2026-05-02
Best Straps for the Rolex Explorer I & II
Best Straps for the Rolex Explorer I & II
The Rolex Explorer is the watch that climbed Everest. On 29 May 1953, Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary reached the summit of Mount Everest wearing Rolex Oyster Perpetual watches — and the Explorer, released that same year, carried that achievement directly in its name and its identity. The Explorer is not a marketing exercise in adventure aesthetics. It is a watch with a documented connection to the most demanding physical achievement in the history of exploration, and a design that has barely changed in seventy years because it has never needed to.
It is also, on the aftermarket strap market, one of the most confusing watches to buy straps for — because the Explorer range currently spans four references across three different case sizes, and every single one uses a different lug width. Getting the size wrong is the most common Explorer strap purchasing mistake, and it is easy to make.
This guide exists to prevent that mistake.
Rolex Explorer Strap Sizes — The Complete Picture
This is the most important section in this guide. Read it before ordering anything.
Explorer I 36mm (ref. 124270, 124273) — 19mm lugs. The current 36mm Explorer introduced in 2021 uses a reduced lug width of 19mm — down from the 20mm of the previous 114270 reference. This is confirmed by Rolex's own specification and is one of the most commonly misquoted sizing details in the watch strap market. The 124270 takes 19mm. Not 18mm. Not 20mm. Nineteen.
Explorer I 40mm (ref. 224270) — 21mm lugs. The larger Explorer I introduced in 2023 uses 21mm lugs — widened from the 36mm's 19mm to maintain the taper proportions at the larger case size. This is the same lug width as the Rolex Datejust 41mm, and like the Datejust 41, most strap retailers do not stock 21mm adequately.
Explorer II 42mm current (ref. 226570) — 22mm lugs. The current Explorer II introduced in 2021 uses 22mm lugs — increased from the 21mm of the previous 216570 generation.
Explorer II 42mm previous (ref. 216570) — 21mm lugs. The 216570 used 21mm — the same as the new 40mm Explorer I.
Quick reference:
| Reference | Case | Lug Width |
|---|---|---|
| 124270 / 124273 | 36mm Explorer I | 19mm |
| 224270 | 40mm Explorer I | 21mm |
| 226570 | 42mm Explorer II current | 22mm |
| 216570 | 42mm Explorer II previous | 21mm |
CNS stocks the full strap range at 19mm, 21mm, and 22mm — covering every current Explorer reference across leather, nylon, rubber, and elastic.
The Explorer I 36mm — Why 19mm Is the Correct Answer
The Explorer I 124270's 19mm lug width is the most frequently misquoted sizing detail in the Explorer strap market. Some retailers list it as 18mm. The correct answer is 19mm — confirmed by Rolex's own specification sheet, multiple watch publications including Worn & Wound and Teddy Baldassarre, and the bracelet itself which tapers from 19mm at the lugs to 14mm at the clasp.
A 20mm strap will leave a visible gap on either side of the strap end. An 18mm strap will sit inside the lugs. Neither fits correctly. The 124270 takes 19mm — the same lug width as vintage Rolex Submariner references 5508, 5512, and 5513.
CNS stocks the full range at 19mm — including leather, nylon, perlon, elastic, and rubber.
Best Leather Straps for the Rolex Explorer I 36mm (19mm)
The Explorer I's character is fundamentally different from the Submariner and GMT-Master. It is not a dive watch or a pilot's watch. It is an adventure and exploration watch — clean, purposeful, and versatile across every context. Leather suits the Explorer I more naturally than any other Rolex sports reference because the watch's design is understated enough to accept it without contradiction.
Vintage two-stitch calfskin in cognac at 19mm is the most widely recommended Explorer I leather combination. The warm cognac tone against the black dial and steel case creates a combination that references the 1950s exploration heritage of the watch — the same era in which the Explorer was designed. The two-stitch construction is period-correct in spirit and immediately transforms the Explorer from a sports watch into a dress-sport piece.
Classic black calfskin at 19mm — the most formal Explorer combination. Black leather on the Explorer's black dial and silver case creates a minimal, composed combination that suits business and evening contexts directly.
Dark brown padded calfskin at 19mm — the most substantial everyday leather. The padded construction suits sustained daily wear and provides wrist comfort appropriate for a watch designed to be worn continuously.
Tan suede at 19mm — the most relaxed and most evocatively adventurous leather option. The soft, matte texture of tan suede against the Explorer's brushed and polished case creates a warm, exploratory character that references the leather expedition equipment of the 1950s.
Burgundy calfskin at 19mm — a distinctive formal alternative. The deep red-brown of burgundy against the Explorer's black dial creates a warm, evening-appropriate combination.
