Rolex Datejust 36mm too small for man's wrist?

[Pavlos]

A Rolex is meant to last a lifetime.

What is fashionable today will be tomorrows vintage. For the most part most Rolex hold their value well enough what ever the size.

From my experience I have learned that listening to my own opinion while taking note of other opinions is what makes me happy and contented.

[jurowj]

I have 6 inch wrists, which are basically as small as it gets for a man. Here is my 36mm 116234 and my 114060 sub. The 36mm dj only feels about right with the fluted bezel and jubilee bracelet, it plays much smaller with a domed bezel. However, if you are concerned at all with 36 feeling small, then don't get it. You will constantly second guess whether or not the watch is too small until you get rid of it or get another one.

[Juantxo]

1) In my case, I don't need anyone telling me whether a watch is for a "man" or for a "woman".
2) I wear whatever watch I like regardless what others might think.
3) My wrist is almost 7 3/4" and one of my favorite watches ever is the 36mm DJ.
4) I abhor the new trend of big, gaudy watches.
5) I find the larger DJs unbalanced, weird, even rather vulgar and common.
6) I'm presently wearing a 35mm Patek Ref. 3998 which I like very much.
7) Buy what YOU like.

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by Juantxo

1) In my case, I don't need anyone telling me whether a watch is for a "man" or for a "woman".
2) I wear whatever watch I like regardless what others might think.
3) My wrist is almost 7 3/4" and one of my favorite watches ever is the 36mm DJ.
4) I abhor the new trend of big, gaudy watches.
5) I find the larger DJs unbalanced, weird, even rather vulgar and common.
6) I'm presently wearing a 35mm Patek Ref. 3998 which I like very much.
7) Buy what YOU like.

Well put. I particularly agree with point #4.

I love that Patek too.

[august1410]

Originally Posted by Juantxo

1) In my case, I don't need anyone telling me whether a watch is for a "man" or for a "woman".
2) I wear whatever watch I like regardless what others might think.
3) My wrist is almost 7 3/4" and one of my favorite watches ever is the 36mm DJ.
4) I abhor the new trend of big, gaudy watches.
5) I find the larger DJs unbalanced, weird, even rather vulgar and common.
6) I'm presently wearing a 35mm Patek Ref. 3998 which I like very much.
7) Buy what YOU like.

This, my friends, is the gospel.

[Juantxo]

One point to add to the above, in their rush for manufacturing larger watches, the new DJs with markers thicker than pointers look like poop. Also, the thicker markers make looking at the pointers at a quick glance difficult. But consumerism and the eagerness to make the watch pop on the wrist is a modern malady.

[BubbleDate]

Originally Posted by slcbbrown

I'm really not one to criticize Rolex, much, but I do believe they missed with the 41mm DJ. 38-39mm would have been a much better size.

I agree. 39-40mm would be ideal ala' the Day Date. Perhaps Rolex is testing the waters for a new Datejust with the new 39mm Oyster Perpetual and to some extent the 39mm Explorer. Both seem to be very popular as do it all time-pieces lately.

What baffles me is that Datejust 36 ran for 64 years before we saw the short lived Datejust II in 2009 (R.I.P.) and the 36 is still running. I don't see the need for 41mm Datejusts.

On a side note, I also really don't like how the lugs of Datejust 36mm ref. 116200 etc drop so quickly in comparison to lugs on preceding 36mm references. Sure we still have the 36, but these fast dropping lugs suggests to me the new 36 was primarily designed for women.

[turbineboy]

Originally Posted by mementomori1983

For those having doubts, this would be a perfect time to note that recently-established most expensive Rolex of all time, the Bao Dai, is 36mm:

(Photo credit Hodinkee)


The also recently-established second most expensive Rolex of all time is a mere 1mm wider:

(Photo credit Watch Collecting Lifestyle)


Let that sink in for a moment.

I had no idea such a Rolex existed (Bao Dai). Nice writeup on the link. Thanks for the post.

[schro]

36 mm is my perfect size:

[peterpl]

probably safe to say older gentlemen say > 45 years of age will prefer smaller watches?

Younger men 20 - 40 age I think would prefer the 40mm than the 36mm. I dont have a big wrist like 6.5 inches but when I tried on the 36mm it just felt way too small.

I know more women who wear 36mm than men though.

[Audguy]

id say it depends on the size of your wrist if your wanting something to fill your wrist out abit more look towards a AP

[peterpl]

Originally Posted by Audguy

id say it depends on the size of your wrist if your wanting something to fill your wrist out abit more look towards a AP

If guys dont like anymore larger than 36mm I dont think AP is a good brand to go to especially their ROC and ROO lines. They are huge compared to a simple 36mm DJ.

[NLYogi]

Originally Posted by peterpl

If guys dont like anymore larger than 36mm I dont think AP is a good brand to go to especially their ROC and ROO lines. They are huge compared to a simple 36mm DJ.

At 37 mm there is the a AP RO 15450, it might wear smaller or sit lowe than a Rolex but you have to try it.

