Today we’ll be comparing the Rolex Milgauss, reference number 116400GV, with blue dial and green sapphire chrystal. We’ll be comparing it against the Rolex Explorer II, with a black dial and Steel GMT-Bezel, reference number 216570. We’ll be talking about the price, the dial, bezel, case, crown, bracelet, clasp and the movement towards the end of the video
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Comparison Transcript: Rolex Milguass vs Rolex Explorer II
Today we’ll be comparing the Rolex Milgauss, reference number 116400GV. We’ll be comparing it against the Rolex Explorer 2, in the black, reference number 216570. We’ll be talking about the price, the dial, bezel, case, crown, bracelet, clasp and the movement towards the end of the video. As of January 2017, you can get the Rolex Milgauss at a Rolex retailer for $8,200. Or you can get it at JazTime for as low as $6,550. For the Explorer II, same thing, as of January, 2017 you can get this at a Rolex retailer for $8,100 or at JazTime for $6,750.
Dial Comparison: Blue, Green Milgauss vs Black Explorer II
Let’s go ahead and compare the dials now; as you can see, obviously, color difference. Not too big of a deal. Specifically talking about the color. The Milgauss comes in either the blue or black. For the black we have orange accented six, rather three, six, nine in index markers. While the Explorer comes in a black or white with the same orange GMT hand. So one thing I wanna mention, the colored hands, they are not of the same type. For the Rolex Milgauss, we have a thunderbolt orange hand that tracks the second as you can see as it ticks by. While the Explorer II has a orange GMT hand which it allows for tracking of a second time zone. I’m not going to show you exactly how that works. We have plenty of videos on Explorer II on our channel so you can check those out if you wanna see how that GMT function works. We kind of have those same, similar, text at the top with the name of the model colored in orange as you can see there.
The Milgauss, we have an orange and the Explorer II also has an orange. Besides that, main difference obviously, we have index markers on the Milgauss. While the Explorer has Rolex’s maxi dial which is 30% larger than a normal hour markers. Hour markers are indicated by circular markers. With only the six and the nine and a 12 as an index marker. Unfortunately neither of these have different, neither of these have different hour markers, they’re only in this type of hour markers. There’s no Arabic or Roman or anything of that sort. There’s not any customization, too much customization on either one. Like I said, the Milgauss, either blue or black, or the Explorer, either black or white. Also one notable feature to mention before I move on to the bezel is that for the crystal, you can actually see the difference. The Milgauss has a green sapphire crystal as you can see. It’s almost kind of like highlighting the edges of it. Whereas the Explorer II has just a transparent sapphire crystal.
904L Steel Bezel Comparison: Rolex Milgauss vs Rolex Explorer 2
So let’s go ahead and review the bezels now. bezels obviously very different. As the Milgauss just has a very fashionable, just high polished dome bezel all around. Whereas the Explorer II has a 24 hour cycle graduated along the bezel. Like I said, also goes with that GMT function. Besides that, it is a brushed steel or sand finish bezel with just the numbers graduated all around. Moving on, the case size of these watches.
904L Steel Case Comparisons: Rolex Milgauss vs Rolex Explorer II
The case size of the Milgauss from my index finger to my thumb here is 40 millimeters in diameter. While the Explorer II is a little bit larger. It is 42 millimeters in diameter and that’s from my index finger to my thumb here. So two millimeters size difference. Doesn’t actually look too noticeable. But the Explorer II does have more readability to it. Both of these cases are of the same type of structure. They are made out of a mono block middle case with a screwed on case back and a winding crown. Whereas the material type of these is, both of these are made out of 904L steel which is a Rolex made in house steel. That has a little more shine to it, a little more durability and so on, so forth. So I wanna go ahead and show you the side profiles of these watches.
The Milgauss has just a little bit higher of a profile compared to Explorer. Explorer is just a bit thinner. It will fit in a suit cuffs, dress cuffs very nicely. Both have high polishes on the side. As we turn to the crown side now, you’ll notice the same high polish on the sides as well. For the crowns, the Explorer II is a little bit larger and that is because of the, like I said, it has a two millimeter difference in the case size. So you can actually see a little bit larger, tiny bit larger crown but one notable thing here is that there is no crown guard on the Milgauss while there are crown guard lugs on the Explorer.
Rolex Milgauss Crown vs Explorer 2 Crown with Crown Guards
So let me go ahead and show you from the front. As you can see there, no crown guard lugs to protect the crown. Whereas Explorer II right here, there are crown guards. Besides that, for the Milgauss, we just have simple setting, winding of the hands and setting of the hands for the crown functions. While the GMT or rather, not the GMT but the Explorer II has the ability to wind the watch and the second function being to quickly jump the hour hand to each hour marker while the final function obviously being to set the hands.
