Female Rolex Owners: 26 vs 36mm?

[Andad]

My wife chose the 26 and I waited for the 41 (or closer to 39 as it turns out).

[4 Aussies]

My wife's first Rolex was a 37 YM to match my 40 YM, then I got her a 26 DJ MOP dial with diamonds that she preferred and wore for many years. We both decided it was just way too small. She now has this 36 DJ and it's so much easier for her to read the dial.

[Krash]

I just ordered a 31mm Datejust for my wife. I tried to talk her into the 36, but she insisted on the 31.

I think the 36 looks great on her. She has 6.25” wrists and disagrees. She wants the 31.


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[tudk]

Nice to see a thread on womens watches.

IMO 36mm is the perfect size although it does depend on the wrist size.
Many women are now wearing 40/41 mm .
31mm or less harder to read .

[Hardhat]

My wife is petite and has a small wrist. She loves her 36mm datejust. She wouldn’t go any smaller. She wears it daily and I must say, it looks great on her.

[TimeAZ]

Originally Posted by Lew Archer

Almost eight years ago, I decided to buy an Oyster Perpetual for my daughter.

She was 7 at the time.

Of course, the idea was to buy it, put it away and give it to her once she's an adult. Perhaps at age 18...or as a college graduation present or something like that.

I figured it would be cheaper to buy it sooner rather than later. Anyway, I was torn between the 28mm and the 31mm. So, working with the sales associate, I hatched a scheme...

One afternoon, my daughter and I went to the mall. I told her I wanted to drop in at the AD and say hello to everyone. We went into the store and visited with the sales associate, who suddenly asked my daughter her opinion about something. She told my daughter she had a client who couldn't decide between two watches as a gift for a young lady. The sales associate brought out the two OPs...sllver dial with pink markers, one in 28mm, one in 36mm.

My daughter studied the two watches carefully then handed the 28mm back to the sales associate. She held up the 31mm and said,

"This one. The little one looks like an old lady's watch."

The sales associate and I exchanged a look and that settled that. I bought the 31mm. It sits in the safe.

Today, I can only hope she'll like it. She has no interest in watches...no one in her 15 year old circle wears one...but, she does have slender wrists and I think the 31mm will turn out to be well proportioned for her. Perhaps its smaller size (smaller than a 36mm) will appeal to her when I do give her the watch, as it will be less obtrusive, lighter on the wrist, for someone not accustomed to wearing a watch. Hopefully, she will like it.

At least, I'll be able to tell her, "well, you did pick it out!"

What a great story and so funny that she said "the little one looks like an old lady's watch"

It's also really special that she picked out the watch herself during her childhood. Great story.

[Boopie]

On such an expensive purchase that you hopes she wears often, this is another vote for her to go with you and try them on.

I have watches ranging from 26mm to 36mm.

Two are under 30mm. I wore the 29mm ladies’ Yachtmaster daily for 20 years. It was a great size for me, and fit perfectly. I also have my MIL’s 1970s ladies’ President (6917) which is even smaller. As it’s PM, I wear it on special occasions only. It is very classy and elegant, but the dial is really small and it’s hard to read. Although I could wear it every day, as women did back in the day (my MIL wore it for 30 years), it’s just too small for me to read well.

I recently went vintage and got a 1970s Tudor Princess Sub (which has a Rolex Oyster case and Oyster bracelet). It’s about 33mm and fits me perfectly. I like the proportions on my wrist, and I get a kick out of wearing it. Of course Rolex doesn’t make a smaller Sub for women’s wrists (which is why I got my Yachtmaster), but the now-discontinued 35mm mid size YM can be purchased used.

I also have a 34mm AK and a 36mm DJ. Because the current trend is for women wearing larger watches, everyone (husband, kids and friends) says that the 36mm DJ looks best on me. I do love its dial. Because of its proportionately larger size, it has gotten noticed quite a lot, whereas my YM totally flew under the radar. It doesn’t wear as comfortably or as perfectly as my smaller watches, however, because each of its oyster links are larger (I can’t speak to how a 36mm DJ on a jubilee would fit). I have all of the removable links out, and it still doesn’t fit as well as any of my other watches. Even the AK’s slightly smaller size, at 34mm, fits me very well. It also definitely has wrist presence.

So, for me my “sweet spot” for Rolex is in the 31mm-34mm range. I can pull off watches that are larger and smaller than that range. Bracelet fit and dial visibility are all subjective.

Good luck! What a special gift! If the two of you go watch shopping together, no doubt that will be a special moment she’ll always cherish.

[noshake]

Originally Posted by 4 Aussies

My wife's first Rolex was a 37 YM to match my 40 YM, then I got her a 26 DJ MOP dial with diamonds that she preferred and wore for many years. We both decided it was just way too small. She now has this 36 DJ and it's so much easier for her to read the dial.

That's the exact watch I'm waiting on for my wife.

