Datejust 41 as a "one watch to rule them all"

[Speedy2254]

I've been an Omegan for years but I have a big birthday coming up & Rolex has been on my mind.
By way of research I've tried a Hulk & a no date sub. I wanted to like them both but neither "spoke" to me - that's the third time a Sub has left me cold. I tried a Polar Bear Explorer & that didn't work for me. I tried a Rootbeer & quite liked it but right out of left field was a Datejust 41, Oyster bracelet & smooth bezel - really liked it!
I guess my question for Datejust owners is this; is it the watch I think it could be - utterly reliable, looks good with everything, smart or casual, doesn't scream "ROLEX" loudly enough to attract muggers in the next county, in short, could it be the "one watch"?
In your own time, go on...

[optix]

Oyster braclet......

Most people notice a rolex at first because of that, not the model or the cyclops




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[Omegamanic]

Could easily be an only watch, and is for most DJ owners.

I could use my DJ2 for anything and would be more than happy with it as an only watch if it came down to it. It feels bullet proof and looks sensational to me.

[paskinner]

Well yes, Tiny, but then it wouldn’t be a Datejust.

[Tiny]

Well yes, Tiny, but then it wouldn’t be a Datejust.

That's true!

[verv]

I think they're fine for a one watch. Loads of comments about size but they wear smaller than the 40mm subs/gmts etc so I don't really know what thats all about.

[beechcustom]

I think they're fine for a one watch. Loads of comments about size but they wear smaller than the 40mm subs/gmts etc so I don't really know what thats all about.

The thick sports bezels on subs and gmts seem to reduce the size down to a wearable size. The bezel on the DJ41 (smooth or fluted) seems to do the exact opposite. I regularly wear a GMT2c but when I tried the DJ41 on it was too big. Just my opinion but it is based on having spent time wearing both watches.

[tz-uk73]

I’d agree this is probably a near to perfect all rounder watch.

[Tiny]

Well yes, Tiny, but then it wouldn’t be a Datejust.

That's true!

Just realised that for symmetry, the Explorer 1 ticks all the boxes for me. Having a date on a watch isn't my priority. My apologies for the thread drift. I'll bail out now!

[Tom-P]

Just realised that for symmetry, the Explorer 1 ticks all the boxes for me. Having a date on a watch isn't my priority. My apologies for the thread drift. I'll bail out now!

(Worth also considering the OP39 I'd have thought.)

[lughugger]

(Worth also considering the OP39 I'd have thought.)

I would if they dropped the stupid dots...


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[Itsguy]

When I wear older model DJs (36mm oyster bracelet and smooth bezel 16000 or else an Oysterquartz 17000) they tend to stay on my wrist longer than any other watches. There’s just very little reason to change to anything else, they go with everything and are just kind of faultless. The 41 is a pretty good upsized modern take on the same theme and would probably work the same way. Though if buying new I’d also be tempted by the new dial 36mm DJs launched at Baselworld, or the black / white dialled Oyster Perpetual 39s. The black dial strikes me as a very plausible ‘one watch’.

[Speedy2254]

I have a 7.75" wrist so the 36mm would be a bit small but I take the point of a DJ working in most contexts. I'm a bit surprised that the Oyster bracelet is a bigger giveaway than the Cyclops but I can see how it might be.
Interestingly, nobody's yet said that the DJ is NOT the watch for all seasons.

[daggartuk]

Have owned a GMTc but for some reason I never bonded with it so sold it on - weird but I think I knew from the onset that it wasn't a keeper.

My wife has just retired and suprised me last week with a DJ 41, smooth bezel, oyster bracelet with black sunburst dial and I can honestly say I'm smitten. Whether that's because it is a special gift I can't be sure - I think though, it's because it encapsulates how a watch ought to look - three hands, date at 3 o'clock and a simplicity which harks back to 'learning to tell the time' clocks.

Yes, for me, it could easily be an 'only' watch.

[ryanb741]

I had a DJ41 with WG fluted bezel. Nice watch but at that price point the stuff from Grand Seiko and Jaeger Le Coultre is in a different stratosphere from a fit and finish perspective (plus the DJ doesn't have quite the bulletproof residuals as the SS Sport range) so it quickly went.

