That bright orange makes a big IWC Pilots Double Chronograph TOP GUN IWPD320 watches difference to us, even though we are sure the vast majority of people we meet would never even notice it. And that is the point. We love this watch because it looks just like a normal Rolex Explorer II to 99% of the people that see it. But with that 1% of the population who knows exactly what it is, we now have an instant connection.We have featured Orange hand Explorers before, it is somewhat of a Hodinkee policy to feature one at least every few months (see here and here). However, the one we are featuring today is different than the previous two...can any of you tell us how? We'll assume you can't and explain.The two McQueen Explorer II's we featured have a ball on the end of of the second hand. The one we are bringing you today does not. Tiny difference, right? Nope. The Straight Hand McQueen Explorers are THE originals, the very first produced. They are considerably more rare than the ball hand versions, and appropriately more expensive.This one is from second quarter 1971 (the very first year the Explorer II was made), and is 100% original. The IWC Pilots Double Chronograph TOP GUN IWPD320 watches entire watch is mint, even the bracelet is original and guaranteed authentic. This watch happens to come from one of, if not THE, most reputable vintage watch dealers in the world, so you have nothing to worry about in terms of quality.This watch's rarity and quality is only surpassed by its awesomeness (jk, kind of). This is a dream watch for Hodinkee, and we bet after reading this post, it'll be a dream watch for you too. Click here to see the details of this mint condition, very early production Rolex Steve McQueen Explorer II with a straight second hand.
How many of us thought we'd see an Orange Hand Explorer from Rolex this year at BaselWorld? Hell, we all saw the damn thing in Rolex's own video! Alas, the mighty R decided to pull the new Explorer II from the Basel festivities and we were left orange handless once again.Until today, with the release of Project X Designs new limited edition series. Based on the current Rolex Explorer II, which our most prodigal IWC Pilots Double Chronograph TOP GUN IWPD320 watches friends proclaimed to be the only modern Rolex worth buying, this limited run of 24 watches is an absolute killer.The Explorer II has been coated in DLC to give in the "blackout" look. Then, Project X has filled the 24-hour scale on the bezel with bright orange paint. Finally, and clearly most importantly, the red GMT hand has been replaced with an orange one. No word on price yet, but until Rolex decides to give us an official orange hand Explorer II, Project X Designs' DLC Orange Hand is as good as it gets. Click here to see the watch on the Project X Facebook page.What do you think, does it do the original justice?The Steve McQueen Rolex Explorer II (AKA Orange Hand, AKA Freccione Era Explorer) is one of our favorite watches of all time. There a few reasons for this. First, it was the very first iteration of a true classic and one of our favorite modern day pieces, the Rolex Explorer II. Second, its association with Steve McQueen (actor, racecar driver, and all around cool guy), is meaningful because it is one of the purest examples of celebrity IWC Pilots Double Chronograph TOP GUN IWPD320 watches impacting watch prices. The McQueen Explorer is by no means a complicated piece, and even the movement itself is nothing extraordinary, and yet this continues to be one of the most sought after vintage watches in the world. Finally, this is a great example of how the little things make a big difference in watches.The looks of the McQueen Explorer are similar to the standard Explorer Two, with the most notable exception being that bright orange GMT hand.