[Lew Archer]

Originally Posted by TimeAZ

What a great story and so funny that she said "the little one looks like an old lady's watch"

It's also really special that she picked out the watch herself during her childhood. Great story.

Thank you! Yes, it was hard to keep a straight face when she made the "old lady's watch" remark. Another neat thing is that I have a 36mm OP, with silver dial, so we will have silver dialed OPs in common...a "father/daughter" pair. It was one reason I chose a silver dial for her watch, but accented with the pink markers, a combination that's since been discontinued.

[Mendota]

Have her try on a few sizes. That's the only way to know for sure. That's what my wife did last year and she liked the 34 the best.

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[ninjin]

There is no right or wrong answer, ultimately depends on her. Some prefer a more ladies fitting watch, some prefer to do the current trend of oversized. Most importantly not all have the same wrist size. My wife wore a 26mm DJ with all screwed links removed and was 'just' small enough to wear ok. AD said any smaller and would need to go back to Rolex to have link removed.

[S7gpt]

had this debate with my wife, went to AD and tried lots on, she then tried the YM 37 and now it never comes off her wrist, small wrists but looks great

[walkman2727]

my sister wears Daytonas only, she has 3 of them, and she bought them many years ago, when AD offers "no tax" discount. I was laughing at her keep buying "same watches", and a "busy" watch with out date :)

[RaZCaL]

My wife has a 6” wrist and wears a 36mm DJ. Doesn’t look oversized and looks great on her.

[Bestdj777]

It's such a personal preference thing that I think you really should get her buy in. My wife is younger but a real power house attorney. She likes something slightly larger on her wrist. 28mm is too small for her. She's tried on my 34mm and 36mm and thought the 36mm was a little big for her. She was comfortable with the 34mm but don't know what she would wear/prefer if she also had a 31mm to try on. She’s all about her apple watch so fortunately we are not in a rush to make a decision at this point.

As an aside, my 3 year old daughter has a 36mm DJ. I am, of course, wearing it for the next 30+ years for her just to make sure it keeps good time :)

[Jarett]

Me 42mm and my lovely wife 34mm :)

[foxytimes]

As a taller girl I wouldn't go under 36mm (and up to 41mm) but imho it depends on individual wrist size and lug-to-lug-size of the watch. Basically the wrist shouldn't be smaller than the lug-to-lug and for a classic and more elegant look a little of the bracelet should be visible seen from above.

If you prefer an oversized look you can choose a dial as wide as your wrist but I prefer the more classic proportions

[AF_Rob]

I've dated women who could swing a 34-36mm, especially vintage models. My wife wears a 26mm (I think, can't find the paperwork and she's flying). She could never swing a 34, as she has very small wrists.

[4 Aussies]

Originally Posted by noshake

That's the exact watch I'm waiting on for my wife.

Awesome dial!!

[GRabens]

I think 31 mm Datejust is the perfect size for a woman with a petite wrist.

[omegawatchlover]

I have a 5.5" wrist last time I checked. With vintage Omega, I got used to 34mm. For Rolex, I prefer the 36 oyster case over 34. I want to be able to read the time and 26 and 28 is just way too small. The explorer 124270 is my daily wearer.

[OrangeSport]

My Mrs has 26, 31 and 40...

I have 34 up to 43...

It’s not such a big del as some people think and there’s more to it than just case width (like dial size, lug to lug and lug width)

[pinkdiamond]

My wrist is 5 and 5/8 inches. My 26 DJ seems a little small; my 34 OP seems a little large. A 28 or a 31 would probably work best for me.

[brandrea]

My wife's first was a 34 mm date. Its large for her 5" wrist, almost oversized, but she loves it



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[bob sims]

Originally Posted by Hardhat

My wife is petite and has a small wrist. She loves her 36mm datejust. She wouldn’t go any smaller. She wears it daily and I must say, it looks great on her.

Wow. When I was growing up in the 60's and 70's only biker chicks would be caught wearing such a large watch. Can't say I ever saw a "lady" with even a 34 and 21 was a lot more common than 31. Have to wonder if some of these "women" aren't potential swimmers for Penn.

[wchbos]

Going against the trend, my wife really prefers the 28. All of her watches except for her Apple Watch are of similar size (Cartier, Chanel).

[Zazzles]

Slightly off topic, but how attainable is a 31mm Date, all steel from an AD these days? Big waitlist or easy enough to purchase within a few weeks?

[noshake]

Originally Posted by Zazzles

Slightly off topic, but how attainable is a 31mm Date, all steel from an AD these days? Big waitlist or easy enough to purchase within a few weeks?

Based on location and AD I bet. I was told no more orders were possible. Their is still a backlog of orders from last year to be fulfilled. You have to purchase what comes in stock from Rolex to the AD.

[Galion]

IMO 31 look nicer on women wrist, not too small/not too big.That’s what my wife has.

[CarlOver]

31 and 34 are options. There is a cool etoile bezel on the 31 or maybe 28. I think 26 is too small for most ladies under the age of 55.