Best Leather Straps for the Rolex Explorer I 40mm (21mm)
The 40mm Explorer I 224270 suits more substantial leather constructions than the 36mm — the larger case proportions demand a more prominent strap presence.
Dark brown padded calfskin at 21mm — the most proportionally correct everyday leather for the 40mm case.
Vintage two-stitch calfskin in cognac at 21mm — the most characterful combination, maintaining the heritage character of the Explorer line at the larger case size.
Classic black calfskin at 21mm — for formal contexts.
Best Nylon Straps for the Rolex Explorer
The Explorer's adventure heritage makes single-pass nylon an entirely appropriate strap choice — the original Explorer was a tool watch designed for demanding field use, and the MOD-specification single-pass nylon strap is precisely the kind of operational equipment that suits it.
Single-pass nylon — Original across the range in the most appropriate Explorer colourways:
- Black — the most minimal and most operational. Black nylon on a black-dial Explorer is purposeful and correct.
- Olive / khaki — for the most field watch, adventure-appropriate presentation.
- Black and grey — the classic collector combination, connecting the Explorer to the Bond-era watch tradition.
- Admiralty Grey — the original MOD specification colourway, understated and period-correct.
At 19mm for the 36mm Explorer I, 21mm for the 40mm Explorer I and previous Explorer II 216570, and 22mm for the current Explorer II 226570.
Perlon at 19mm — the most elegant fabric option for the 36mm Explorer I. The fine woven construction and slim profile suit the compact, refined 36mm case more naturally than flat nylon.
Marine Nationale elastic — the most comfortable Explorer strap for travel and sustained active wear.
Paratrooper elastic — the most comfortable daily-wear option.
Best Rubber Straps for the Rolex Explorer
The Explorer is water-resistant to 100m — FKM rubber is appropriate for active and outdoor contexts.
Tropical style FKM in black at 19mm, 21mm, or 22mm — the most collector-appropriate rubber option. The vintage basket-weave surface suits the Explorer's heritage character.
Classic FKM rubber in black — the most practical active choice for outdoor and travel use.
Explorer II — Specific Combinations
The Explorer II's character differs significantly from the Explorer I. The fixed 24-hour bezel, the larger 42mm case, and the iconic orange GMT hand give it a more overtly tool watch, expedition-ready identity. The orange hand creates a specific strap palette opportunity.
For the 226570 at 22mm:
- Orange accent single-pass nylon — picking up the orange 24-hour hand directly
- Cognac vintage two-stitch leather — the warm cognac echoing the orange hand's warmth
- Black tropical FKM — the most operational rubber choice
- Olive single-pass nylon — for the expedition-grounded military character
For the 216570 at 21mm:
Same combinations as above — all available at 21mm.
Recommended Combinations by Reference
Explorer I 36mm (124270) — cognac vintage two-stitch for heritage character; black single-pass nylon for operational daily wear; black tropical FKM for active use. All at 19mm.
Explorer I 40mm (224270) — dark brown padded leather for daily wear; olive nylon for adventure character; black FKM rubber for active use. All at 21mm.
Explorer II current (226570) — orange accent nylon for bezel reference; cognac vintage two-stitch for warm character; black tropical FKM for active wear. All at 22mm.
Explorer II previous (216570) — same as above at 21mm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size strap does the Rolex Explorer I 124270 take? The Rolex Explorer I 36mm (ref. 124270) uses 19mm lugs — reduced from the 20mm of the previous 114270 generation. This is the most commonly misquoted Explorer I sizing detail. Order 19mm. Not 18mm, not 20mm — nineteen millimetres.
What size strap does the Rolex Explorer I 224270 take? The Rolex Explorer I 40mm (ref. 224270) uses 21mm lugs — widened from the 36mm's 19mm to maintain proportions at the larger case size. Most strap retailers do not stock 21mm adequately. CNS carries the full range at 21mm.
What size strap does the Rolex Explorer II take? The current Explorer II (ref. 226570, 42mm) uses 22mm lugs. The previous generation Explorer II (ref. 216570) used 21mm lugs. Check your reference number before ordering.
What is the best leather strap for the Rolex Explorer I? Cognac vintage two-stitch calfskin at 19mm for the 36mm Explorer I — the warm cognac tone references the 1950s heritage of the watch and creates the most characterful everyday combination. Dark brown padded calfskin at 21mm for the 40mm Explorer I.
Does the Rolex Explorer I 36mm take the same strap as the vintage Submariner? Yes — the Explorer I 124270 uses 19mm lugs, the same as vintage Rolex Submariner references 5508, 5512, and 5513. Any CNS 19mm strap fits both the 124270 Explorer I and the vintage Submariner references.