DD36 vs 40

[rolex16]

Despite being a bigger guy with wrists just a bit above 7 inches, I am continuously drawn to the DD36 for some reason. I don’t know if it’s the dial size being the same as the 40mm sport models I am used to or what. Is the 36 size still a popular purchase with men? I see some incomings here and there, but wonder if I’d regret going 36. Has anyone bought a 36 recently and regretted it? Anyone buying the 40 and deciding to go back to 36?

[G23Guy]

No. 40 only.

[huncho]

36 isn't popular here but seeing some of the biggest celebs wearing 36 lately. for a 7 inch wrist you'd probably have a better fit with the 40 but nothing wrong with the 36 even though a lot of people here will make it seem like there is. i have small wrists so 36 was my only option

[Benzsiam]

I have 6.6"-6.75" wrist, I feel 36mm is too small for me, so I go for 40mm Day-Date.

[Daytonaman799]

I am a bigger guy but like the 36. It just seems like the real thing to me like Coca Cola Classic vs New Coke. Obviously the 40 has stuck more than New a coke but I just feel like the DD of LBJ was 36 and when you think of the DD it’s really of the 36.

[rolex16]

Yeah, 40 is the logical choice for me, but for some reason, those 36s just look right. I can’t put my finger on why. Maybe because that’s what I grew up seeing.

[huncho]

Originally Posted by Daytonaman799

I am a bigger guy but like the 36. It just seems like the real thing to me like Coca Cola Classic vs New Coke. Obviously the 40 has stuck more than New a coke but I just feel like the DD of LBJ was 36 and when you think of the DD it’s really of the 36.

that malachite dial is amazing

[S’portEye]

I’ve had both 36 and 40 YGDD. Slight nod to the 40, but the 36 seems to wear fairly big.

You really can’t go wrong, but if I had to pick, go with the 40, and that is exactly what I did.

[KathleenL]

Originally Posted by rolex16

Despite being a bigger guy with wrists just a bit above 7 inches, I am continuously drawn to the DD36 for some reason. I don’t know if it’s the dial size being the same as the 40mm sport models I am used to or what. Is the 36 size still a popular purchase with men? I see some incomings here and there, but wonder if I’d regret going 36. Has anyone bought a 36 recently and regretted it? Anyone buying the 40 and deciding to go back to 36?

If you are repeatedly drawn to the 36 and like the way it looks and feels on you, then that’s what you should get. Don’t get a 40 just because that size is “popular.” Too many people wear watches that are too big just because it’s “popular.”

Another plus for the unpopular size is that they’re not as popular as targets for thieves.

[Jack T]

I have a 7.25” wrist, this classic 36 feels perfect to me..

[rolex16]

Originally Posted by KathleenL

If you are repeatedly drawn to the 36 and like the way it looks and feels on you, then that’s what you should get. Don’t get a 40 just because that size is “popular.” Too many people wear watches that are too big just because it’s “popular.”

Another plus for the unpopular size is that they’re not as popular as targets for thieves.

Good advice. It would make things easier if they had several metals, dials, and sizes available to try on like back in the day, so you could see what really sings to you before buying without being able to compare on wrist.

[Danny83]

36 is too small for you. Maybe if you have small wrists it works.

[rolex16]

Originally Posted by Jack T

I have a 7.25” wrist, this classic 36 feels perfect to me..

Pure class!

[rolex16]

Originally Posted by Danny83

36 is too small for you. Maybe if you have small wrists it works.

Probably right, and 40 is definitely the safer choice. It will fit no problem, whereas the 36 might appear small on me. Just something about the proportions in pics though makes the 36 just look right. I find the same when looking at DJs.

[sleepydoc]

I think the deconstructed romans look so good on the DD, so if I could get away with it I would get a DD40. Also I really like the sundust dial.

[fskywalker]

Unless you have real big wrists the 36 MM Daydate will likely fit you nicely. My 118239 says hi! (7 inch round wrist)




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[douglasf13]

It just depends on your style. Ryan Gosling isn’t tiny, and he wears a vintage 34mm. I personally wear a 37.5mm at 6’2”, but I’ve enjoyed 36mm, also.

[Arid]

36 for my 6.75” wrist

[Krash]

I think a 36 looks great on my slightly larger than 7.25” wrists. I’d still prefer the 40 though…


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[BNA/LION]

I had a 36mm DD and replaced it with a 40mm. I have smaller wrist too and 40mm is much better. Go 40mm IMHO.

[Podmornica]

Photgraphing these watches 2 inches away from the wrist doesn't help at all. For the true perspective we would literally need the whole upper body shot with the watch on the wrist to tell whether it's looking small or not.

