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Old 3 December 2012, 01:34 PM   #1
Tuco Ramirez
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For the Lady -- 26 mm or 31 mm?

New to the forum, but have been reading several of the postings -- not found the answer to this question.

My wife (who is 59 years old) is a professional and has two masters degrees. But, she is also very down to earth and likes to garden. And, in addition to finer things, on occasion, she likes go out to a dive bar or greasy spoon restaurant, too.

I want to surprise her with a Rolex for the holidays. I showed her an ad from the New York Times Magazine a few months back, showing a ladies watch in stainless steel, jubilee band, diamond bezel and silver face with diamonds for numbers. She thought it was very nice. From the ad, I could not tell if it was the midsize 31 mm, or the ladies 26 mm. I just assumed it was the 26mm.

I was prepared to order it, but then I stopped by a local shop and looked at them. The sales person told me that the 31 mm was a much more popular item. She said that most women were going for the bigger watch, and that only the older ladies were opting for what must have been the traditional size -- 26 mm.

I then went home and just sort of nonchalantly brought up the subject of bigger watches for women and asked my wife whether women were wearing bigger watches these days, and she said, yes, some were, and it was sort of the style.

My wife is 5'7" and she is blonde (if that matters, eh?). Over the last few years she has become more curvy -- not so slim anymore. Her current watch is a Tag Heuer -- guessing about 26 mm -- stainless steel -- no diamonds or such. She has given all of her yellow gold jewelry to the daughters over the last few years -- and she has been into white gold, platinum and silver jewelry (the David Yurman sort of stuff) for the last few years. Her wedding ring is platinum.

I am really inclined to get her the Rolex 179160, stainless steel, jubilee band, with silver face and diamond numbers, with diamond bezel. But, I would like to know folks thoughts.

Is the 31 mm generally more desirable and preferred these days? If I get this one, I probably will not be able to also get the diamond bezel. So, it would be just be the midsize (31 mm) with the same stainless jubilee band and the diamonds for numbers on the face. If this is the more preferred style, do the ladies think the black face or the silver face is preferred?

Asking her to go to the jewelry store and pick it out is not an option for me -- just my thing that I have to surprise her.

Thanks
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Old 3 December 2012, 01:59 PM   #2
mmmk604
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My friend is 5'3" around 100lbs. She wears a 31mm DJ.
I couldn't believe it when she told me it was a 31mm, it was so small...the 26mm must be tiny!!

I'd go for the 31mm!
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Old 3 December 2012, 02:28 PM   #3
Lisa
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I vote for 31mm, too. The size looks more up to date, and the face is easier to read than the tiny 26mm dial. This is important once we gals start getting farsighted!

Looking through last year's catalog, I see a similar watch to what you describe in 31mm. It's the 178384.

Best wishes on your search!
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Old 3 December 2012, 02:32 PM   #4
eduardor
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The bigger the better. Go for the 31mm. Also the Explorer I 36mm looks great on women.
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Old 3 December 2012, 02:33 PM   #5
Andrés G
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My wife prefers the 31mm DJ. She finds the 26mm to be too small.
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Old 3 December 2012, 02:50 PM   #6
TARDIS
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Hi & welcome to TRF:

Like you I have been married a long time. A surprise is far better that going to the store for most ladies.

Your wife has a platinum wedding band which gives you the option of TT, SS or platinum in a Rolex to match, but not YG. I would be looking at the SS range.

I know that when I bought my Rolex Explorer 39mm, my wife tried it on and she thought it was just right for her! The only thing that she didn't like was that it had no date, so I got it returned. Phew!

My recommendation to you is to definitely get your wife the 31mm size DJ.

Regards
Stevie
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Old 3 December 2012, 03:02 PM   #7
versatile1
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Try 36-40
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Old 3 December 2012, 03:03 PM   #8
thomaspp
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My vote is 31. I just got my petite wife a 36 mm watch and looks nice. Rather 31 silver face with no diamonds. Good luck
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Old 3 December 2012, 03:36 PM   #9
SaddleSC
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My wife loves her 31mm...

