Day-Date II and DSSD, My Thoughts

[rpryan55]

I was at my favorite AD today. He had the DD II AND the DSSD. I tried them both on.

They are huge. The DSSD is far too large, too thick, for me to wear comfortably or for anyone to wear with a long sleeved shirt. My salesman (who wears a 34mm Patek) said, "That, sir, is a watch for a college kid."

Tried on the DD II - and, let's be clear here, I own a YG DD, so I may be prejudiced. But I thought that the DD II was also too large - and by that I mean that the case was too large for the bracelet. I also thought that the bracelet, which is one of the eye-catching features of the original DD, was dwarfed and made insignificant by the large case.

I was told by the owner of the store that the DSSD was selling (they got in 13, 10 were sold - all to younger customers) and that the DD II was mostly selling to their clientele of football and basketball players, when it sold at all. But he told me the DD was still outselling the DD II by at least 3 to one.

This was the first I'd seen of these models, so I was a bit disappointed. All in all, I walked out entirely unimpressed with the DSSD and with the DD II. Pity. Wife says I can buy any watch I want........

[chicagowatchman]

I second your post!

I said it before these new "Supersized" watches are aweful......HOWEVER you made an EXCELENT point......For larger guys like pro sport players and rappers they probably work....But it's a shame that Rolex is trying to go "trendy" with larger cases....i agree then come up with a new bracelet that maybe is larger links that are in scale with the new larger size.

I will say it again...I wish Rolex would re introduce vintage dials and hands for the current size cases.... this seem s to go with there tradition....They are now trying to change there classic RL Polo Look to PRADA style and it's a damn shame.

[cody p]

i'm with you guys as well. bigger is not better.

[daytona1]

I really liked the DDII when I tried it on. It is a big chunk of gold but I dont think I can $wing it.

[casadecamporolex]

Just in the past few years, our beloved Rolex has raised the price of all watches significantly. They have retired classic, timeless styles and replaced them with designs I find way to trendy, over-bearing and way too expensive.
They continue to pursue a path away from the one that got the brand originally traveled.....very difficult to attempt, even in the best of times.
As the company was "mis-managing" itself, it was loading up the ADs.
I would say that the combination of all these aspects happening simultaneously is not good for anyone.
Hated the DDII and DSSD, also. And I am normally a "lay-down" for a new Rolex.

[adr]

It's about match & patch. Yesterday I tried on the Daytona, it's fits all my occasion. Hungry for one soon. hehehe
Unless travel to urban area, Explorer I the choice.
The Omega Speedy (50th Anv patch), taste good.
Will go preowned, as advised by John.

DeepSea is the party & clubbing watch, the new generation of sporty series.

[Yume-sama]

Yeah, I have been told that it is mainly younger Asian guys buying the DSSD at my AD (more Asians than usual, I guess, considering Vancouver could be confused for Hong Kong on a lot of streets). I can definitely see that, though, Japan in particular seems to be in a bit of a "big watch" craze. As for DDII... I really don't know who is buying that. I guess some people...

[gone-rolex-mad]

DDII looks nasty, I have a DD and the SD 4000 and find the originals much better proportioned than the new fatties!

[SS Oyster]

I tried on a DDII in RG and thought it looked great. I prefer the 41mm over the 36mm, but that's just a preference.

Doesn't matter anyway since I'm not in a po$ition to buy one anytime soon.

[chicagowatchman]

Originally Posted by gone-rolex-mad

DDII looks nasty, I have a DD and the SD 4000 and find the originals much better proportioned than the new fatties!

[tomc1944]

I have a DSSD and I'm 65 years old. I love the watch and would not have bought a new Rolex if the DSSD had not come along. If they are selling to the younger crowd and people like me than I say Rolex marketing has done an excellant job of reaching a new market. People on Rolex forums are not the market Rolex is trying to reach. If they were they would still be producing the bubblebacks.

[billyvesh]

I agree with Tom the larger watches will keep Rolex competitive in the future after wearing the DSSD and the Yachtmaster II, I could not wear a day date.

[rpryan55]

Originally Posted by tomc1944

I have a DSSD and I'm 65 years old. I love the watch and would not have bought a new Rolex if the DSSD had not come along. If they are selling to the younger crowd and people like me than I say Rolex marketing has done an excellant job of reaching a new market. People on Rolex forums are not the market Rolex is trying to reach. If they were they would still be producing the bubblebacks.

