The new 2016 Explorer and Air-King Rolex Models look very similar at first glance. Our hands on comparison shows all significant differences between the two watches. Both are brand new Rolex Models, introduced at the 2016 Baselworld Watch Show.
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Transcript of the Explorer – Air King Comparison
Welcome to JazTime.com. Today we’re gonna be reviewing, comparing the Rolex Explorer 214270 on your left, and the Rolex Air-King 116900 on your right. Now we’re gonna be comparing the case, the bezel, the dial, the bracelet, and the buckle, and then go through some of the special features of each watch. So let’s jump right in.
Case size of the Explorer vs Air King:
Now if you look at the case, which is this thing that my thumb is pointing to, on the Rolex Explorer 214270, it is a 39 millimeter. That means from my thumb to my index finger is 39 millimeters. Now if you look at the Air-King on your right, that’s gonna have a distance of 40 millimeter. Now look at them side by side. Can you really see the difference in size? Well, they’re pretty darn similar, and that’s because they’re only one millimeter apart. And that’s why we’re making this video, so you can see for yourself and decide. Now in terms of the bezel, the bezel is domed stainless steal on both of them. Okay. And that’s here on the Explorer, as well as the Air-King, so the bezel is the same.
Differences in the Crown:
Now let’s move on to the crown. Now they’re both gonna use a twinlocking crown. That means it… This is the first lock, as you see on here, and as I turn it, you’ll listen to a pop. That was the pop. That’s the second lock, and that use a Twinlock. Now if you look at the crown on the Explorer, it’s a little bit thinner than it is on the Air-King. It’s a little bit fatter. It feels almost like a Submariner crown, and it has the same Twinlock. The first lock was the one that was already on. This is the second lock. Now if you look at them side by side… Okay.
It’s difficult to tell from this position, but you can see from here that yes, actually the Air-King is gonna be a little bit bigger. And you guys can see that when they’re side by side like that. Now when you go back to the case, it make sense because the Air-King is gonna have slightly heavier and bigger case. I’ll tell you why in just a moment, but look at the side profiles of the two, and tell me which which one is larger. You’ll notice immediately that the one on your right, which is the Air-King, is gonna be slightly bigger than the Explorer on your left.
Air King has a different Movement from the Explorer:
And that’s because the one on the right, which is the Air-King, houses what kind of movement? It houses a 3131 movement. And that’s actually a movement that can shield against anti-magnetic. Whereas the one your left, which is the Explorer, has a movement which is… Does anyone know? It’s a 3132 as opposed to the 3133. Now the 3133 on your right is actually the same movement as one other watch. And that other watch is the Milgauss. If you know from your experience, the Milgauss is a watch that shields from anti-magnetic, which as you may also know has a fatter case. You see that little protrusion on the case back on your right? That small protrusion is what allows it to be anti-magnetic. So again, the Air-King on your right is a 3131, and the Explorer on your left is a 3132 movement.
Bracelets of the two 2016 Rolex Watches:
Okay, now let’s move on to the bracelet. Now if you’ll notice them side by side, the bracelet here is both going to be brushed stainless steel. Okay, so none of that has changed. The width, as you see it next to each other, they’re both 20 millimeter, so you don’t see any difference there. So in terms of the bracelet … And they both use 904L steel, so that isn’t changed either. Now what is different is the buckle. Now I think this is quite a big difference. And showing side by side, you probably see that as well.
Simple folding oyster clasp vs safety clasp:
Now the one on your right is using a folding oyster clasp. And that means that it’s folding just like this. Why is it called a folding oyster clasp? Well it’s a oyster clasp and it’s folding. It’s one simple push, and that makes it close. Now, on the Explorer, on your left that you’re looking at here, it’s a folding oyster safety clasp, which means it has this extra safety clasp. Now, on a safety clasp, it’s gonna be much harder to open. So that if you’re doing sports and whatever, then it’s not gonna just spontaneously open.