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Old 3 December 2012, 03:45 PM   #10
ABF
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I just bought my wife a 34 mm Date - silver w/five diamonds. She really likes it and the size is perfect. I would encourage you to look at at least a 31 mm, but also check out the 34 mm.
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Old 3 December 2012, 03:50 PM   #11
HRV
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the one thing you didnt tell us, is how is her eye sight?
bigger is better i guess, so 31mm at least
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Old 3 December 2012, 03:56 PM   #12
xvfasttrip
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26mm is too small these days.
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Old 3 December 2012, 09:52 PM   #13
Art 1
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31.
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Old 3 December 2012, 10:44 PM   #14
joseluu
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Definitely 31mm.
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Old 3 December 2012, 10:48 PM   #15
J.jun
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31! My wife thinks that's the perfect size!
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Old 3 December 2012, 10:51 PM   #16
chicfarmer1
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31mm is a new classic for women. You will hear many suggesting even bigger, but the 31mm still has the jewelry-like scale that makes it good for evening as well as daytime. I went with a 31mm and despite liking bigger ones, I find it always perfect.
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Old 3 December 2012, 10:59 PM   #17
andyol1966
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31 mm or bigger. I think the 31 mm would be the safest bet. My wife has the 36 mm datejust but it did take her a while to get used to that size, she loves it now. If it is a surprise, I would go for the 31 mm, not too big or small...perfect! Good luck
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Old 3 December 2012, 11:05 PM   #18
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So far it is 31 mm unanimous, and I'll keep it that way.

Aside from 26 mm being too hard to read plus not so much in vogue, the bracelet gets smaller and it makes closing the clasp a little harder.

31 mm all the way!

PS - there are 'Special Edition" 34 mm Ladies Datejusts which you should check out just so you don't make a big purchase and find out later it would have been your preference. I don't think they will be.
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Old 3 December 2012, 11:56 PM   #19
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31-36mm
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Old 4 December 2012, 12:03 AM   #20
penfold
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My wife has just chosen a 34mm oyster date. She wanted a nice ligible watch for daily wear. The 26mm were far too small and she even found the 31 a little on the small size. This may just be because her daily watch is already around 34mm.
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Old 4 December 2012, 12:05 AM   #21
Psmith
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Start with 36 mm and work from there
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Old 4 December 2012, 12:25 AM   #22
porschejeff
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Just recently bought my wife a TT DJ, (179163 w/ dark MOP dial), she is petite, not into watches, wears platinum and David Yurman....Loved the watch. I got watch envy and ordered a TT DJ for me too.
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Old 4 December 2012, 01:39 AM   #23
GED
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As I wrote on a similar thread my wife-who's petite with a small wrist-wears a 31mm SS/WG DJ and is really happy with this size.
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Old 4 December 2012, 01:40 AM   #24
BCNJ
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36mm (but 31mm out of your two choices)
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Old 4 December 2012, 01:52 AM   #25
Mephist
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The fact that she is blond does not matter wean choosing size of the watch. I know many think so, but it actually does not.

I would go for 31mm because in general I think it looks best.

There is no right answer here so just choose what ever you think would look the best, also dial what ever just choose what you think she likes. The dial can be changed easy.
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Old 4 December 2012, 01:53 AM   #26
DrLindaPhD
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I guess I'm seriously outnumbered. I wear very small vintage watches. My rose gold oyster is only 18mm wide and I love it. I'm fairly tall and have boney wrists so I can tell you that a heavy watch actually bothers my wrist. I prefer the lighter watches for that reason. I was very uncomfortable when I had an 18k solid gold ladies oyster with jubilee bracelet 26mm watch. It just felt too heavy to me but that's me. She wears a Tag and if she likes it she will like either the 26mm or 31mm.

Did she pick out the Tag or did you? If she picked it out, let her pick out her Rolex. It's such a personal thing but I get the "want to surprise her" thing but sometimes that can backfire.

Good luck and post a pic of her wearing it so we can all see it.
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Old 4 December 2012, 01:54 AM   #27
gulfstream69xr7
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My wife prefers the classic ladies size. She is 5'8" 130 pounds. She does not like the larger watches. She does not get the logic behind buying something like a Rolex, that will last forever, and buying trendy version of it, that may be out of style in a year.
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Old 4 December 2012, 01:54 AM   #28
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31mm.
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Old 4 December 2012, 02:24 AM   #29
Galion
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Get the 31mm, perfect balance for an every day watch.
26mm too small.
36mm too trendy and big for a lady.
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Old 4 December 2012, 07:25 AM   #30
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Between these I'd say a 31mm for sure as well!

Happy shopping!
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