Short answer
The Rolex Explorer II 216570 is a 42 mm steel watch Rolex made from 2011 to 2021. Replicas sold from China copy the case, dial, and orange 24-hour hand. They do not use a Rolex movement. A replica costs $80 to $600 depending on tier. The real watch costs about $9,000 to $12,000 used as of 2024. Prices move.
Genuine reference 216570
- Production: 2011 to 2021. Replaced by the 226570.
- Case: 42 mm Oystersteel, fixed 24-hour bezel, 100 m water resistance.
- Movement: caliber 3187, automatic, 28,800 vibrations per hour, Paraflex shock absorbers.
- Dial: black (216570-0001) or white "Polar" (216570-0002).
- Hands: orange GMT hand, blue Chromalight lume.
- Original retail: about $8,100 to $8,550. Secondary prices sit higher.
Replica tiers
Chinese factories sort replicas into tiers. The labels are marketing terms, not standards.
- Low tier, $80 to $150. Quartz or 21,600 vph automatic. Stamped dial. Plated bezel numerals.
- Mid tier, $200 to $300. Asian 2836 clone. 316L steel. Sapphire crystal without the correct anti-reflective coating.
- High tier, $400 to $600. Decorated 3187 clone, 316L or 904L steel case, closer dial print.
Points where replicas differ
- Movement beat rate. The genuine 3187 runs at 4 Hz, 8 ticks per second. Many replicas run at 3 Hz, 6 ticks per second. Listen to the seconds hand or film it in slow motion.
- Case thickness. Genuine measures about 12.5 mm. Replicas often measure 13.5 mm to 14 mm.
- Cyclops. Rolex applies anti-reflective coating under the magnifier. Most replicas skip this step. The date reads milky or flat.
- Bezel engraving. Genuine numerals are cut deep and filled with black paint. Replica cuts are shallow and the paint chips.
- Hands. The genuine orange hand has a matte finish. Replicas tend to be glossy.
- Weight. A 904L replica can match the head weight near 165 g. A 316L replica runs lighter.
- Water resistance. Factories do not pressure test. Gaskets fail.
Legal status in the United States
Counterfeit watches are illegal to import, sell, or traffic in the United States. Trafficking carries a penalty up to 10 years for a first offense under 18 U.S.C. 2320. US Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit shipments, including single items mailed to a private address. A buyer can face civil claims from Rolex under the Lanham Act. Resale on marketplaces leads to account bans and payment freezes.
Service and resale
Rolex service centers do not work on replicas and do not return parts. Independent watchmakers can swap a clone movement, but parts supply is uneven and varies by factory batch. No 216570 replica holds value. There is no secondary market price support for counterfeit goods.