5 Things to Know Before Buying a Rolex Datejust 

36mm or 41mm? Steel or two-tone? Oyster or jubilee? Smooth or fluted?

I have a modern 36mm dj on jubilee. Every time I wear it I consider selling the rest of my watches as it is really the only watch I want/need. I’m not ready to be a 1-watch person, but if I had to sell all but 1 today… I’d keep the DJ.

I just realized that I have had my Datejust for 38 years. I’m 58. It’s a lovely piece 🫡

The Aqua Terra is a perfect alternative!

One thing that’s rarely mentioned when deciding between plain bezel+ oyster or fluted bezel + jubilee is that the fluted bezel and the jubilee links dont make scratches far less prominent than their smooth/oyster counterparts.

I bought my 1st date just Rolex back in 2005 (100th anniversary Rolex), 41mm, two-tone, jubilee, fluted, blue dial, great watch still wearing it today, 20 years now still loving it, people still compliment how it looks,

Hey, excellent video! Thanks for the great content 👏👏👏

Very useful, thanks.

Educational! Muchas gracias.

I have the palm. I loved it since day 1. I never understood why people didn’t like it. It’s awesome.

My first (and probably only) Rolex is my 2022 Datejust 41 in two tone yellow gold and steel, jubilee, fluted, with a champagne dial. 30th birthday gift from my parents and wife. It is an absolute classic and a breathtaking watch, one that I will cherish and love forever. It is not something I wear daily as I have a wonderful collection of watches I love. However, any time I need “THE WATCH” for a small or large moment in my life, it is the only watch I reach for.

great video. very informative

Great discussion.

What a cool guy. Just bought a DJ 36 mint green on Chrono24. Looking forward to it. Best regards from Berlin.

Great presentation. Very thorough. When dismissing Omega as an alternative, perhaps you forgot, or didn’t know, the Aqua Terra comes in two sizes. The 41mm and the 38mm.

I bought a 41mm Datejust with oyster bracelet. Should have gone with the jubilee instead. It looks much better and doesn't scratch as easily as the oyster.

The blue conical dialed DJ and the tuxedo dialed DJ are some of my favourite in the modern catalogue. Vintage DJ are timeless especially with a Linen dial

I purchased my Datejust in 1969 with the Thunderbird bezel and it cost $395.00. The Day Date or Presidential All Gold with the 18k Watch was only $1,000.00. Times have changed.

I don't think that the Tudor Black Bay is comparable. For me, it's rather the Aqua Terra. I have both, Datejust 41 and Aqua Terra. I almost only wear the Omega - less pretentious (no rich kids or wannabes) and understated, particularly in work-environment.

The blue 41 is my watch. I just love it. The fluted bezel was for me.

your presentation style is wonderful. Well done!

36mm is the best size, I have a 7inch wrist and it looks great. Not too small at all.

Just as an aside I bought my Datejust 41 with an Oyster bracelet. For the Datejust range you can separately order a Jubilee from an AD as an extra bracelet. You cannot do this for every range however (i.e. GMT Master II).

How did we go from a smooth or fluted fixed bezel dress/sport watch to dive watches as worthy alternatives? Omega has an incredibly obvious alternative that isn’t a dive watch. It’s the first generation 39mm AquaTerra (followed by later models). The 39mm is the sweet spot for sizing and wearability. In some respects, it’s much better than a Date-Just or an Oyster Perpetual.

The Tudor non-diver Black Bay line is also a cost effective alternative. A cross between an OP and a DJ.

36mm, jubilee bracelet, engine turned bezel, white dial with roman numerals. I have worn it everyday for 26 years.

i wear a silver/ black reverso with factory brown leather strap, the strap dresses it down and the wuick release is great i have multiple straps

Have the 16220 engine turned bezel and I love it 😍 daily for me

Excellent video!! What about the Omega Seamaster Aquaterra? ;)

@Chrono24Official and what watch are you wearing in video my good sir?

Aqua Terra is a perfect alternative

Planning on getting vintage DJ Buckley dial. Should I get it with original documents or not and is it worth it in general?

Perfect configuration: 36mm for 7 to 7.5 inch wrist, Steel, black dial, jubilee and fluted.

The most important point Thomas made here is that Datejusts are available at your Rolex AD. Excellent video.

Superb 😊

I can't take my eyes of the ap on your wrist 😍

I'm wearing a manual 37 mm1968 Omega 135.027 on 1098 bracelet today. Same idea as a vintage 36 mm DJ. Modern loud flashy pieces - the entire modern Rolex lineup in particular - is not my thing. I do dream - but only dream - of a 6542 or 5517 when it comes to Rolex !

My palm dial, stainless, fluted, jubilee is the only watch I need for everything but manual work. The 36mm is perfect on my 6 3/4 inch wrist. My previous 41mm DJ was too big, 36mm hits the spot and was the size I should have originally gone for, though the palm dial was not available then. After an 18 month wait it all came good.

@ 2:27 what is reference for that date just....very informative video BTW

Love my 126300 in blue. At 100M WR, it’s my one in done with Rolex

Love my Tudor BB54

Omega Aquaterra is just perfect a 38 mm, just the right size and price around 6 k new.

Which watch is the host wearing in the video?

I have a DJ 41 w/white dial w/ on oyster bracelet & original fluted Wimbledon on jubilee love them both! But not as much as my Subs & original Batman!

36 / Stainless Steel / Fluted / Jubilee. It really isn't that hard 😅

Would love to see my Datejust II stainless fluted bezel blue dial paired with an Oysterflex bracelet. Possible?

