Day date 36mm vs 40mm

[Iain73]

Good evening all,

Could anyone share a side by side comparison photo of the 36mm DD vs the 40mm DD.

I tried on a 36mm YG today, but couldn’t help feeling it was slightly too small.

I have never seen a 40mm in the metal, and would be grateful for a comparison.

Many thanks

[dwjez14]

I have owned both I do not have photos side by side but I can tell you the 40 felt so much more special to me

[Iain73]

Originally Posted by dwjez14

I have owned both I do not have photos side by side but I can tell you the 40 felt so much more special to me

Thanks Danny,

To be honest that was my gut feeling.

I owned a 18238 in the early 00’s and think the 40mm is the next logical step.

I talked to a serious collector who said that he thought the 40mm had too much empty dial space.

[lehacf]

How hard is it google DD36 and DD40 pictures?

[bullies]

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/ro...0mm-comparison

[Iain73]

Originally Posted by bullies

]

Thanks!

[Iain73]

Originally Posted by lehacf

How hard is it google DD36 and DD40 pictures?

Not that hard, but, you know as this is the Rolex forums I thought there is a chance a member would have both and give real world comparisons.

I do hope that is ok with you.

[4 Aussies]

Ice blue and white are both 40, and the black dial is a 36, since owning the 40 will never purchase anything smaller.

[jgottsman11]

Day date 40 is nice and feels more special as far as heft and wrist presence. Dd36 proportions are unbeatable however

[Iain73]

Originally Posted by 4 Aussies

Ice blue and white are both 40, and the black dial is a 36, since owning the 40 will never purchase anything smaller.

Wow, magnificent pieces

Thanks for sharing

[Iain73]

Originally Posted by jgottsman11

Day date 40 is nice and feels more special as far as heft and wrist presence. Dd36 proportions are unbeatable however

[1995akcoop]

36mm is indeed small. Go 40


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[Turpentine]

I had a DD40, but it wore too large for my wrist. Looking directly at the watch, I couldn’t see much of that wonderful band.

I now have a DD36 and it is just right!


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[TheWatchmen]

I don’t care for Roman dials so 36 for me, better proportions was a bonus. I had a DJ41 with sticks and felt like there was too much empty dial space.

Can’t go wrong with either though, if your wrist is 6.5” a DD40 may look massive, but that’s the trend nowadays, so no worries!

[kieselguhr]

I find I prefer the DJ and DD in 36mm. The 41mm is a little too large for the design.

[Ny325]

I say 36mm.

[sigma089]

It comes down to your wrist and preference. Mine is 6.5 and can't pull off the 40, but ymmv.

Things to keep in mind: Lug to lug is 47.5mm-ish, I believe, which is substantial. Due to its size, it's a lot of dial for a dress watch, too. Imo you can't really compare a sub to a DD, because the dial size on subs is smaller due to the larger bezel.

Max I personally feel comfortable with are 40mm sports watches. Dress watches 37-38mm. Bought and sold numerous Speedies due to this fact. DD sits comfortably in the dress watch sphere, so no way for me at 40 - and yes, I do know that they aren't really 40. New 41mm Subs are really pushing it for me, biggest watch I own atm is a PP 5164a. The PP is a sports watch, so it works, though only in pretty casual settings. If it were a tiny amount bigger, I wouldn't feel comfortable anymore.

Also remember: depending on the material, DDs tend to be very loud watches. The 40 substantially more so than the 36, just because it is so much bigger. It's a shame really, that the 40 doesn't work for me, because the roman numeral dials look so much better on the larger version. That's actually the reason I haven't bought a 11823x DD yet. I'd go roman for this model and the numerals just feel outdated on the smaller version compared to the beautiful dial on the 40. Really hope they release an updated 36 roman dial some time in the future.

[LightOnAHill]

Originally Posted by Turpentine

I had a DD40, but it wore too large for my wrist. Looking directly at the watch, I couldn’t see much of that wonderful band.

I now have a DD36 and it is just right!


