Datejust 36mm or 41mm?

[BeeMee]

Need some advice. I am 82 years old and have decided to downsize my watch collection.

I have gifted my Day-Date and my Daytona to my two sons. I still have my GMT-llC and it is designated to be gifted to my eldest grandson at a later date. I am planning to sell a couple of other non-Rolex watches and purchase two Datejusts for my other two grandsons.

They are young (12 & 14) so the watches will be given to their parents to be held for them until they are old enough to appreciate them. I am trying to decided what size watches to purchase - 36mm or 41mm.

I know that most kids today do not wear watches - they have their phones to tell time. However, as they get older I would hope that they would appreciate watches that they received from their grandfather. If not, they can always sell them.

What size should I buy and why one size vs. the other?

Thanks for your advice.

[Yachtbuoy]

I think that without knowing anything else, you can't go past the 36mm Datejust. It will suit literally anyone and will always be a classic.

[zapokee]

36 mm for me. An all-time classic.

But at 82, you should be the one dispensing advice.

[Richard Carver]

Really can't go wrong with a classic 36mm DJ, it's been around for 75 years and will remain the standard. Oversize watches are a fad, remember the '60s when everyone was trying to make the smallest, thinnest watches?. Even Rolex got on board with the VeriFlat. :) A lovely watch but not well remembered.

Those kids who wore their pants around their knees genuinely believed they were cool. And how many people reading this have scoured the internet deleting pjcs of themselves with pointy haircuts? The last thing you want is for those kids to open those boxes in 20 years and wonder why grandpa left them clown watches.

You'll hear lots of support for the 41 but like 356 Porsches and Eames loungers, classics remain classics for a reason.

[Benzsiam]

I think either one is OK for future.

Actual dimension for DateJust 41 is less than 40mm.

Patek, AP, VC, JLC and ALS dress watches are in 38-40mm so I don't think DateJust 41 is going to be too big for the future.

[cajunron]

How big is their dad? If their dad is of average size or smaller, I would go with the 36mm watch. If dad is on the larger size (6' or taller, over 180#), I would go with the 41 mm watch, in my opinion.

[Tanalasta]

Congratulations on your collection and family :) Many of us would wish for a grandparent like yourself.

Teenagers - it's so hard to read them. Part of me says they may prefer a professional model or explorer. It may depend upon their anticipated wrist size. The 36mm is classic (and my personal preference) but I think this will be a case by case basis. There is no wrong answer here.

[Presa canary]

Beautiful post, you must be a great pop and grand pop. As to the watch size, either or. The only thing that will matter is that it’s from a legend such as yourself.

[TimeAZ]

36mm fluted and jubilee, perfect inheritance piece.

you can also do 41mm smooth bezel plus jubilee.

they should have similar visual impact with those bezel/diameter configurations and both will have the outstanding jubilee bracelet

[MJ EXPLORER]

Barry, I absolutely love your post! This is a really tough call because both watches are great sizes. I'm a big fan of the classic 36mm Date-Just. You just can't go wrong. If you think they're going to grow up to be pretty big guys, then you might consider the 41mm version, which I believe is actually closer to 39mm, or so I've heard.

I know what you mean about young kids and their phones, but I think they will wear the watches you give them their entire lives and will never part with them. How about adding a nice inscription on the case back? That's always a nice touch.

Either way, I really love this post. You sir are a great man and an even better grandfather.

[fskywalker]

36mm for sure!


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[Dr.Smellody]

36mm...

[Jsol]

I’m finding that nostalgia is alive and well with younger folks. So you are making a great choice with the DJ. A true icon. And agree, 36mm is a good universal size.

[Ny325]

36mm.

[StillTrying]

36mm, no matter their size.


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[Sprezzatura!,]

36mm. The classic icon.

[fania123]

36

[winst]

36mm - classic size and will look good on them from a younger age. Oyster bracelet and flat bezel could be more versatile as well.

[Gerardus]

I went over the years from DJ36mm > DJII > DJ41 > DJII recently back to the all time 36mm classic.

[Steven1]

No brainier, 36mm

[robinmgb]

No brainier for me, has to be the DJ41
The 36mm is tiny and a woman’s watch in my opinion, the 41 is hardly oversized, it’s a standard size watch for a man

[zab]

36 mm, classic size. Paul Newman, Color of Money. Enough said.

[PepsiBezel]

I have to disagree with all the 36 recommendations.

1) “It’s the classic size” — does anyone else make a 36mm watch? Not Patek. Not AP. Not Omega. Not Grand Seiko.

2) The watches are for grandkids — who may not be into watches, and may not be into the virtues of classic sizing. It’s a better bet to go with the more contemporary DJ41.

3) DJ41 is closer to 39mm than 41mm. It’s a great design.

Good luck!

[pk552502]

My vote is the 36mm classic size. I don't like the proportions of the larger 41mm size- just doesn't look right to me. On a datejust, I would go with the fluted bezel or engine turned bezel. I never cared for the smooth bezel on a datejust. For bracelet, I like the jubilee on a datejust.

[alphadweller]

Unless you and your son have wrists below 6.5in (and so would probably your grandsons when they're adults), I'd go for DJ41.

[Alvar*]

My opinion: 36 mm rarely looks too small or odd even on a larger wrist whereas 41 mm can look too big on a medium / small wrist. In general watches rarely look too small where as quite often they can look too large.

[Oyster Sauce]

Originally Posted by Yachtbuoy

I think that without knowing anything else, you can't go past the 36mm Datejust. It will suit literally anyone and will always be a classic.

+1

[Gerry62]

only 36 mm for me ...... then oyster jubilee and leather...... all perfect

[samson66]

41 - perfect size at just over 39mm

Younger boys/men may find the 36 so be small and might prefer the larger 41

[NoVaSubowner]

Originally Posted by pk552502

My vote is the 36mm classic size. I don't like the proportions of the larger 41mm size- just doesn't look right to me. On a datejust, I would go with the fluted bezel or engine turned bezel. I never cared for the smooth bezel on a datejust. For bracelet, I like the jubilee on a datejust.

Agree. My problem with the 41 is that while the case is better proportioned than the DJII its still off, and that's because of the dial and bezel size. The dial makes the watch look larger than it actually is.

The proportions on the 36 are just about perfect.