36mm Linen Dials are worth a mention here 😍

The jubilee bracelet on the newest Datejust, does not stretch out , or if it does, it takes a verrrry long time, links were made more robust. It was improved back in early 2000s.

White Roman Numerals 41 with Jubilee with the bezel, by far the best Datejust.

Omega Globemaster as an alternative in the Omega line.

Speedmaster 57 is a good alternative

i love your polo!! where is it from

Would be better if you discussed the history of the cyclops lens, an iconic feature of the datejust.

What that it’s a fantastic watch? Damn right.

Great

Aqua Terra

I’m confused why you didn’t mention the Omega Aquaterra??? Also, a Tissot Gentleman Powermatic is a great alternative under $1,000 👍

I tried to buy a new Oyster Perpetual a few years ago but apparently I didn’t pass the dealer’s screening process so I have to content myself with a two-tone Oyster Perpetual Date with the gloss white and Romans dial, four various other Rolexes, forty-something everyday Omegas, a Concord Impresario El Primero triple date, triple register and a couple of Speedy Moon watches. Rolex can go pound sand.

To me, the DJ has always been the most attractive looking watch Rolex has ever made. Should be 36mm, jubilee, fluted for sure ✨

I love your content! But where'd u buy your shirt haha

Omega Aquaterra?

One thing you need to know before buying Rolex is that you simply can't trust Rolex sizes. Datejust 41 actually measures 39.5 mm across. And so forth.

I like Grand Seikos due to the fact they have inventory at their stores.

Hey. I am planning to buy my first rolex and it will probably be my only rolex for a long time. I am confused between the datejust steel Wimbledon, steel gold Wimbledon, date sub black and the bluesy. Which would be the best looking watch for occasion wear. Thanks

Does the Tudor Prince counts as a competition or cheaper option?

Roman or Stick dial?

I have the 16014 Rolex Datejust. My only complaint is that it hurts to wind and a pain to screw the crown back on.

10:09 apples to Asian pears. That’s good. Accurate and amusing. Not sure if people get it. But who cares?

Why didn't you mention Aqua Terra as a Omega alternative ? Seems like an obvious and purposeful omission.

Sir, everything is great in your video, except the mic quality.

You don't think that the Tudor Royal fits in here?

6th thing to know, you’ll want them all.

Great video, but I feel you missed several important points. I've been a Rolex fan since the late 1960s and an owner wearer for 40+ years. Several years ago, I did research on Rolex ADs and production numbers. All Rolex models have almost 1,200 combinations over the 14 model lines, but the DJ is number one at over 580 variations! This is something a Chrono24 intern could have researched in a few hours. Regarding Omega, no mention of the Aqua Terra as the direct alternative? Now, the most obvious omission, the Rolex Sky Dweller often called the DJ on steroids. It's 1mm larger in diameter and 1.5mm thicker. I've been a DJ fan for decades, but as a professional int'l airline pilot [GMT Master owner for 40 years] with 7.7"/19.4cm wrists, this watch is perfect for me, and scratches the DJ itch. I've owned a black dial steel SD version since 2019.

Keep in mind the datejust 41 is NOT 41mm..it’s 39.5 and for some people (like me) that matters A LOT. Iearned the hard way.

OP > DJ No need to set a date. I know what day it is. Simplicity for the win 🙌

Don’t pay extra for a box. Original paperwork, sure, but a box is interchangeable and second hand dealers use their boxes as needed, not as they came.

Aqua Terra?????

the 41mm version is actually 39.8mm so technically it's a 36mm vs 40mm comparison

"No vintage watch will be perfectly accurate" - not true, unless you mean that no watch can be perfectly accurate. Many vintage watches can be regulated to much better than COSC standards after a full service. As you mentioned IWC when talking about DJ alternatives, why not mention the original Yacht Club?

DJ in +/- 38.5 size for 2024 anyone?? 36 is just too small for many and 41 too large (for a DJ).

One thing about the Jubilee is that it’s a dirt magnet. The smalls holes get super disgusting super fast compared to the oyster bracelet.

Pelagos and date just are not competitors . Normally i like more sporty so I wear my pelagos LHD as a daily and my DJ 126334 for more dressy occasions

Fluted dial? Isn´t it Motif dial?

Lume on hands is way too narrow compared to hour markers, this has always bugged me and therefore will never buy one.

What does he wear on his wrist though?

Where is the best place to purchase a Datejust?

Globemaster

I like apples and Asian pears

I think the dj looks better then sub 😅 although sub beautiful just quite lot fakes in circulation

I am always amused by the fact that only very few geeks seem to know about the „mechanical Oysterquartz“ watches, which offer the Genta design case of the Oysterquartz with a real mechanical movement inside (Reference 1530 and 1630)

Seriously ?How can you compare a datejust with a BB58🤔🥴🤡

I wish I knew how feminine the jubilee bracelet looks in real life. Having been offered both and held both in my hand, I can honestly say the jubilee felt like something id pick for my wife. It had too much going on and took away from the actual dial. Fluted oyster was a great option. It kept the manliness of the oyster bracelet and kept the central focus on the dial

Do people actually want the palm motif? Doesn't look like it retains value.

The Tissot Gent Powermatic 80 is just as nice and a fraction of the price

Comparing apples to Asian pears 😂👌

first : when all buyers think they'll do money with it ,))))

Omega Aqua Terra is a better watch, save the rest of the money for another watch.

Don't get me wrong.. I really like "ROLEX" but ! Rolex craftsmanship doesn't even come close to "GRAND SEIKO!

Like if you has The chance to choose you Just bought whatever they ofer you

teen wolf ur model?…never seen a wrist so hairy. Whatsupwitdat