I don’t like Rolex!
Let me sugarcoat that. I’m not a fan of modern Rolexes other than the Explorer II Reference 216570 with the main reason being is that it looks so much like the vintage 1655 “Freccione” with its flamboyant orange second time zone hand, a collector’s classic dream.
A non-pimped Rolex Explorer II
During a trip to Tokyo a couple of years ago I was in a meeting with a distinguished Japanese gentleman, impeccably clad and wearing the most gorgeous Yohei Fukuda bespoke shoes. Beneath his French cuffs he appeared to be sporting a modern Explorer II. Needless to say, this gentleman captivated me so that basically the first thing I did once the meeting over was look for a Rolex dealer.
But since I’m not a fan of modern Rolex (and somewhat of a cheapo) I naturally didn’t want to pay full price. My guardian angel, once again proving that he or she is watching over me full time, came to the rescue as just around the corner I found a second-hand store that had . . . wait for it . . . an Explorer II in stock.
After having put my amazing negotiation skills to work and obtaining a generous zero percent discount, I walked out with Reference 216570 including box and papers.
The watch nerd that I am, I rarely immediately wear my new watches; I like to put them aside for a few days and let the anticipation grow. When the day finally came that it was time to wear my new Rolex, I took it out of the box, read the instruction manual (I couldn’t figure out how to set the orange hand) and proudly put it on my wrist.
And then horror struck. I didn’t feel anything, not a thing!
It didn’t give me joy, I didn’t look distinguished, I didn’t even look Japanese!
I wore the watch, I wore it quite a lot during that summer. I really wanted to love it, maybe we would grow to love each other and appreciate each other’s company. But, no, it just didn’t happen.
Zilch, nada, niente!
Around that time I was also checking out the different online platforms offering different case coatings and dial modifications, and I started thinking that maybe if I made some modifications it would help me give more TLC to my Explorer II.
I spoke to my buddy, Chris, about this. He is a collector and watch fanatic and takes his watches very seriously. He is often left shaking his head in disbelief when I talk to him about my different watch projects, but this time his reply was, “I don’t consider the Explorer II an iconic Rolex like a Submariner or a Daytona, so why not?”
Yes, I seem to be the guy who needs approval from his peers to go ahead with a project . . . sigh . . . and there I was thinking I was a free spirit!
Anyway, to make a long story short, I collected quotes from different companies who could pimp my Rolex, and each was even more ridiculously expensive than the other. Each quote I got almost doubled in price, but I was ready to make the sacrifice; I was not going to abandon my Explorer II without a fight.
There was no way I was going to go under with regrets, but that’s where my guardian angel intervened a second time: another collector friend of mine told me of a discreet watch shop in Switzerland (names and places have been changed to protect the innocent) who could do the pimping I needed.
Blackened Rolex Explorer II
Emails were sent, contacts made, and the watch was sent for a full makeover that would take two months. The changes I wanted were minimal: a black case and bracelet with lime green enamel numerals on the bezel. The dial and hands were to remain untouched.
Blackened Rolex Explorer II
The reason for my choice was simple: I wanted my Rolex to still look like a Rolex, but since I was pimping it I didn’t want to have the dial redone to look like a vintage model (on a side note, I find the current offers to modify modern Daytonas to look like vintage models, but at an even higher price than acquiring the true vintage counterparts, completely ridiculous!).
Electric green numerals on the bezel on this blackened Rolex Explorer II
As for the green numerals . . . well, they are not because I’m a big Shrek fan. I rather love the color and find that unfortunately it is used far too infrequently in watchmaking. The person in charge of the enameling sent me a few suggestions by mail, even one with orange numerals, but I settled for a strong lime green color in the end.
Blackened Rolex Explorer II
After about two months’ wait, I got a package in the post. And without warning opened it to find my pimped out Explorer II looking menacingly dark yet joyous with its green accents. And I noted with some joy that the pimper (or pimp?) had sent me the watch even before I had paid for it! Kudos to him: I am happy to have people who still work based on trust.
Blackened Rolex Explorer II
So how did I feel?
I won’t lie: it wasn’t love at first sight.
The watch was cool, definitely very cool. It was exactly everything I was expecting and even more. I can’t say that I love the watch, and this remains proof that I just don’t like modern Rolex no matter how pimped up it is. But I wear it with pleasure; it is a great conversation starter and it is a damn good-looking, kick-ass watch.
And it helped me unearth my inner pimp!
Blackened Rolex Explorer II
Do you think that I made the right decision or did I commit sacrilege? Or both? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
For more information on the Rolex Explorer II, please visit www.rolex.com.
* This article was first published on June 18, 2015 at Why I Pimped My Rolex. You might enjoy the comments and replies under that article.