[eterna]

Originally Posted by NLYogi

At 37 mm there is the a AP RO 15450, it might wear smaller or sit lowe than a Rolex but you have to try it.

I have 6.5" wrist and I went to try out the 37mm AP 15450. It wears much larger than the 36mm Datejust, more like 39mm due to the lug design.

[Hawaii2017]

Originally Posted by Annan

Depends on your preferences as well as your size. I'm 5'10", weigh 165 and have 7.25" wrists. I think my 36mm DJ looks fine and feels great to me. I do plan to buy a sport watch eventually but it will be a 40mm at most. I'm on the side that thinks anything > 40mm is too big.

Ditto here!!


A Standard Classic Rolex

[GarbanzoNegro]

I have been wearing my 114270 daily for the last 15 years in my 6.75" wrist and feel that a larger watch would not fit me that well, IMO.

Best regards,


Mr. Gonzalez

[GMT Aviator]

Originally Posted by Juantxo

One point to add to the above, in their rush for manufacturing larger watches, the new DJs with markers thicker than pointers look like poop. Also, the thicker markers make looking at the pointers at a quick glance difficult. But consumerism and the eagerness to make the watch pop on the wrist is a modern malady.

I respectfully disagree.

[Calatrava r]

Rolex keeps making 36mm and they make it work, the same way they saved mechanical watches from quartz in the seventies.

[drosen1]

I own a datejust and I consider my wrist to be "medium" not too large but def. not a small wrist.

I think the watch will fit perfectly if your wrist is not huge.

[Pureform]

My wris is small and i think 36 is tiny

[CARRELL]

Great universal recognition on a 36 DJ. My father and uncle are 6'0" and 6'4", 220 and 240 pounds respectively and daily wear 36 DJs. It has never crossed my mind that their watches look smallish. My 36 DJ is my most frequently worn and has never felt small, even in the company of larger watches.

[pickettt]

Are size 9 shoes too small for a man's feet? Is a size 32 pant too small for a man's waist? Is a size 16 neck too small for a man's shirt?

[DavidUK]

Originally Posted by pickettt

Are size 9 shoes too small for a man's feet? Is a size 32 pant too small for a man's waist? Is a size 16 neck too small for a man's shirt?

Size 9 shoes are too small if you have size 11 feet... etc.

I wore DJ36 16233 for 15 years oblivious that fashion was changing.

When I wore a 40mm Sub for two weeks I realized I couldn't go back to 36mm on my 7.5" wrist. It suddenly looked tiny. I had to switch out my beloved TT tapestry dial DJ36 for a DJ41.

DJ36 is now, I'm sure, sold more as a women's watch. Just look at the dial choice and concealed clasp, same as DJ31's.

I would have preferred not to spend the extra £6,000 but the subconscious pressure to go bigger got me.

[peterpl]

Originally Posted by DavidUK

DJ36 is now, I'm sure, sold more as a women's watch. Just look at the dial choice and concealed clasp, same as DJ31's.
.

We can all argue this till the cow comes home. But this is absolutely correct. The 36mm is more targeted as a womens watch these days and its reflective of the dial choices etc...

[pickettt]

Originally Posted by peterpl

The 36mm is more targeted as a womens watch these days and its reflective of the dial choices etc...

Anyway to get hold of sales data? We'd also need to know if the purchase was for the purchaser or if it was a gift.

[peterpl]

Originally Posted by pickettt

Anyway to get hold of sales data? We'd also need to know if the purchase was for the purchaser or if it was a gift.

No need for stats. Just look at these dials - would a man wear these? Maybe if he wanted to get in touch with his feminine side. This is just to start there are huge array of dials for women on the DJ36 series.

[uzona]

In my current collection the Rolexs I have are 1 white DJ41, 1 black DJ41, and 1 39mm rodium Oyster.

Was looking at getting a white gold fluted 36mm steel DJ in either white or silver dial. The AD only had 3 36mmDJs and they were all dark colors. They all looked VERY small on my wrist.

I have about a 6.75 wrist. Does anyone have any pics of a lighter colored DJ36 on the wrist so I can see if it makes it look bigger?

Appreciate whatever anyone has to compare.
There is a big price savings on these compared to the DJ 41 especially with fluted and jubilee band thrown in.

[Iloreyix]

You know - I had in my mind that a 36mm DJ would be great, I loved the - moderately - raised crystal, etc.
I just tried one on in DC and decided it's way too small. I would, myself, go with the 41, or even a DJII.

[pickettt]

Originally Posted by peterpl

No need for stats. Just look at these dials - would a man wear these? Maybe if he wanted to get in touch with his feminine side. This is just to start there are huge array of dials for women on the DJ36 series.

I noticed you didn't paste the whole range there, but rather only the models that fit your narrative.

[peterpl]

Originally Posted by pickettt

I noticed you didn't paste the whole range there, but rather only the models that fit your narrative.

Of course. Theres like 3-4 pages of dials and its the point we are trying to portray. Trying to highlight the huge array of womens dials. Thats only half of them also. There is heaps of women dials probably moreso than neutral/mens dials.