What Is the Best Explorer II 16559 Clone?
The best Explorer II 16559 clone for most buyers is the 40mm Swiss-movement build with a 904L steel case, a fixed 24-hour bezel, and a 24-hour hand that stays locked to the hour hand as the original does. Expect to pay $350 to $500. Below that price, case shape and bezel engraving fall apart, and the watch reads as a fake from arm's length.
Explorer II 16559 White Dial Fake: A Replica Buyer's Guide
The 16559 sits in the same family as the 1655 Steve McQueen Explorer II, so a clone stands or falls on three things: the 40mm case, the orange 24-hour hand, and crown guards that sit flush with the case sides.
How We Ranked These Clones
Factory names change with every batch, so we ranked builds on parts a buyer can see and touch.
- Case: 40mm wide, about 12.5mm thick, drilled lugs, no crown guards that stick out
- Bezel: fixed steel ring with a black 24-hour insert and engraved numerals
- Dial: matte black, printed minute track, orange 24-hour hand with a needle tip
- Movement: ETA 2836-2, Miyota 8215, or a Chinese 2813
- Crystal: domed acrylic, since the original never shipped with sapphire
- Bracelet: Oyster style, 20mm lugs, solid end links, stamped clasp
A build that wins on case and bezel beats one that wins on movement. The movement hides under a caseback. The case sits on your wrist.
Explorer II 16559 Replica Buying Guide: Price, Specs, Traps
Top Pick: the Swiss ETA 2836-2 Build
This is the version to buy if the watch will be worn in public. The case is cut to 40mm with the right lug curve, the bezel insert uses a serif font close to the original, and the dial print holds up under a loupe.
Why it wins
- ETA 2836-2 beats at 28,800 vph and takes a genuine replacement part
- Case and bezel share the same silhouette as the 1655 family
- Sapphire or acrylic crystal options let you pick a vintage look
- Service and regulation cost less than buying a second watch
Where it falls short
The 24-hour hand on most of these builds sets on its own, and the original 1655 does not work that way. That mismatch is invisible to a stranger and obvious to a collector. Ask the seller which movement the watch uses before you pay.
Runner-Up: the Miyota 8215 Build
Miyota builds land between $180 and $260 and run for years without service. The trade is a thicker caseback and a hand stack that sits high under the crystal. Ask for photos of the crown guards and the bezel numerals before you commit.
Budget Pick: the 2813 Build
The 2813 tier sits under $120 and works as a test run before you spend real money. Case edges feel sharp, the bezel font drifts from the original, and the rotor is loud. Treat it as a knock-around watch, not a keeper.
Explorer II 16559 Clone vs 1655 Clone
The two references share a 40mm case, an orange 24-hour hand, and a fixed bezel. Differences come down to dial text, bezel font, and the small batch nature of the 16559, which few replica makers copy.
- 1655 clones: common, cheap, easy to compare against photos
- 16559 clones: rare, often a 1655 case with a different dial print
- Both: 20mm lugs, acrylic crystal, no date, 24-hour bezel
If a seller lists a 16559 clone and cannot show a dial with the right print, you are buying a 1655 with a new name.
Price Guide
- Under $120: 2813 movement, sharp case, weak bezel font
- $180 to $260: Miyota 8215, solid case, thick caseback
- $350 to $500: ETA 2836-2, 904L case, best dial and bezel
- $600 plus: genuine bracelet or crystal on a rep case
What to Check Before You Buy
- Ask for a side photo of the case to check crown guard shape.
- Confirm the movement name in writing.
- Check the 24-hour hand tip: needle shape, orange paint, no overhang.
- Ask about water resistance. Most builds handle rain and hand washing, not swimming.
- Ask for the return window and the payment method.
FAQ
Is a 16559 clone worth the money?
Yes if you buy the ETA tier. The case and bezel carry the look, and those parts cost the same on a $120 build and a $450 build. Spend where the eye lands.
Does the clone have a working 24-hour hand?
It moves with the hour hand on a 2836-2 build. Some sellers fit a GMT movement with an independent hand, which the original does not have.
What size is the case?
40mm wide and about 12.5mm thick, with 20mm lugs. That matches the 1655 family.
Can I swim with it?
No. Factory gaskets are the weak point. Rain and hand washing are fine, pools and showers are not.
Bottom Line
Buy the Swiss ETA build if you want one watch that holds up next to photos of the original. Drop to the Miyota tier if the budget is tight, and skip the 2813 unless you want a beater. In all three cases, check the case profile and bezel font first, because those two parts decide how the watch reads on the wrist.