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No one can state whether you have made the “right” or “wrong” decision. Too many collectors worry about what others think and get disheartened when people tell them it’s not what they like. You can never make the wrong decision if you enjoy the watch regardless of brand or modification. As the old saying goes “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”.
I really didn’t like the watch and ended up selling it some time ago
Read this same article last year and maybe the year before too. It’s still tasteless what you did to that watch. It looks horrible.
I hear you
I agree, I did’t purchase my Rolex 38 years ago, I got it because I liked it, no flashy stuff, I trusted my jewelry friend who sold Rolex’s and many other brands. He told of the quality of how they were main etc. at that time I was NOT a flasssy Type, my Rolex is my daily watch except when it needs a good cleaning and polishing, around a month,during that time I wear my Timex
Same here!
I agree!
In my world pimping a Rolex is ok – everybody and I mean everybody has a standard Rolex, so why not make i different/individual. Just like you do with a car where you wrap it, put other wheels on it etc. Once that’s said, I’m not a big fan of the green color – IMHO you should either have gone with orange or white to match the hands or have changed the GMT hand to green to. But I think it’s cool that you have a Rolex that no one else have.
Thanks Jacob,
I really didn’t like it either way and ended up selling it
Personally I think you dance with the one you brought to the party but to each his own , sounds like maybe you should have shopped a bit more before purchasing something you wound up changing to make something it’s not. It is a nice watch though .
Glad you like the watch, it really didn’t do it for me either way. Live and learn
It is interesting that I came across this article when I did. I will be making a Rolex purchase (my 3rd) but none of the combinations I am able to build on the site excite me. With lime green and radiation orange as my two favorite colors I think I have found the answer I am going to “pimp my Rolex.” Can I get the name of the place you sent yours?
Pretty awful article. You guys are hurting on original content. I would update the article and take out the word pimp or any use of it. The world is changing and you need to change with it.
Pimp a man who controls prostitutes and arranges clients for them, taking part of their earnings in return.
The watch gross with the mods.
Sell it take your loss be a man Not a pimp.
According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary To pimp is “to add things to something to make it look or sound better, especially by making it more individual”.
You definitely have a dirty mind
I really like the colour clash and workmanlike ruggedness
glad you like it!
You did all that work to make it how you wanted and still your not in love with it! Maybe watches just arnt your thing.
Unfortunately you have lost alot of the resale value on it because of your mods
I actually don’t like watches, humans and dogs. Only hairless cats
Looks beautiful to me. The watchclub just off bond street London sell Rolex hunter watches which are coated with carbon which you might want to look at.
thank’s. I’m done with PVD coated watches, each time I bought one (including factory PVD models) I ended up bored with them and sold them rapidly
No matter how good the craftsmanship or finishing is. In my opinion, that originally elegant watch has been pimped to look like a $50 quartz knock off found in a Chinatown shop in some places.
I agree looked like crap
Am a collector wannabe with Rolex, AP, Parek and Panerai watches.
I have an explorer 2 with orange GMT hand at 42 mm, bought second hand with 30% off after 1.5 year from a Japanese contact.
While it’s Fun to do what you did as a stands out But Why did you buy it in the first instance if you are Not happy with its appearance ?
Good question for which I have no clue!!
Looks like a cheap knock off. The green is awful. Sacrilege!!
I agree, its awful
Maybe another watch would have been a better option…
I’m not going down this road again…
“Why I pimped my Rolex” Let me guess… because in addition to being a “cheapo” you have poor taste?
Harsh but kinda true.
Mike and CJ I don’t have poor taste, I am completely tasteless and it took a lot of hard work to get there
Don’t do it. In the eyes of Rolex, any modifications render the watch “non-genuine”, in the same category as a knockoff. That means aftermarket diamond bezels/dials, authentic bezels/dials you had your jeweler add diamonds to, engraving on the case frame, and any refinishing that is not original.
Unfortunately for you, any legitimate watchmaker/shop that wants to keep their Rolex parts account will have to refuse to service your modified watch.
If you send it directly to Rolex, they will only service the watch if you agree to let them revert the watch to its original state (and pay them for the work/parts). Since they can’t remove that coating, they would probably quote you for a new case, bezel, and bracelet as a mandatory part of any service.
If you break your crystal, get water in the watch, or need a new screw for your bracelet, you would need to take your chances with the gray market.
I never send my watches to the brand for servicing, its a sure way of having them screw up something, make me pay a fortune and wait for months. I have my own independent watchmaker I go to…like that I support local business as well
Hi are you able to tell me where you got it done and roughly what it costs?
I actually like it!
Thanks,
tony can you email me at [email protected] and I’ll send you the details