The best replica Explorer II for most buyers is the 40 mm 16570-style build with a working 24-hour hand and a Swiss-pattern automatic GMT movement. The criteria that decide it are case size and lug width, whether the GMT hand sets on its own, and dial print that matches the era you want to copy. This guide explains what the "16559" reference in seller listings points to, then compares the three versions worth your money and shows how to test one before you pay.

What the 16559 Reference Points To

Rolex catalogs five Explorer II references: 1655 from 1971, 16550 from 1985, 16570 from 1989, 216570 from 2011 and 226570 from 2021. There is no 16559 in that list. In replica listings the number usually appears for one of two reasons: a seller mistyped 1655, or it is an internal stock code for a build that mixes 1655 styling with a later case. Treat 16559 as a description of a look, not a specification. Ask the seller for case diameter, lug width, crystal type and movement model before you compare anything else.

The Criteria Used Here

  • Case size and lug width. Early Explorer II cases are 40 mm with 20 mm lugs. The 2011 and later versions are 42 mm with 21 mm lugs.
  • GMT function. The 24-hour hand should set on its own and read against a marked bezel or chapter ring.
  • Crystal. Plexi on the 1655, sapphire on the 16550 and everything after it.
  • Bezel. Fixed steel 24-hour bezel on every version, never a rotating diver bezel.
  • Dial print. Orange 24-hour hand plus dial text that fits the era you are copying.

Option 1: The 1655 Steve McQueen Look

Pros

  • The most recognizable Explorer II silhouette, with the large orange arrow hand on a matte black dial.
  • Plexi crystal and drilled lugs give it a vintage feel that a modern case cannot copy.

Cons

  • Plexi scratches and needs polishing. Many replicas ship with sapphire instead, which breaks the look.
  • Bezel font varies between batches, and the wide arrow hand is hard to get right at low prices.

Buy this one if you want the vintage look and accept a crystal that will not stay clear.

Option 2: The 16570 Style, 40 mm

Pros

  • Sapphire crystal and 20 mm lugs, so it takes most straps and bracelets you already own.
  • Available with a black or a white dial, both of which read well on small and medium wrists.
  • Wears like a normal 40 mm sports watch rather than a statement piece.

Cons

  • Entry batches pair a non-GMT movement with a 24-hour hand that moves with the main time.
  • Dial text spacing and the shape of the orange hand are the two details that separate a good build from a weak one.

This is the daily-wear choice and the one most people should order first.

Option 3: The 42 mm 216570 and 226570 Style

Pros

  • More wrist presence, a larger orange hand and a bezel with deeper numerals.
  • Newer case tooling, so bracelets and clasps tend to feel tighter out of the box.

Cons

  • Not a vintage look, and it does not match the 16559 keyword that led you here.
  • 21 mm lugs limit strap choices, and the taller case can overhang a small wrist.

Choose this only if your wrist measures 7 inches or more.

Movements You Will Find

Three movement families show up in these watches. The Asian 2836 GMT is an ETA pattern with the 24-hour hand driven off the gear train, so on many builds the hand reads a second zone but does not set on its own. The 3186 and 3187 clones copy the Rolex layout and let the 24-hour hand jump in one-hour steps, which is the function you want. Quartz versions are cheap, but the seconds hand ticks instead of sweeping, and that single detail is the fastest way to spot a replica on a wrist.

How to Test the GMT Hand Before You Pay

  1. Pull the crown to the time-setting position and turn it. On a correct build the 24-hour hand stays still while you set the hour.
  2. Use the quick-set date and confirm the date flips at midnight rather than at noon.
  3. Set the 24-hour hand to a second time zone and check it lines up with the bezel numerals.
  4. Push the bezel with your thumb. It should not move, because the bezel is fixed on every Explorer II.
  5. Feel the crown for grinding, then confirm it screws down flush against the case.

Red Flags in a Listing

  • A rotating or countdown bezel.
  • 16559 described as an official Rolex reference with no case measurements given.
  • A quartz tick visible in the product photos.
  • Dial text with wrong spacing, or an orange hand that sits off center.
  • No movement name. Sellers who know the movement always list it.

Which One to Buy

For a first purchase, the 40 mm 16570-style build with an independent 24-hour hand is the safest pick. It wears like a standard 40 mm sports watch, takes 20 mm straps, and the sapphire crystal survives daily use. Take the 1655 style if you want the vintage McQueen look and do not mind plexi. Take the 42 mm version only if your wrist is large enough to carry the extra case height.