Are Ladies Size 26mm Rolex Watches old school?

[911Turbo]

Hello There.
I recently purchased a Datejust for my wife. When we started looking at all of the different varieties of styles and sizes, my wife immediately hated the 26mm Ladies version and gravitated toward the larger 36mm "Mens" version. Even the 31mm Mid-size was more appealing to her but still too small. Looks like the trend is for ladies to wear a more substantial size watch. Not only is it easier to read the time, the 26mm looks dainty and old.

After doing some shopping around, it seems as if dealers were very motivated to sell the 26mm and 31mm watches. I'm guessing this is not good for resale or future value of these models. What are your thoughts?

[vladi123456]

My wife has a 36 DJ, and we both think she could go up in size - something like a 38mm Daytona might look good

[Abdullah71601]

My wife hated the 26mm. She said they were "old lady" watches. My wife is in her 50's, so that's saying something. The 31 is pretty good, but the missus really liked 34mm.

[douglasf13]

It just depends on the person. Women wear bracelets from very thin to huge, so there's a lot of flexibility there (especially now that Michael Kors and The Real
Housewives have made big watches fashionable to women.)

My wife is an artist who rarely wears jewelry, and she wears a 30mm Aqua Terra on a leather RAF strap. She couldn't stand anything bigger, and she's 5'8". I think small watches may be starting to become popular again to the younger, more hipster-y crowd.

[kwinky]

My wife is very happy with her 26mm watch. The mid sizes, at least where I live, command a premium due to scarcity as many were sold to men originally and are now seen as an acceptable alternative for women. I always buy what I like regardless of future resale. I don't intend to ever sell a watch I currently own.

[droptopman]

My wife wears 34-36mm. Her 26mm has not seen the wrist for many years now. Resale is poor on these. So bad I didn't trade hers in on her new one.
Hoping they make a comeback...lol

[epc2]

My wife wears a 34 mm date and I think is the perfect size for her.

[ag986]

My wife has small wrists and tried to like the 31mm but couldn't quite get there. She added a 29mm Pearlmaster but still likes her 26mm Datejust.

She tried on my 36mm Datejust and it looked like socks on a rooster.

[jfp2476]

I recently got an OP 34, and I was surprised that I thought the 36 was too big when I tried it on (I think the 34 wears large).

I'm in my early 40's and I've historically worn larger watches (36-38) so the 26's looked microscopic and incredibly dainty to me.

At the same time I'm not into the look of large watches (40+) for myself, which is a shame as I like the styling on a lot of the larger offerings.

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[CLTRolex]

26 mm = Old lady watch x1000

[amh]

Depends on the lady. I think the 26mm looks great on petite women! The new 28mm is a worthy successor, the large watch trend won't last forever.

[jfp2476]

And of course, to see how drastically times change, here are two lovely examples of watches inherited from my paternal grandmother (sorry for terrible pics). The WG Hamilton is 11.4mm, and the YG Bulova is 16.5mm. I had them both serviced but honestly I never wear them.

26mm would have probably been a monstrosity back then.






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[gossbeau]

I bought my wife a two tone date just with that size so everyone please watch what you are saying!!

[ElGancho]

My wife rocks a 26 DJ every day. It's the one thing she won't leave the house without. She tried on larger sizes and always came back to the 26, and she's only a couple years older than how many mm the case size is. Wear whatever you like is what it comes down to.

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by gossbeau

I bought my wife a two tone date just with that size so everyone please watch what you are saying!!

Just keep her away from this thread.

[douglasf13]

It just depends on the person. For every Victoria Beckham...



...there is a Minka Kelly.

[AnnemarieGirl]

26mm-36mm are too small for me and not my preference anyway. I wear and like larger size watches, always have. Completely up to the individual though. AM.

[EDL7]

I think the smaller watches look sexier..on the ladies..cheaper too...lol..

[tifosi]

My wife loves her 26mm DJ. She isn't an old lady by any stretch of the imagination, either. haha

[BristolCavendish]

Both sizes look good IMHO. The classic 26mm has a dressier appearance while the 34mm+ sizes seem a bit more casual and sporty. Maybe a good idea to have both.

As with men's watches, one's actual wrist size has a lot to do with how well the larger case diameters will look on a woman's (or anyone's) wrist. Perhaps the key is to avoid an over-exaggerated watch size that detracts from the person's natural presence/appearance.

[Kevan]

You lot will be getting sick of these shots.... my daughter above always preferred a GMT, however, this christmas, went to the small DJ. My wife however, wears either the SDC or full size DJ.

Neither I would dare describe as "Old" school.

[Mick P]

Chaps

Men are dull and boring and will in this the year of 2017 stick with something standard and routine of around 40mm give or take a mm or two. All very predictable you will no doubt agree.

Women on the other hand are far more experimental and can go from a 26mm to a 40mm overnight and back again the very next day. Therefore it is all but impossible to categorise womens fashion.

My wife wears a 31mm YG Rolex and also my Daytona when the mood takes her.

I can hardly imagine a man wearing a Daytona one day and a 31mm watch the next. Men are boring.

Regards

Mick

[BristolCavendish]

Originally Posted by Mick P

Women on the other hand are far more experimental and can go from a 26mm to a 40mm overnight and back again the very next day. Therefore it is all but impossible to categorise womens fashion.

Excellent point but on the other hand, why is it that these pics of women wearing +26mm sizes seem to have a certain air of 'arrogance' about them?

Now I could care less about who wears what (as it's no money out of my pocket) but on the other hand, their facial appearances seem to speak volumes (as in superficial). Fortunately I am not married to one of these types as I probably couldn't afford to. Mrs. BC wears a woman's sized TT Santos and fortunately, that is OK with her as there are far more pressing issues/concerns to deal with (i.e. her career, child-rearing responsibilities, long-term financial perspectives etc.).

As per my earlier post in this thread, all Rolex sizes look good regardless of who's wearing them. Just use good taste and don't get carried away with appearances.

[Spoonage]

My wife has a few watches verying in size from 31mm to 41mm... She wears her Tudor Ranger and DJ 36mm the most (when she weras a watch).

[polaris72]

My wife enjoys her 31mm OP, she tried the 34mm, but it was too big for her taste. She does however enjoy 36mm Breitling. I guess it all depends what kind of a watch it is and the dial/bezel/shape ratio.

[Maiden]

I let my wife have her pick and she chose a 26mm. Works for her and works for me.

[Chewbacca]

its a personal choice but fwiw, women are more fashion-forward. if larger watches are 'in', then that's all that matters.

i will say this however, if i were a lady -- scratch that, if i were a female (i would never qualify as a lady ) i'd have a great 26mm rolex collection at a fraction the cost of my current one.

[douglasf13]

My wife is a lot cooler than me, and she wears this 29mm Omega on a leather strap from Form Function Form. Granted, the relatively big dial on this makes it wear about the same as a 31mm Rolex.

[Hpozzuoli]

My wife has a 26 DJ. She wears ito once a week usually. I kinda like it on her, but I do prefer her larger pieces.

[Shamorai]

Women are lucky in that they can wear any size they want. My wife recently picked out a 26mm OP. She previously wore a full size G-Shock.
I see many young women with small watches. They are definitely not old lady watches. Open your eyes and look around.