[eonflux]

Originally Posted by rolex16

Yeah, 40 is the logical choice for me, but for some reason, those 36s just look right. I can’t put my finger on why. Maybe because that’s what I grew up seeing.

We are all influenced by what we are accustomed to seeing

There is no right answer
You do you

[George58]

36 is great you get to the pres band links more from the top view Im 6'1'' 215 not to small at all

[Seddyspaghetti]

Now that there’s a 40mm available, I would not get a 36mm. Too small for my taste. 7in wrist here.

[Guybrush]

This is a neverending debate on the forum.

I'm average height and my wrists are somewhere between 6.75 and 7 inches. That said, I'm not scrawny and am very physically active with big arms---from my forearm to my wrist, there's a pretty dramatic taper, if that makes sense. I own--or have owned--watches as big as 43mm, and could probably pull off some ludicrous hubcap watch if I really wanted to. It wouldn't fit right, but it wouldn't look absurd on me.

36mm is my favorite size for a watch.

I'm not going to dis all the people on the forum (and elsewhere) who want to wear 40+mm watches---everyone should do what they want as long as it's not hurting anyone else. But in my personal opinion, probably 90% of the people wearing those watches either aren't looking at how they fit objectively (because they don't know how or just don't care) or have decided that the over-size look is what they want. It's definitely the new-ish trend, to wear a big watch where the lugs overhang or come close to ends of your wrist. I don't get it, but, then, I don't have to---I'll stick to what works for me.

As I and others have said elsewhere, the important measurement isn't the dial diameter--it's the measurement from lug-end to lug-end: the span across your wrist. And you need to factor in the extra span of the end-links, if it's a watch with a bracelet. Measure the width of your wrist; then have a look at that measurement on your watch. The former number should be bigger, obviously, and preferably by several mms. To my eyes, a watch only looks properly suited to a wrist if there's some distance between where the lug-ends end and the wrist begins to curve. Otherwise the effect is of a poorly-tailored suit or of someone wearing shoes the wrong size.

It's not a coincidence that Rolex decided to make the DD in 36mm for decades before offering anything bigger. Human wrist sizes (on average) haven't changed all that much. Tastes--fads--have. Sports/tool watches were designed to be bigger for a reason, and now that folks have decided to wear those as daily watches, the rest of the sectors are trying to fill those same size-expectations, or so I assume. But 36mm remains the right size---in my opinion, though also, as I intimated, kind of objectively---for most people, including most of those who choose to wear bigger.

Don't get me wrong: I love the look of those bigger watches! But to me the tradeoff between what looks cool/what's trendy and what actually fits me properly.... I'm quite happy with the 36mm.

EDIT: To answer your question, I did recently buy (and still have, though it's being serviced now) a DD36 and have no regrets at all. I tried on a 40 as well and it just looked wrong to me---like a distorted version of the classic DD: someone taking a Ferrari and making it a limousine. :) Also, the 36mm is just a phenomenal wear: so hefty and such presence that it feels (to me) much more substantial than its size-measurements would suggest. Definitely try on both.

[rmlovett1]

36 isn’t nearly as popular as 40 when it comes to mens sizes in today’s world, but if it’s a good fit for you personally, and you’ll be happy….that’s what matters.
I don’t have a big wrist but other things come into play IMO…. wrist shape, body size, forearm size, watch shape, etc…
On paper 36 should be good with me…6 3/4 in wrist, 5’10”, 150lb, but with a muscular frame, tattoos, etc..I like bigger watches, 39-43mm, and I personally think 36 looks small on me.
Although I have a couple 36mm from 30yrs ago that I wore when it was more the norm, and one 36DJ my dad left me, I just think they’re too small for my tastes now, and I’ve worn 40+ mm since the mid 90’s. My wife has a collection of 36 DJ’s and I think they look great on her !
Bottom line…Get what you’ll be happy looking at on your wrist!

[samson66]

Isn't the actual diameter of a DD40 <39mm? If so we aren't talking about a huge difference here. So IMO larger wrists should go with the 40 and smaller with the 36. Both are fantastic watches

[HogwldFLTR]

Even with a 6.5in wrist the 36 looks small in my eye. I've owned two 36mm DDs and neither really did it for me. I guess I'm used to that 40mm size on my wrist.

[AF_Rob]

I think it's about proportions of the watch itself. I love my 5 digit Sub and my 36 mm pieces and both wear great. However, I would never pick up a 40mm DJ. I think it's too big.

This coming from a 6.25in (ish) wrist). That being said, I rock a 34mm OP as a daily and wouldn't likely go smaller. That being said, a DJ 40 would likely look good on you.

[rolex16]

Lots of great perspectives, thanks.