Rolex Predictions 2025: White Dial 'Polar' Explorer?

Here we are again. Every year, as Watches & Wonders approaches, speculation ramps up about a white dial Rolex Explorer. It’s a conversation that’s been happening for so long that it almost feels futile. And yet, the prediction persists.

There’s no specific reason to believe 2025 is the year. But looking at Rolex’s recent moves, the idea of a white dial Explorer feels more likely than ever. Rolex has solidified the Explorer lineup in a way that makes adding a new dial option a logical next step. So while nothing guarantees we’ll see a “Polar” Explorer this year, it’s worth revisiting why this release keeps coming up—and why it might finally happen.

Why Would Rolex Make a White Dial Explorer?

Image Source: Hodinkee

There is historical precedent for a white dial Rolex Explorer. The watch that accompanied Sir Edmund Hillary on the first-ever summit of Mt. Everest—the “pre-Explorer” reference 6352—had a white dial. Rolex’s marketing materials consistently highlight the Explorer’s link to Everest, reinforcing its identity as a watch built for adventure (even if, for you, that's an adventure to the grocery store).

A white dial wouldn’t be a heritage reissue, but it would be a way for Rolex to acknowledge the Explorer’s origins while keeping the model fresh. Rolex doesn’t do retro re-creations, but they have a habit of modernizing past design elements in a way that fits their current lineup. A white dial Explorer would be a logical way to expand the collection without changing the watch’s core DNA.

The Ever-Expanding Yacht-Master Collection

Beyond history, offering a second dial color would align the Explorer with Rolex’s broader strategy of giving collectors more options while keeping each model distinct. We’ve seen this with the GMT-Master II, the Yacht-Master, and the Datejust—all of which come in multiple configurations. The Explorer, now available in both 36mm and 40mm, is more versatile than ever. Adding a white dial would simply reinforce that trend.

If It Happens, Expect It in 40mm First

A white dial Explorer in 36mm would be an instant hit. It would drive higher demand than the black dial version, at least in the short term, creating a frenzy that Rolex might not want to unleash all at once. The 40mm Explorer, on the other hand, already deviates from the traditional formula. It was introduced in 2023 as a modern alternative to the classic 36mm, so offering it with a white dial wouldn’t feel out of place.

Rolex has a history of easing into major changes. We saw this with titanium; Rolex introduced titanium in largely unwearable dive watches before the Yacht-Master 42, and we still haven't seen it in a mid-century model. If Rolex follows that same pattern, a white dial Explorer 40 could be the test run before they roll it out to the 36mm.

The Counterpoint: Why It Might Never Happen

Curved End Rubber Strap For Explorer

For 70 years, the Explorer has had a black dial. That consistency is part of its identity. While the GMT-Master, Submariner, and even the Air-King have experimented with different colors, the Explorer has remained unchanged. Rolex could very well see a white dial as too much of a departure from its tool-watch roots.

Then again, the same could have been said about the two-tone Explorer 36, which nobody expected—until Rolex did it.

Final Thoughts

There’s no telling what Rolex will do. But if a white dial Explorer is ever going to happen, the lineup is in the best place it’s ever been for it. If Rolex adds a second dial color, expect it to land in the 40mm version first, with the 36mm possibly following later.

For now, the white dial Explorer remains one of the great “what-ifs” of the Rolex catalog. But history tells us that if enough collectors ask for something, Rolex listens—eventually.