Dilema between DJ 36mm and Sub ND as the GADA watch for one watch guy

[Order 72]

Smooth bezel and based on the pictures maybe a 41. Smooth Datejust is the best all around Rolex. Don’t overlook two tone.

Do not get an Explorer!

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by Order 72

Smooth bezel and based on the pictures maybe a 41. Smooth Datejust is the best all around Rolex. Don’t overlook two tone.

Do not get an Explorer!

Agree about two tone, but consider fluted bezel, on oyster bracelet. THAT is a cool look. It can look sporty, or dressy, depending on your attire, so a real GADA watch.

Kat


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[worldofoyster]

between the 2, go with the sub

[HHIslander]

Sub by a lot. It does depend on your lifestyle, but for me a fluted DJ on jubilee is not really a GADA as it’s a little too flashy.

[6161HH]

Originally Posted by Verdi

I had both.

Id go for 36mm DJ on oyster bracelet. It fits better the role of one watch good for every occasion and attire.
Try also the 41mm DJ on the same config before pulling the trigger.

^^^^^^ IMO this is the most logical response. That said I own a 39mm Explorer, no date Sub41 and a DJ36. If I could keep only one it would be my 214270 Explorer. Hence it’s all about personal preference and only the OP’s personal preference matters.

[4vCoupe]

Get the DJ with a smooth bezel and jubilee.


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[Kevin of Larchmont]

Originally Posted by KatGirl

Agree about two tone, but consider fluted bezel, on oyster bracelet. THAT is a cool look. It can look sporty, or dressy, depending on your attire, so a real GADA watch.

Kat


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A little friendly pushback on this. I had this exact combination with a black dial I could not make it look casual for the life of me. Even my wife who is indifferent to my watch habit and doesn’t even want to know what watches I have or how many said to me, “That watch isn’t you.” I just couldn’t make it work with camo shorts and high tops, too many polished surfaces on that combo in my experience. Deadly comfortable though.

[AF_Rob]

Originally Posted by MDR143

Go Sub Date.

The 36 looks too small. I think you will end up like you did with your explorer 1.

Agree. Sub Date would be my choice for a 1 watch guy. Timing bezel and a date, what's not to like?

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by AF_Rob

Agree. Sub Date would be my choice for a 1 watch guy. Timing bezel and a date, what's not to like?

Sub date would be a great choice, too. I’m not fond of the current ones, though, and I’ve tried both on. They don’t hold a candle to the 5 series, IMO.

Kat


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[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by Kevin of Larchmont

A little friendly pushback on this. I had this exact combination with a black dial I could not make it look casual for the life of me. Even my wife who is indifferent to my watch habit and doesn’t even want to know what watches I have or how many said to me, “That watch isn’t you.” I just couldn’t make it work with camo shorts and high tops, too many polished surfaces on that combo in my experience. Deadly comfortable though.

No worries, Kevin. I can see that some folks find the fluted bezel a bit too dressy, or even girly. I just saw a light dial on a guy with fluted and jubilee, and could not help but think it looked feminine. Perfect, for me, though. I think men need darker dials to pull off that combo. The manager of my car dealership has the 41 plain blue dial, fluted on jubilee, and it looks great. He is mostly in a suit, except on Saturday. He still wears it, even with casual dress. I think it’s his first Rolex.

Kat


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[turfmanjon]

Was just out in the water in Turks with my Polar on. Met a guy who was wearing a 36mm Datejust on Oyster with silver dial and smooth bezel. Looked perfectly casual, great at the beach, and he’s a lawyer and wears a suit at work daily. That would make a perfect daily for all occasions.


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[colonelpurple]

I prefer the design of the DJ (also the fluted bezel), but the size of the Sub

[Watchsprings]

For a GADA it’s gotta be the Sub date.

[JRell]

Sub date, GMT or datejust for one watch. Sub without a date in a collection IMO. Been there, done that.

