Watch Paparazzi

Royal Prince Harry spotted wearing Rolex

Prince Harry was recently photographed wearing a Rolex Explorer II in stainless steel, reference 216570 — a watch that speaks directly to his identity as a former Army Air Corps officer and an individual with a long track record of demanding expeditionary activity, from Arctic treks to African conservation work.

The Rolex Explorer II ref. 216570 entered production in 2011, replacing the smaller 40mm ref. 16570. The upgrade to 42mm gave it a more contemporary presence on the wrist without sacrificing the Explorer II's core identity as a serious tool watch. Powering the case is the Calibre 3187, an in-house movement developed specifically for the Explorer II lineage. It runs at 28,800vph, offers approximately 48 hours of power reserve, and incorporates Rolex's Parachrom hairspring — a proprietary paramagnetic alloy some ten times more resistant to magnetic fields than a conventional spring. The fixed 24-hour bezel, a defining feature of the Explorer II since its 1971 debut, allows wearers to distinguish AM from PM — a practical tool for underground explorers and shift workers operating in environments where daylight offers no reference point.

Among collectors, the white-dial 216570 — sometimes nicknamed the 'Polar' — has consistently outperformed the black-dial variant in terms of desirability and secondary-market premiums. The reference was discontinued in 2023 with the arrival of the ref. 226570, which returned to a 42mm case but introduced an updated movement. That discontinuation has predictably sharpened collector interest in clean examples of the 216570.

For Prince Harry, the Explorer II is a logical choice. His 2011 trek to the North Pole with Walking With The Wounded and his sustained involvement in military and wilderness charitable causes align cleanly with a watch that was purpose-built for exactly those environments. It is also, notably, a Rolex that carries none of the ostentation of the brand's dress or precious-metal lines — appropriate for a royal who has consistently favoured low-key, functional timepieces.

On the grey market, white-dial examples of the Rolex Explorer II 216570 command a modest premium above retail, reflecting steady demand and the reference's newly discontinued status. It remains one of the most accessible entries into serious Rolex tool-watch collecting.