John Cena Just Put This Overlooked Rolex on the Map at Wimbledon
Another A-lister joined the Wimbledon crowd this week, as John Cena made a surprise appearance in the Royal Box on Day Three.
The WWE legend-turned-actor was seated next to his wife, engineer Shay Shariatzadeh – his 6' 1" well-upholstered frame drawing plenty of attention in a sharp light grey checked suit.
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But for horologists, it was what was on his wrist that stood out: aRolex Explorer II.
The Explorer II isn’t one of Rolex’s headline-grabbing models. While the Submariner, Daytona, and GMT-Master II often dominate resale markets and social media, the Explorer II remains a quieter, more practical option.
With its fixed 24-hour bezel, sturdy steel construction, and zero precious metals or flashy inserts, it’s a watch built for purpose rather than hype.
First released in 1971, the Explorer II was originally designed for adventurers spending long periods in environments where distinguishing day from night was difficult, eg: caves or polar regions. It featured a bright 24-hour hand and fixed bezel to help track time in such conditions. Over the years, it has evolved in size and movement, but stayed true to those utilitarian roots.
Despite its pedigree and capability, the model has always sat just outside Rolex’s spotlight. It lacks the pop culture cachet of the Daytona or the colorful bezels of the GMT-Master II, making it a less obvious status symbol. As a result, the Explorer II may even be called under-appreciated, if such a Rolex can be said to exist.
Cena wore the 42mm reference, introduced in 2011.
Though that's considered pretty large by today's standards, the watch looked practically modest on the wrestler's frame.
Its understated presence aligns well with its reputation. It’s not hard to find at retail, it doesn’t fuel frenzy among collectors and it stays mostly out of the spotlight. But among those who know Rolex, Cena’s choice was subtle and suitable – respected for its ruggedness, reliability, and reputation for going the distance.
Rolex Explorer II's Technical Details
Model case
Model case: Oyster, 42 mm, Oystersteel
Oyster architecture: Monobloc middle case, screw-down case back and winding crown
Diameter: 42 mm
Material: Oystersteel
Bezel: Fixed, 24-hour graduated
Winding crown: Screw-down, Twinlock double waterproofness system
Crystal: Scratch-resistant sapphire, Cyclops lens over the date
Water resistance: Waterproof to 100 metres / 330 feet
Movement
Movement: Perpetual, mechanical, self-winding, GMT function
Calibre: 3285, Manufacture Rolex
Precision: -2/+2 sec/day, after casing
Functions: Centre hour, minute and seconds hands. 24-hour display. Second time zone with independent rapid-setting of the hour hand. Instantaneous date. Stop-seconds for precise time setting
Oscillator: Paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring. High-performance Paraflex shock absorbers
Winding: Bidirectional self-winding via Perpetual rotor
Power reserve: Approximately 70 hours
Bracelet
Bracelet: Oyster, three-piece solid links
Material: Oystersteel
Clasp: Folding Oysterlock safety clasp with Easylink 5 mm comfort extension link
Dial
Dial: White
Details: Highly legible Chromalight display with long-lasting blue luminescence
This story originally appeared onEsquire.com/uk. Minor edits have been made by the Esquiremag.ph editors.