[paskinner]

I had a DJ41 with WG fluted bezel. Nice watch but at that price point the stuff from Grand Seiko and Jaeger Le Coultre is in a different stratosphere from a fit and finish perspective (plus the DJ doesn't have quite the bulletproof residuals as the SS Sport range) so it quickly went.

‘A different stratosphere’? I think not. It’s a beautifully made watch, and an outstanding candidate as an only watch. It would probably be my choice, with the smooth bezel.
And as for fit and finish. Compare a Jubilee bracelet with any bracelet from GS. No contest. And the Rolex will be more robust and reliable than any JLC. In the real world, that matters.
As for the Milgauss, I did live with that as an only watch for two years. Great design and a future classic, I think.
Personally, I find both the DJ41 and the Milgauss more interesting watches than the ‘sports’ models, without all the tiresome baggage.

[beechcustom]

IMO the DJ41 does scream 'Rolex' because it's absolutely massive and is far too big for most wrists. I would think the 36mm would be the best option for anyone wishing to fly 'under the radar' although no DJ could ever be considered bland. As stated, the new ss 36mm comes with new movement too. Bonus!

[Omegamanic]

IMO the DJ41 does scream 'Rolex' because it's absolutely massive and is far too big for most wrists. I would think the 36mm would be the best option for anyone wishing to fly 'under the radar' although no DJ could ever be considered bland. As stated, the new ss 36mm comes with new movement too. Bonus!

It’s far from massive in DJ41, and a lot smaller than the Subs and GMT's and even the DJ2.

The 36mm was just a little too small for a lot of potential buyers, and thankfully Rolex have now addressed that in their current line up.

I'm wearing my blue dial DJ2 today. It's all the watch I would ever really need.

[beechcustom]

It’s far from massive in DJ41, and a lot smaller than the Subs and GMT's and even the DJ2.

The 36mm was just a little too small for a lot of potential buyers, and thankfully Rolex have now addressed that in their current line up.

I'm wearing my blue dial DJ2 today. It's all the watch I would ever really need.

I tried the 41mm on and it was far too big for my 7.25inch wrists. 36mm however was perfect in a DJ. Subs and GMTs wear MUCH smaller than the DJ41 due to their sports bezel. I regularly wear a GMT2c but would not entertain a DJ41 (or DJ2 obviously).

[Dave+63]

It’s often seen as an old man’s watch but:....

We’re all getting older so our tastes are probably moving towards DJs (obviously we’re all at different points along that path), and...

Older is in so many ways wiser which must tell us something about the DJ.

My brother has a 36mm DJ which he loves but I find a little small so I’d probably go along the OP39 or explorer route.

[Itsguy]

There’s not much use worrying about the size as it will suit some people perfectly while others will prefer the classic 36mm. In the photo posted a little earlier on this thread it looks spot on. When I tried it, less so, and I’d be better off with the 36.

But the proportions are another matter. The 41 keeps things closer to the original than the DJII, but other upsized Rolex sports can lose some of the charm in the process. At the risk of bringing up GS in a Rolex thread, I notice that GS managed to offer a 40mm version of their 37mm 9F (the SBGV223), and it looks more or less identical. In photos you’d be hard pressed to know it was a different watch (and it’s also amazingly wearable in a slim wrist, due to the curved lugs). It’s a pity Rolex can’t seem to manage the same trick. Though as mentioned, this isn’t particularly directed at the DJ41, which manages it better than most, but even then I think the vintage design pretty much nailed the proportions and a slightly larger version should have been possible without losing that.

[Mad14]

I have the 36mm 116234 and it could certainly be my only watch, looks good with almost anything.


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[speedypro1111]

Not exactly what your talking about but I’m smitten by the Milgauss,smooth bezel and oyster bracelet
I could easily live with this as my only watch

[shoppy]

I have a Milgauss that I love as well as DJ41, the Milgauss out of the two stands out for me. However my daily wear for the last few weeks has been my black daytona with my z blue in the evenings.