Originally Posted by billyvesh

I agree with Tom the larger watches will keep Rolex competitive in the future after wearing the DSSD and the Yachtmaster II, I could not wear a day date.

This pretty much the point of this thread - my opinions are hardly the final word in fashion, or watches. The DDII has many fans, as does the DSSD. And I didn't even mention the finish on both models - they were superb, almost beyond what you'd expect in Rolex. Still, they seem awfully large to me....but that's just me.

[bodybump]

Originally Posted by cody p

i'm with you guys as well. bigger is not better.

well not all the time cody...if you know what i mean

[newrolexman]

From the pictures I have seen I am not moved by the DD2

Maybe I am a bit biased but the bezel is too big and the watch looks awkward. I ll see one in person why my AD gets his shipment.

For now I ll stick with the YG DD which to me is a beauty.

D

[SUPERDOC]

Did everyone else miss something, or is it just me and my hopeless optimism...the only message I really took home from Dick's original post is that his wife said he could have ANY WATCH HE WANTED!!!!


I agree about the DDII, and the DSSD appeals to certain tastes...but I am sure we can help....if you have a dd YG then you've reached the top of the rolex food chain as far as I'm concerned, but I'm sure we can find you a watch...how about the WG or YG subs? Come on Dick, let us live vicariously through you!!!!

[Watch Fan]

I'm with Tom. I also bought a DSSD and wear it every day. I'm 57 and I love the watch. It isn't my only Rolex, but certainly gets its share of wrist time. Just another opinion, it's not just the young guys who like this watch.

[moby33]

Originally Posted by rpryan55

Wife says I can buy any watch I want........

What a glorious statement!!! My wife says the same thing...only difference is I have to sell enough 'old' watches to fund the new purchases these days!

And personally, I don't care if young punks, old farts, rappers, ball players, cats, dogs, ects are buying the DSSD...I like it and I'm going to get one soon enough regardless. I actually like that fact that so many seem to hate it and state how they would never wear it...I prefer to not see the watch I'm wearing on every Joe Plummer out there. Cheers.

[VtailFlyer]

The emerging trend in watches now is the smaller, classic look. The big watch trend is waning. Rolex, like any other large company is very lethargic and slow to add new products, thusly, they are late to the big watch party.

This lethargy has saved them in the past from making rash decisions based on short term fads. Unfortunately this wont be the case this time.

Big watches will be right there next to swing music and poker tournaments on the ash heap of trend history.

The DDII will be seen as the watch of choice for the Nouveau Riche where the DD et al will be seen as the timeless classic.

[Quicksilver]

Originally Posted by VtailFlyer

The emerging trend in watches now is the smaller, classic look. The big watch trend is waning. Rolex, like any other large company is very lethargic and slow to add new products, thusly, they are late to the big watch party.

This lethargy has saved them in the past from making rash decisions based on short term fads. Unfortunately this wont be the case this time.

Big watches will be right there next to swing music and poker tournaments on the ash heap of trend history.

I have to agree with this. 36-40mm is plenty large enough for any watch. A DD/ DJ should be 36 mm. The DD II is full of padding to make it larger and the DSSD is obsenely large for my average sized wrist.

[AJF]

It might be interesting to know whether the world economic downturn signals a return to the smaller more conservative sized watch cases.

In comparison to others, Rolex have traditionally always been fairly slow in making big changes to their lineup. Prehaps they have misread where the market as a whole will go over the next few years.

Just a thought!

AJF.

[davidwatts]

Well they're not for me and I think it's fair to say we have a topic which has polarised TRF so I'm not going there.

Other than to say...

Some people can carry off Deep seas not me - great hockey puck though.
DD 2s - Well you need to be Mr T to pull this one off.

If I had a large wrist or a big desire to be noticed I'd look at them.

I think Rolex should have put more effort into designing these watches from scratch and distancing them from the current range. It seems like the current favorites are "evolving" into bigger watches and that's what worries me.

[wristworks]

The DeepSea looks fine on my wrist as do Omega, Breitling, IWC, and Pam and I have average wists.

[Trurolexer]

Day-Date 36!!!

SDDS 40!!!

[DS/B MINI S]

Originally Posted by wristworks

The DeepSea looks fine on my wrist as do Omega, Breitling, IWC, and Pam and I have average wists.

Agreed