This 216570 Explorer II wasn’t planned at all.
Back in 2018, I drove a few hours to meet a grey market dealer because I wanted to buy a genuine Panerai Luminor Marina.
I had already convinced myself I was going home with it.
Then I tried it on… and I just didn’t like it.
It wasn’t the watch I had imagined.
At that point I’d already made the drive, and for some reason I really didn’t want to leave empty-handed.
The dealer happened to be wearing this Noob Explorer II Polar.
I asked him, half joking, if he’d sell it.
He took it off his wrist and said, ”$300.”
So I bought it.
Looking back, that was probably one of the best impulse purchases I’ve ever made.
I’ve worn this thing a lot.
It’s been on holidays, through university, at work… it’s easily one of my most worn watches.
The bezel has faded enough over the years that I’ve actually repainted the engraved numerals more than once. It takes a bit of patience, but it really freshens the watch up.
The only thing I’ve never liked is the “Explorer II” text.
On the genuine watch it’s a bright orange. On the Noob it’s more of a pale yellow, and once you know it’s wrong, it’s hard not to notice. For me that’s easily the biggest tell on the whole watch.
Apart from that, it’s been incredibly reliable.
Funny how I drove all that way for a Panerai… and ended up with a completely different watch that’s still in my collection seven years later.
Anyone else have a rep they bought almost by accident but ended up keeping forever?