[mitch1956]

well being old anyway I can vouch for any datejusts with smooth bezels being understated and a go with anything/ anywhere watch ( with may be a dive suit being a exception:-) ) so much so I have two ,a DJ2 white on oyster , and a DJ41 rhodium on a jubilee , and neither are 36 mm and neither look too big on my 7 3/4 inch wrists .

[Speedy2254]

well being old anyway I can vouch for any datejusts with smooth bezels being understated and a go with anything/ anywhere watch ( with may be a dive suit being a exception:-) ) so much so I have two ,a DJ2 white on oyster , and a DJ41 rhodium on a jubilee , and neither are 36 mm and neither look too big on my 7 3/4 inch wrists .

I'm looking at a rhodium or a blue dial model. My wrist is 7.75" & my other 2 watches are 41mm (Seamaster 2254) & 42mm (Speedy Pro), so I reckon the sizing is about right for me. I tried one & it felt fine, though (obviously I guess) a little light after the other two. Having a dive watch & a chronograph, the DJ41 really feels like the way to go.

[paskinner]

I agree that the 40mm quartz GS is a lovely watch. But it’s part of the classic range which has stuck reasonably faithfully to the sixties design. Rolex are less ‘purist’, but the market seems to like that.
I still think the 37mm quartz GS is pretty close to a perfect design. Sadly, my lady grabbed mine. Anyway, back to the Datejust....which is also one of the ‘greats’ to my taste. But here’s the 37mm GS as a contrast.
and DJ. I do like the cleaner dial of the GS, the absence of too much writing. Ideally, I’d like the DJ with just the Rolex symbol. Fat chance.

[paskinner]

Rhodium is my favourite.
Or


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[Speedy2254]

Rhodium is my favourite.
Or


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I love the rhodium but the blue looks good in the metal as well...

[Tiny]

Rhodium is my favourite.

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This is rather nice. Smooth bezel much nicer. Would look even better without a cyclops and if they made a dial with a round date window at the 6 position. Symmetry is everything with a watch dial.

[valleywatch]

Ive wanted a datejust for a while now.

Reading threads on here, it seems to suggest to opt for the 36 one.

I tried on both the 36mm and 41m in Heathrow in January.

Im glad I did, as I found the 36mm way too small wearing for my liking on my wrist...the 41mm also I found wore small on my wrist.

I was a bit dissapointed ...but glad I tried them on!


Everybody has different preferences for watch sizes etc..."personally" though, for me...they both wore small on my wrist..

I dont have a big wrist either! Im about 18cm wrist.

[Itsguy]

On the sizing and proportions, while I much prefer the original size personally, it will all depend on your individual build, height, wrist size and taste. But also, how far away you are from the watch. In common with many modern watches, the 41 is designed to look right from a couple of meters away, even on a slim wrist. I was quite surprised by how it worked, standing some distance from a full length mirror, even with a 6.5” wrist that could only just about manage it close up. It seems modern watches are designed to be viewed by others, while older watches are for ourselves. Personally - and sorry to say this yet again but I can’t help it - I wish they’d stopped at 38mm and kept the proportions relatively true to the original. There’s a lot of bezel on the DJ41 (and a lot of case and dial on the OP39). But inevitably some just need something larger. I’m always looking for the non-existent midsize.

[Itsguy]

(Worth also considering the OP39 I'd have thought.)

I would if they dropped the stupid dots...

If you mean the coloured minute markers, they already have - take a look at the classic and clean black and white dial versions. The only issue is that they need a reasonably large wrist and I’ve seen many a wrist shot where it looked a touch oversized.

[lughugger]

If you mean the coloured minute markers, they already have - take a look at the classic and clean black and white dial versions. The only issue is that they need a reasonably large wrist and I’ve seen many a wrist shot where it looked a touch oversized.

Both black and white have negative dots on the dial.


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[Itsguy]

Both black and white have negative dots on the dial.

We’ll have to agree to disagree then, each to his own. I wasn’t a big fan of the coloured dots on the old models, particularly putting clashing green five minute markers on a blue dial, but for me the black and white dial OP39s completely nail it and are the best release in years. In fact they might just be my favourite Rolex from the whole collection - assuming you have a wrist large enough for them to sit right and not look oversized and shouty, which sadly I don’t.

