Please help me choose my first Rolex...

[bem3231]

Hi everyone!

I have been looking at Rolexes for the past six or eight months (and lurking around here for the past few), as I am getting one as a gift for my 40th birthday this year. I have had a difficult time deciding between the classic 26mm ladies' datejust and the mid-size 31mm ladies' datejust. Also, while at first I thought that I definitely wanted a two-tone ss/yg with jubilee bracelet, I have recently begun to wonder if down the road I would regret not having gotten an all-gold with president bracelet?

So, I have now narrowed it down to four choices (I think), and am looking for some opinions from aficionados. I could really used some feedback and advice!

The four choices are:

1) 26mm steel and yellow gold datejust, jubilee bracelet, fluted bezel, white mother-of-pearl dial, diamond markers

2) 26mm solid yellow gold datejust, president bracelet, fluted bezel, white mother-of-pearl dial, diamond markers

3) 31mm steel and yellow gold datejust, jubilee bracelet, fluted bezel, white mother-of-pearl dial, diamond markers

4) 31mm solid yellow gold datejust, president bracelet, fluted bezel, white mother-of-pearl dial, diamond markers

I am going to attach photos of each in subsequent posts so that it's easier to tell each one apart. For reference, attached below are a couple of photos for comparison sake.

Note that in the photo of the four watches these are not all exactly as described above, as the 26mm two tone has a diamond bezel (which I don't love) and the 26mm president has a meteorite dial, however for general comparison sake I thought that a side-by-side photo might prove helpful.

Also please note that in the photo of me wearing a 26mm on one wrist and a 31mm on the other the watches featured have a gold rather than white mop dial, however again for comparison sake I thought that it would be helpful to see the exact same watch in both sizes side-by-side.


Some of the questions that are making a decision difficult for me include: Is the 26mm ladies' size too 'dated' in this era of large watches for women? Is the 31mm size too 'trendy'? Will the 26mm size be difficult to read, now and / or in the future as I get older? Is the all-gold with president bracelet too 'flashy'? If I opt for two-tone rather than all-gold, will I regret not having gotten the all-gold down the line (I really love the president bracelet!)?

I have had a friend (who just happens to work for Rolex in Geneva) suggest that I should either go with a 26mm or go up to a 36mm - she said that the 31mm didn't look 'right' on me. However, I tried on a 36mm and it really looked like I was wearing a man's watch. I want something that is classic enough that I can enjoy it for years to come.

For reference sake, I will include a bit of information on my lifestyle... I'm 39 years old (soon to be 40), 5'9", and have a two-year old daughter. I work part-time from home and am completing my PhD, so I don't spend a lot of time in boardrooms anymore, however I am used to wearing a fair bit of bling on a daily basis. I would plan to wear my new Rolex daily, or almost daily.

Thank you everyone for taking the time to read this and to share your opinions - they are valued and much appreciated!



PS - Apologies that some of my photos are sideways - I'm working off of a computer that is not mine and don't feel comfortable monkeying with the photo editor program too much. Also, apologies for the blurry photos - I have had to rely on SA's snapping pics with my phone, or taking awkward one-handed shots - so I haven't been able to be too picky with the photo quality!