My Explorer II unexpectedly died on me.

Hello everyone,
Decided yesterday to rotate into arm use my 16570 Explorer II. Once retrieved from the safe, I rotated the hands through 24 hours a number of times to expose the correct date, wound the watch 30 times and put it on my wrist. Looked at it several minutes later and noticed it was not running. Rotated my wrist to start the watch and nothing happened. Tapped it several times and saw the second hand move backwards a few indicators. Never saw this happen before with any watch that I have.
After some serious research, decided I needed a trustworthy watchmaker to service this piece and not continue using my local watchmaker. In all fairness, the watchmaker I've been using since the early 70s after I left the military had always done a fabulous job. When this watch was last serviced, 2016, his Son had taken over the business and I've since seen many not so positive comments about his work.
Contacted Phillip Ridley yesterday and will soon be sending her off for a complete service.
Hoping to have this wonderful piece back on my wrist soon. In the meantime I guess my other watches will have to fill in on my rotation to keep a smile on my face every time I look at my wrist.

Needs a full service. Pretty common if the gears are seized. You put tension on the train and it cannot release forward so it seeks equilibrium by reversing. Best not to meddle with it further.

Sorry to hear that, but thanks for letting us know.

Should I pull out the crown to stop any possible movement?

I had the same problem with my Vostok then I remembered it’s mechanical not auto, close call.

Watch left for service with Phillip Ridley today.

Heard from Phillip Ridley yesterday. The rotating weight that powers the automatic is on a pivot (rivet) that has worn out and a new mainspring is needed. He stated the watch is all original except for the crystal and never polished. I should have her back on my wrist in a few weeks.

My wallet is a bit lighter but, my wrist is feeling wonderful! Got the watch back from Ridley and I couldn't be happier.

Wow, that was fast!