[Apdl]

Anh ơi
+1 Sub

[Doood]

I’d go sub, of those two, but any thoughts of maybe a GMT, which kind of splits the difference?

[Mccall86]

I wear a DJ36 nearly every day. I've never owned a sub but used to wear Seiko divers every day. The comfort and slim profile of the DJ is hard to beat. Mine has a smooth bezel on oyster bracelet, blue dial. I like that combo because it makes it more sporty and doesn't look out of place with anything I wear.

[East of Eden]

Originally Posted by KatGirl

No worries, Kevin. I can see that some folks find the fluted bezel a bit too dressy, or even girly. I just saw a light dial on a guy with fluted and jubilee, and could not help but think it looked feminine. Perfect, for me, though. I think men need darker dials to pull off that combo. The manager of my car dealership has the 41 plain blue dial, fluted on jubilee, and it looks great. He is mostly in a suit, except on Saturday. He still wears it, even with casual dress. I think it’s his first Rolex.

Kat


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I know I’m in the minority but I agree, there’s something feminine when a guy wears a light dial, like the polar 16570 for example. YMMV

[East of Eden]

Originally Posted by Mccall86

I wear a DJ36 nearly every day. I've never owned a sub but used to wear Seiko divers every day. The comfort and slim profile of the DJ is hard to beat. Mine has a smooth bezel on oyster bracelet, blue dial. I like that combo because it makes it more sporty and doesn't look out of place with anything I wear.

That is a great combo

[csaltphoto]

Just depends on your personal style. Lots of people say the sub is too sporty but the chairman of the US Federal Reserve wears one and he's kind of a banker... Never underestimate the usefulness of the timing bezel. I wanted something a little more understated and svelte and went with a 5 digit sub. Wearing it for 5 years every day and still like it. It's been a perfect GADA watch. FWIW, I think it's easier to dress a sub up than a DJ/fluted/jubilee down.

[Krash]

Submariner for me. It’s not even close. But I think lifestyle and where you live are factors. I live in Florida, 8 miles from the beach. I have an outdoor pool that’s open year round.

BTW, I have a Submariner, DJ41 and GMT. But if I could only choose between the Sub and DJ, I’d take the Sub in a heartbeat.


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[GoGetter5832]

Originally Posted by Krash

Submariner for me. It’s not even close. But I think lifestyle and where you live are factors. I live in Florida, 8 miles from the beach. I have an outdoor pool that’s open year round.

BTW, I have a Submariner, DJ41 and GMT. But if I could only choose between the Sub and DJ, I’d take the Sub in a heartbeat.


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I own all three as well and couldn’t agree more. Sub all day!

[sunnygps]

The many combinations of the DJ makes this a harder comparison to a Sub. I prefer GMTs over a Sub. However, I find my blue dial DJ41 in the picture below can easily fit the definition of a GADA watch.

[chaosiwe]

I have both and, if I have to choose-I will go with a Sub

[Kevin of Larchmont]

Originally Posted by csaltphoto

FWIW, I think it's easier to dress a sub up than a DJ/fluted/jubilee down.

This is the fundamental truth right here.

[MYK]

From the title of the thread, this looked a no brainer for me. Submariner. But those photos really make this more difficult. I think I would still vote sub but that Datejust looks absolutely stunning!

[chirojared]

They both are great but for an everyday one watch collection it has to be the Submariner date.

[Benzsiam]

One watch for every occasions, for me it would be TT Datejust with fluted bezel and jubilee bracelet.

Datejust is one of the most popular timepiece in the world.

[thenewguy2023]

I have both and I am in the sub camp. Had it on today for a morning walk, afternoon shopping and dinner at a nice steakhouse. Didn’t miss a beat.

FWIW - do what you like and feels good. No one else cares.

[jb335]

A Sub is always going to be the better GADA between the two.

The Sub can handle everything, while the DJ can handle most.


That said, of course you can GADA either.