What is the best Explorer II homage?

By our fidelity rubric the Pagani Design PD-1693 (fidelity 77, about $148) is the closest homage we still list. It echoes the vintage orange-hand 1655 look on a Pearl DG5833A GMT movement with a 200m rating. The Watchdives WD16570 V2 scored higher (fidelity 81), but all five of its variants were sold out on Watchdives' own store at every check from 18 August to 25 October 2026, so we removed it from the ranking under our 60-day sold-out rule.

Is there a good polar Explorer II homage?

Not one that you can buy new at the moment. The Watchdives WD16570 V2 has an enamel white dial with black-outlined markers and the orange 24-hour hand, but all five of its variants were sold out on Watchdives' own store from 18 August to 25 October 2026. San Martin's fixed-bezel Explorer II hybrid had a matte white dial, but every variant was sold out on San Martin's own store from 27 August to 26 October 2026, so it left our list under the same rule. Seiko's own SSK059 polar Field GMT is a limited release that comes and goes.

What about the Steve McQueen Explorer II look?

The vintage reference 1655, nicknamed the Steve McQueen, is the orange-freccione-hand look most budget homages actually chase. The Pagani Design PD-1693 is the closest affordable take on it — big orange arrow 24-hour hand, fixed engraved bezel, about $148 on a Pearl DG5833A GMT.

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The best Rolex Explorer II homage

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Last updated October 2026.

Every score below is this site’s published fidelity rubric, 0–100 on design language alone. The Explorer II is the odd one out among Rolex sports watches: a GMT whose 24-hour bezel does not turn. That fixed steel bezel, the orange extra hand and — on the version everyone wants — the polar white dial are what a homage has to get right. Four watches in our current list chase the look, and they split into a modern-polar camp and a vintage-freccione camp. Ranked on our fidelity rubric. Every fidelity score here follows the published rubric, and each model number and price is read from the brand’s own store, with the date recorded against the row.

One design, two targets

Homage makers aim at two different Explorer IIs. The modern reference — 42mm, polar or black dial, Mercedes hands, orange GMT hand — is the one in most heads. But the vintage 1655, the so-called Steve McQueen, is the one budget brands actually copy most: a big orange freccione arrow, a busy engraved 24-hour bezel and no cyclops. Decide which of the two looks you mean before you buy, because no affordable watch does both.

Stock reality: this is a thin field to actually buy from. On 2 October 2026 Pagani’s own store listed only the Orange PD-1693 variant as available. The Timex is the one entry here reliably in stock. The Watchdives WD16570 V2 (fidelity 81) used to top this list. All five of its variants were sold out on Watchdives’ own store at every check from 18 August to 25 October 2026, so it left the ranking under our rule that removes a watch after 60 days sold out. San Martin’s fixed-bezel Explorer II hybrid (fidelity 75) left the same way: every variant was sold out on San Martin’s own store at every check from 27 August to 26 October 2026.

1. Pagani Design PD-1693 — the freccione for $148 Pagani Design ↗

About $148, fidelity 77. The vintage-1655 camp's benchmark: the big orange 24-hour arrow and fixed engraved bezel for the least money here, with sapphire, a real 200m rating and a Pearl DG5833A GMT movement, which is how Pagani's own page identifies it — not the Seiko NH34 the mid-tier runs. It was $90 when we first listed it and is now $148, so the value case is thinner than it was. On 2 October 2026 Pagani's own store listed the Orange variant, the one with the freccione hand, as available; White and Black were sold out. Amazon search did not surface PD-1693, so the link above is Pagani's own page and is not affiliated. At 42mm it is the only one here that matches the modern case size — ironic, given it echoes the vintage watch. The obvious first Explorer II homage. See Pagani Design, model by model.

2. Timex Expedition Pioneer Titanium GMT — the mainstream-brand buy

About $629, fidelity 76. The most money on this list buys the only titanium case — 41mm, 200m rated — around a Seiko NH34 GMT, the same calibre the Baltany below runs, with 24-hour-bezel styling that leans clearly on the McQueen watch. What the premium actually pays for is Timex itself: availability when everything else is sold out, a real warranty network, and a watch that is a genuinely good tool GMT in its own right rather than just a lookalike.

3. Baltany S6073AB — the vintage-tool take Amazon ↗

About $283, fidelity 73. Baltany's only fixed-bezel GMT: the orange-hand tool-GMT look filtered through the brand's usual vintage lens — 39mm, domed styling, a genuine 200m rating and the NH34 inside. It periodically sells out on Baltany's own store, so check both there and Amazon. More character, less strict fidelity. See the Baltany brand review.

The honest alternative: Seiko SSK023

About $450, fidelity 64 — deliberately below our homage line. The Seiko 5 Sports Field GMT is not an Explorer II copy: its own dial furniture, a red five-sided GMT hand, and Seiko's in-house 4R34 caliber. It earns its place here because it answers the same brief — a fixed-24-hour-bezel tool GMT — from a real watchmaking house with a warranty network, and that is worth something no homage offers. The polar-dial SSK059 sibling is a limited release that comes and goes.

If it is the rotating-bezel GMT you actually want

People reach for the Explorer II when the watch in their head is actually the GMT-Master II — the one with the rotating two-colour Pepsi bezel. Different watch, deeper homage field, better value at the budget end. See the GMT-Master II homages page and our ranked GMT homage guide.

The honest summary: buy the Pagani PD-1693 if you want the orange-hand look for $148 and a case that actually measures like the modern watch; buy the Timex if you want titanium and the most reliable stock. The Baltany buys vintage charm in a 39mm case. Compare the full field on the Explorer II homages page.

Gift picks that are not homages

These are not homages, so they have no fidelity score and are not part of the ranking above. Each is here for the reason given with it. Specs are from the maker’s own page; the seller is the Amazon US buy box, checked on the date given with each pick. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical 38 mm H69439931: 38 mm steel case, 9.5 mm thick, 47 mm lug to lug, hand-wound H-50 mechanical movement (80-hour power reserve), sapphire crystal, 50 m water resistance, black dial with luminous numerals, NATO strap, 20 mm lugs (source: hamiltonwatch.com, H69439931).

Not a homage, and not a GMT: Hamilton's own field watch, which Hamilton describes as a recreation of its 1960s military watch. It has no 24-hour hand. It is here for someone who wants a plain, legible tool watch more than the Explorer II's second time zone. Sold by Amazon.com, checked 2026-10-26.

Check the exact Khaki Field Mechanical H69439931 on Amazon ›

Already owns an automatic? The ROTHWELL double watch winder RW2W (Black/Grey): holds two watches; each cushion is 8 5/8 in around and compresses to 6 3/4 in; several turns-per-day and rotation settings (source: ROTHWELL's own Amazon listing (no maker website found)). Sold by ROTHWELL, the maker's own store, checked 2026-10-08. Check the exact winder on Amazon ›

Storage, compared on what each maker publishes about the inside: watch box vs watch roll · watch boxes for large watches · alternatives to the WOLF Blake roll.

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