latest Explorer (36mm) and the latest OP, which shares the same movement (I mistakenly made it sound like I asked about the models with different movements). Sorry for the confusion. The price difference for the same size in SS is $1,400 (retail). So I just wonder.

 

so you are comparing the 36mm explorer and 36mm OP? you said ignore the looks so the different dial and hands doesn't matter much? if so, I go back to my earlier point, it's just the clasp. Exp has that safety lock or whatever it's called.

 

Aesthetically the Explorer's bezel is flatter, whereas the OP has a more rounded bezel (in addition to the different dial/hands). Explorer's bracelet is a more extreme taper as well.

As a practical matter, think the only difference from a feature perspective is the safety clasp as mentioned above. So the difference in $1.4k in MSRP probably doesn't make too much sense, but I think the Explorer at MSRP is still very much worth it (and clearly the grey market does as well, given prices are still higher than MSRP).

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Feel free to correct but I hope this helps. I also tried to categorize them for most recent two generations, to provide more "apple to apple" comparison. some are very obvious and some also have my personal opinions, so do take it grain of salt. op has different dial colors, but black dial used for more "fair comparison".

delta bewteen 39mm (214270) explorer vs 39mm OP (114300) black dial
1. mercedes hand (214270) vs baton hand (114300). from here, left will be the explorer, right will be OP 39
2. 214270 clasp has easy link and fliplock, as well as "extruded rolex crown". OP39 clasp lacks easy link (unless AD secretly installed one for you), has no fliplock, and has "laser etched rolex crown". if you have both, do try clasp swapping and share the results here!
3. explorer 369 dial is matte black,with a small white painted crown logo, with all indicies lumining, except, for mark 1 only, 369. op39 dial is more like a sunray black and has lumes througout the indices, except the 12'o clock crown
4. the explorer bezel is more flat and slanted, while op bezel is more domed.
I personally was in market for both and chose the mk1 214270 explorer. the clasp and the explorer bezel were the dealmakers. OP looked a bit stumpy with its fatter bezel, and looked cheaper, because of the bezel. dimensions (lug to lug, lug mm, case mm, thickness, etc), for these two watches, otherwise, i believe are idnetical.

here is the delta between 36mm (124270) explorer vs 36mm OP (126000) black dial. for this comparison, I am not as confident as I was on 39mm, so ppl please help me with second set of eyes.
1. mercedes hand (124270) vs baton hand (126000). from here, left will be the explorer, right will be OP 36
2. 124270 clasp has easy link and fliplock, as well as "extruded rolex crown". OP36 now has easylink, but has no fliplock, and has "laser etched rolex crown".
3. explorer 369 dial is lacquered black, with a small white painted crown logo, and lumes throughout the indicies. op36 dial is more like a sunray black and has lumes througout the indices, except the 12'o clock crown.
4. the explorer bezel is more flat and slanted, while op bezel is more domed.
5. 124270 bracelet is smaller. lug width is 19mm and tapers to either 14-15mm. 126000 bracelet is still the good old 20mm lug width, tapering down to 15.5/16mm. thankfully, both have matte center links. In a way, this makes the explorer look almost like a 35mm watch.
based on what i saw at the AD, I will choose an OP here. Actually I would choose neither, due to the 39mm being the absolute smallest limit for me, but OP here looks bigger than a 36mm, whie explorer dimension is more reminiscent of 34mm rolexes. to me, Op proportion works better. i also believe other dimensions are different as well, at least between the exp1 and op now, and op 36 is more resemblant to the current dj 36, a big 36mm. i even hear that 214270 is thinner than 124270, which annoyss a bit more aslwell.

 

116000 blue has explorer dial and snap in easy link upgrade available.

 

…or you can add in a half link - being brushed it matches perfectly (although I had to go grey as the AD said they couldn’t order direct from Rolex).


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With the explorer you can have any dial color you want, as long as it's black. So the only advantage it has over the OP is the fliplock clasp. Do you need that. I wore an OP for many sanctioned rides, and a few duathlons/triathlons. I had the std clasp open once during a crash. But several thousand miles of riding on bad bumpy roads and the clasp never opened. Modern bracelets are much better than last gen bracelets. Still the flip lock is way more secure.

 

Close enough in overall specs, that IMHO, it really comes down to personal preference.....

Good luck with your decision.

 

39mm - Explorer over OP.

Now that Explorer is a ladies only watch.

OP41 all the way. Unless you are have XX and can basically can wear what you like...

 

39mm - Explorer over OP.

Now that Explorer is a ladies only watch.

OP41 all the way. Unless you are have XX and can basically can wear what you like...

LMAO. you crack me up. This from someone who has a 34mm Air King in their Avatar - I love the Irony!!!

 

I think the OP looks kind of like a Seiko for some reason. I have owned an Explorer 1 and yesterday I was out and about with the kiddo's. I saw a guy wearing an Explorer and it is very non-Rolexian in its looks. Absolutely flies under the radar. You only appreciate the fact that it's a Rolex if you are looking at it on your own wrist. No one will notice it all except for a skilled WIS.

Both will look like a Seiko when viewed by others.

The OP will look like a Seiko even from the owner's view at a quick glance, whereas the Explorer will look like a Rolex to the owner at a quick glance.