Side by side

Rolex ExplorervsRolex Oyster Perpetual

The numbers, the dial colors, the calibers — laid out so you can stop flipping between tabs.

Explorer
RolexExplorer
MSRP $7,900
Oyster Perpetual
RolexOyster Perpetual
MSRP $31,600
What people say

Owners + reviewers, side by side

Synthesized for each watch independently from owner discussions, enthusiast forums, written reviews, and video reviewers.

Rolex Explorer

Owners widely praise the Rolex Explorer for its understated design, versatility, and comfortable wearability, with many considering it an ideal daily timepiece and a perfect first Rolex. Reviewers and owners alike highlight its clean, minimalist aesthetic and excellent legibility, with one owner noting it maintains accuracy at +1 second per day. Some find the 36mm size perfect for current trends, while others appreciate its functional, pure timepiece status and comfortable bracelet. The Rolex Explorer is also noted for being difficult to acquire at retail, often with year-long wait times. On balance, owners rate the Rolex Explorer highly for its blend of understated style, comfort, and practicality, making it a highly sought-after daily watch.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual

Owners widely praise the Rolex Oyster Perpetual as a versatile, understated daily wear and a great entry-level Rolex, valuing its excellent build quality, comfortable bracelets, and clean dial design. Some reviewers and owners specifically highlight its stellar chromalight lume and sharp dial indices, while others note a 70-hour power reserve and accuracy around +/- 2 seconds per day. However, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual is notoriously difficult to acquire at retail due to high demand, with significant waiting times often exceeding a year for specific configurations, leading some to consider the grey market. Some owners find the unicoloured dials boring, and one reviewer criticized the faint lume on the hands. Overall, owners rate the Rolex Oyster Perpetual highly for its versatile wearability and solid build quality, despite the acquisition challenges.

At a glance

9 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
Explorer36mm
Oyster Perpetual31mm
Power Reserve
Explorer70h
Oyster Perpetual55h
Water Resistance
Explorer100m
Oyster Perpetual100m
MSRP
Explorer$7,900
Oyster Perpetual$31,600

Full specifications

Case

4 specs
Category
Field
Mechanical
Diameter
36mm
31mm
Material
Oystersteel
18 kt yellow gold
Finish
Yellow Rolesor - combination of Oystersteel and yellow gold

Crystal & Dial

2 specs
Dial Color
Black
Green
Indices
Arabic numerals
Index

Movement

2 specs
Caliber
3230
2232
Power Reserve
70h
55h

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$7,900
$31,600
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