Now, if you look at them side by side, yes, the buckle on your left looks a little bit larger, and that’s because it is. It’s a sportier watch, the Explorer. The Explorer presumably was one of the first watches that was worn to Mount Everest, so hence the name Explorer, as well as the safety clasp. And you’ll notice as well, the insignia, the Rolex insignia is actually protruding on the Explorer, whereas on the Air-King, it’s engraved in there. And that’s similar, that’s how Air-King is how they do the DateJust clasp, okay?
5mm play in the clasp is the same for the Explorer and Air King:
Now in terms of how much you can change the size of the bracelet, they both have a five millimeter play. And why is that important? Well, sometimes you wear the watch and it’s hot, so you wear fully out. And sometimes it’s cold, so you wear fully in. And it also has three adjustments from here. If you look, you’ll see three little holes. And that’s gonna be identical for the Air-King. The Air-King is also going to have five millimeters of play at the hot position, as well as the cold position. So that also doesn’t change. The clasp itself or the buckle itself is gonna be polished on both watches.
Rolex Explorer Dial vs. the Arabic Numerals of the Airking:
Okay. So, moving on, I told you was gonna tell you about the dial itself. And I think this is quite special. When you look at the dial for the Explorer, you’ll notice a couple of things. Well one, the difference in this 2016 model is that the three, six, nine are luminous. And that’s gonna help a lot if you wear your watch to sleep at night. You wanna check the time when you wake up, and it’s still dark, you can see. Now this uses a new style blue luminous. The older versions did not have a three, six, nine that was luminous. The new 2016s do. That’s what makes it special. The older versions of the Explorer had the three, six, nine that looked like this Air-King.
Comparing the Luminous Markers:
So in fact, when I say blue luminous, what’s cool is, at night time, this is what it’s gonna look like. Okay, you guys see how that’s blue. Now the dial really pops. You can see that it’s all luminous, all the hour markers, including the three, the six, the nine. And you can really easily see what time it is, even in the dark. And guess how long this luminous last for. Well, surprise, surprise, roughly about eight hours. How does that correspond?
Well, that’s corresponds to an average person’s sleep cycle, so Rolex has really thought this through. Now you might think the Air-King, being something worn at an aviation commonly, would also have very similar luminous qualities. But strangely enough, the Air-King does not have that. You might think that these hour markers would be luminous. But in fact, only the hands, and the 12 o’clock, minute hand, and hour hand are luminous.
They use the same blue luminous, which is also new by the way. They didn’t have blue luminous a few years ago. They use green luminous. And so, on the Air-King, it’s just the hour, minute, and 12 o’clock. If looking at your watch at night is important to you, well perhaps the Explorer might be a better option. Okay. Now, I told I would talk about the bezel, the dial, the case, and the bracelet, and finally talk about some special qualities of each.
Special Qualities of the 2016 Rolex Explorer 214270:
Now the Explorer on your left is known to be a much sportier watch. It was presumably worn to Mount Everest as one of the first watches to ever make it there on Sir Edmund Hillary’s and Tensington’s first descent. And the watch on your right presumably is for more of pilots style watch. Now which one fits better for you? Well, I’m gonna try it on and show you. So this is gonna be the Explorer on your left. What you’ll notice about that, when I told you earlier, the profile of the watch is very thin, and that’s because it uses that 3132 movement, which is unlike the Milgauss, and has a thinner movement.
Special Qualities of the 2016 Rolex AirKing 116900:
Now, the Air-King is gonna have the fatter profile. So if you want a watch with a very similar profile like the Milgauss, then the Air-King might be that. If you want a thicker beefier watch, the Air-King might be that. Now, worn side by side, you can see them on the wrist.
Rolex Explorer vs. Air-King Conclusion:
Both are beautiful watch. They differ only in one millimeter, and slightly thicker for the Air-King, but both air great watches, and that’s why we did this review. Now if you like this video, check us out at JazTime.com. That’s J-A-Z-T-I-M-E.com. We offer a low price guarantee, free shipping, and a one-year warranty. Check us out at JazTime.com and subscribe below if you like this video. Leave comment. Let us know what you think. This is the internet, you can say anything you want, and I won’t erase it. Thanks and check us out at JazTime.com.
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