From Rolex: a women’s specific Day-Date(and Daytona)-a precursor??

[GED]

Found in an old Rolex catalog: something I’ve never encountered before-a 36” Day-Date and
a Daytona that are specifically identified by Rolex as women’s models.

These appear in a special supplement to the German-language 2013 main catalog.

All the models depicted here are higher-end all gold-many set with gems. The
catalog is divided into two sections with specifically stated models for men and women.





The woman’s section(“Damenmodelle”)features a 36” Day-Date set with gems
and a jeweled 40mm Daytona:





Whereas the men’s section(“Herrenmodelle”)features 36” Day-Dates on
leather straps and all gold subs, GMTs(including the model set with red, white and blue gems)Sky Dwellers, etc.





The “women’s” Day-Date model might well have been a precursor to Rolex’s marketing strategy of gradually gearing the 36” Day-Date model specifically for women, while the 40mm Day-Date being for men(or women who want larger watches-like the Daytona below).



Rolex current online catalog gives credence to this theory as all but two of the 36” Day-Date offerings are set with gems and quite frankly, those with the diamond set bezels and bracelets may be meant to appeal more to women(only one each of the white and yellow gold models have a plain index dial and this dial is not offered in the rose gold model).

Times are a changing with watch dial sizes-with Rolex following the trend.

I remember a discussion on this forum some months ago about whether a 34” model was too small
for a man.

Here’s Rolex’s answer, from its 1997 catalog:

“Men with smaller wrists, for example, would prefer a slightly smaller diameter watch
(available in a choice of two sizes[31mm and 34mm]), while the same models may also appeal to women
who appreciate a more sporty look”



Examples of the catalog’s 31mm DJs, OPs(interesting how back then Rolex considered a 31mm model, an “intermediate” size and for the most part, these models do not look like Rolex’s line of lady’s watches):