904 Steel Bracelet Comparison of the Milgauss and Explorer 2
For the bracelets, they both have oyster bracelets. Unfortunately neither of these watches come in a jubilee bracelet, only oyster. The only noticeable difference between these two bracelets is that the Milgauss has a high polished center with sand finished sides. Whereas the Explorer has just a full sand finish throughout. That’s attributed because the Milgauss is more for scientists and engineers and such as I’ll explain later. Whereas the Explorer II is more of a sportier watch. Originally it was designed for cave explorers. That extra durability of just a brushed steel opposed to the high polish is there. So let’s go ahead and move on to the clasp now.
Clasp Comparison: Comfort Extension Link
For the clasp, we have two different style clasps. For the Milgauss I’ll demonstrate this first. This is a simple folding oyster clasp, just like that. Has the Rolex name embossed onto the clasp blade itself there. Whereas the Explorer II, I just put down the Milgauss so this is the Explorer II now. The Explorer II has a safety oyster blade so that’s the safety there. It’s a little hinge and it pops off like a folding oyster. It also has a Rolex name embossed onto the clasp blade but one thing I want to mention here that’s subtle difference is that notice the clasp blade on the Milgauss, we have this nice high polish. Whereas the Explorer II has sort of this kind of grainy texture, sand blasted texture.
The high polish wasn’t actually, was only recently changed from the sand blasted texture in 2016. That’s something to keep in mind. With the Milgauss, I just want to show a quick feature of the Milgauss. On the back of the clasp, which is a comfort extension link which it allows you to extend the bracelet five millimeters inwards or pops out five millimeters outwards. That’s outwards and then inwards. That’s a little important because on hot days your wrist will swell up, the watch will get tight on your wrist, it gives a little comfort to your wrist. For the Explorer II, we also have that same feature as well.
Milgauss 3131 Movement vs Explorer II 3187 Clockwork
Let’s go ahead and talk about the movements now. I’m actually gonna go ahead and show you the movements, show you the back of the cases one by one. I don’t wanna hold both watches in my hand. Here I have the Milgauss in my hand. For the Milgauss we have a simple oyster case back that has, as you can see, the Rolex oyster engraved onto the high polish portion of the, I apologize, on the sand finished portion of that oyster case with the Milgauss name on the right here and on the left. With additionally, the Rolex crown engraved throughout the four corners, if there were corners. Besides that, the movement is a professional mechanical self winding movement with a magnetic shield to protect the movement. What that means for magnetic shields as I mentioned before that this watch is more watches for engineers and scientists is because with this Milgauss, it actually protects against 1,000 Gauss and what the Gauss is a measurement of magnetic flex density.
How that helps with engineers and scientists is that they’re always working around technology. At the time when the Milgauss was first introduced, TVs and such were popping out. They were causing small magnetic fields, just very slight but it could still disrupt the balance wheel or the hairspring and could cause a watch to run faster or a bit slower. So Rolex designed the protection of those magnetic fields in mind when it comes to Milgauss as a portion of the name suggests, the Milgauss. The movement is a caliber 3131 manufactured by Rolex with a precision of minus two plus two seconds a day. It has very simple functions as center, hour, minute, seconds hand with a stopping of the seconds hand for precise time setting. Winding is by directional self winding via a professional rotor. And the power reserve of this watch is 48 hours or two days.
Now let’s move on to the Explorer’s movements. For the Explorer, we have that same simple oyster case back. No writing or engravings on it. Specifically for the Explorer II, once again, this is a professional mechanical self winding movement that contains additional 24 hour GMT hand as you saw in orange on the dial. It’s a caliber 3187 movement manufactured by Rolex. It is a GMT movement. Has a precision again of minus two plus two seconds a day. Has the functions of a center, hour, minute and seconds hand. The 24 hour display being with the GMT hand that helps display that second time zone. It has independent rapid setting of the hour hand. So that means the hour hand can jump to each hour very easily. Of course, as with most Rolex, the stopping of the seconds hand is for precise time setting. One thing I wanna mention is that for the oscillator, they both have paramagnetic blue parachrom hairspring but the Explorer II has a high performance paraflex shock absorbers. As Rolex states, it absorbs 50% more shocks than the industry standard. Power reserve is the same, 48 hours, two days.
Milgauss or Explorer II on the Wrist Comparison
Let me go ahead and actually show you these watches on my wrist now. Milgauss on the wrist, very beautiful with that green sapphire crystal, very unique with a lightning hand as well. Now I’m gonna go ahead and show you the Explorer II. Like I said, different functions in mind for these watches. The Explorer II was for cave explorers so it has a little more durability on this watch with the sand finished oyster bracelet, brush steel bezel and the safety oyster lock. But for whatever you decide, we offer the lowest prices guaranteed, free shipping and a one year warranty.
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