[Tom-P]

I wasn’t a big fan of the coloured dots on the old models, particularly putting clashing green five minute markers on a blue dial, but for me the black and white dial OP39s completely nail it and are the best release in years. In fact they might just be my favourite Rolex from the whole collection

Agree. I don't generally think outside the sports-watch box myself, but I think the black/white OP39s are just outstanding and I'm always a bit surprised they don't get more of a mention on here, though that's probably because many others share the sports-bias. Or perhaps the OPs suffer from being thought of as an 'entry-level watch' (to me it's simply a bonus if a watch I happen to like is cheaper than one I don't...).

And we're not alone:

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/th...nd-black-dials

https://www.ablogtowatch.com/rolex-o...ual-39-114300/

https://timeandtidewatches.com/hands...e-black-dials/

[paskinner]

It could well be true that current Rolexes are intended to be ‘seen’ by others; the strongest example would be the coloured bezel versions. The GMTs, Hulk and so on just shout ‘Rolex’ in an unmistakable way.
Mind you, even in the 50s, a yellow gold DayDate was intended to be very obvious.

[ratty_uk2011]

DJ41 | smooth bezel | Oyster | blue dial is my work and smart casual goto watch.

Ticks all the boxes for me.

[cyrusir]

im currently contemplating one

already have a hulk and a std gmt2c,

i think blue dial, but unsure if fluted bezel is worth the premium.......

[Gunnersaurus]

im currently contemplating one

already have a hulk and a std gmt2c,

i think blue dial, but unsure if fluted bezel is worth the premium.......

I actually prefer the smooth

[cyrusir]

and then im thinking i should go for a jubilee bracelet as i have two oysters already

but is the jubilee better with the fluted bezel??

[Speedy2254]

DJ41 | smooth bezel | Oyster | blue dial is my work and smart casual goto watch.

Ticks all the boxes for me.

What he said - though rhodium is really nice too. Definitely smooth bezel & Oyster bracelet though...

[Wallasey Runner]

I had the blue dial 41 with smooth bezel and Jubilee bracelet. Size wise it was perfect for my 7:25" wrist, but you post a pic on here and all you get is it looks better fluted, it looks better on Oyster, it looks better in 36mm. I thought thanks guys and sold it. That was my exit from Rolex.

[Mick P]

I think we get over fixated by size.

If you take a look around you, you will soon notice that 36mm is still larger than the average watch on the average wrist.

[Scrubnut]

I have a 7.5” wrist and all my DJs are 36mm. I think they look spot on.

[Omegamanic]

I think we get over fixated by size.

If you take a look around you, you will soon notice that 36mm is still larger than the average watch on the average wrist.

Er, it's not when I look around the various offices I am working in... Unless we are also including the women's watches, but even some of those are 36mm and above on the wrists around these parts.

[manganr]

I own the smooth bezel 41, black on oyster and whilst I don't think I'll ever be a one watch guy it's certainly my go to Rolex now. It's so much more versatile than the sports range and mine is a keeper....probably.

[Mick P]

Er, it's not when I look around the various offices I am working in... Unless we are also including the women's watches, but even some of those are 36mm and above on the wrists around these parts.

Try going out into the streets where you get a better representation. You see the odd saucer but 36mm is still a decent size. Certainly not small.

[trident-7]

41mm too big in my opinion. I'd go for the 36mm for my 6.75" wrists.

[robbie]

I had the blue dial 41 with smooth bezel and Jubilee bracelet. Size wise it was perfect for my 7:25" wrist, but you post a pic on here and all you get is it looks better fluted, it looks better on Oyster, it looks better in 36mm. I thought thanks guys and sold it. That was my exit from Rolex.

Yes and I now have this one; thank you Ken. It’s the only Rolex that has a chance of being a keeper for me. After subs date and nd sea dwellers gmt2s and even Daytonas all briefly enjoyed and then moved on I now have settled on Ginault as my sports Rolex substitute.
The 41mm DJ is perfect for my 7.5” wrist; I love the smooth bezel and the Jubilee bracelet is a tour de force.
OP you will not regret your DJ41 purchase if you go ahead.


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