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That’s a pretty fabulous dial! Love it

[wjgoretsky]

I prefer the 36


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[jimcarver]

I have the 36mm (18038), I prefer the proportions but if I were buying new, I would go for the 40mm for sure, particularly as you are already questioning the size of the 36mm. It has a serious wrist presence when you actually see someone wearing one.

[Guybrush]

Should I wear a size 9 or a size 12 shoe?

Without knowing your wrist size (the span across, not the circumference) or seeing pics, no one here can provide a valuable answer.

Won’t stop us from trying, though! I’d say that unless you have a very wide wrist you can’t go wrong with 36: it’s the standard/classic size for the Day-Date and I’ve only seen a few pictures ever where it looks “too small” to me. However I’ve seen plenty of pictures where 40mm is too big, and sometimes objectively so (like lugs overhanging the wrist, which just looks goofy). IMO, the Day-Date isn’t supposed to be a big, wrist-dominating sporty piece. It’s supposed to be like a well-tailored shirt—being the flagship in pm means it doesn’t have anything to prove—even in yellow gold, it’s not trying to scream “hey, look at me!” Its specialness can be felt by the wearer without everyone else having to notice. But some people prefer bigger watches and (to be fair) some people do have wider wrists better suited to the 40mm. If the 36mm felt too small for you, that’s probably your answer. Though I’ll say: it took me a few hours to adapt from a 42mm steel watch to a 36 in pm (even though the 36 actually weighs more). But I’ve never looked back. Now when I put on anything over 38 it just looks off to me. I think it takes some discipline to get past the big watch trend/hype, but once you do you feel like you’re awake for the first time, but still surrounded by sleepwalkers. :)

[rmlovett1]

Be careful trying to determine size comparisons using pictures. The angle, size of pic, etc….will be deceiving. This is a DD40 and DJ36, and the pics are taken a few inches further and closer, distance wise. If I posted them individually some would say the DJ or DD looks too big on the close up shots, when in reality…both can work on my 6 3/4 wrist.
I’d try on if I could and look at them in a mirror from 2-3 feet away.



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[Turpentine]

Originally Posted by LightOnAHill

That’s a pretty fabulous dial! Love it

Thanks!

[KY..]

A lot of good pics are in this thread…
https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=618465

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Richris1

Be careful trying to determine size comparisons using pictures. The angle, size of pic, etc….will be deceiving. This is a DD40 and DJ36, and the pics are taken a few inches further and closer, distance wise. If I posted them individually some would say the DJ or DD looks too big on the close up shots, when in reality…both can work on my 6 3/4 wrist.
I’d try on if I could and look at them in a mirror from 2-3 feet away.

Well done and excellent advice Richard

[Benzsiam]

Originally Posted by Richris1

Be careful trying to determine size comparisons using pictures. The angle, size of pic, etc….will be deceiving. This is a DD40 and DJ36, and the pics are taken a few inches further and closer, distance wise. If I posted them individually some would say the DJ or DD looks too big on the close up shots, when in reality…both can work on my 6 3/4 wrist.
I’d try on if I could and look at them in a mirror from 2-3 feet away.



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Best comment!

[javier]

Originally Posted by kieselguhr

I find I prefer the DJ and DD in 36mm. The 41mm is a little too large for the design.

This

[MHB]

IMO the 36mm can work on any wrist because it's a classic.

However, the 40 is my preference if you have a decent sized wrist. You don't risk going too small with the 36mm, but I do think you can go too big with the 40 if you have a small wrist.

You do not want a solid gold watch wearing you. Personally, I like the 40mm for my wrist size.

[watchwatcher]

I don't have pics, sorry, but I have owned both, well, actually all three counting the DD2, which is 41.

My preference would be either the 40 or 41.

[kwingy]

Originally Posted by MHB

IMO the 36mm can work on any wrist because it's a classic.

However, the 40 is my preference if you have a decent sized wrist. You don't risk going too small with the 36mm, but I do think you can go too big with the 40 if you have a small wrist.

You do not want a solid gold watch wearing you. Personally, I like the 40mm for my wrist size.

Fully agree with this.

I have a 36mm as my wrist is small and the YG gives it plenty of prescence. I wouldn't want to go bigger. I don't like watches with excess amount of dial space especially in a dress watch.