5 Things to Know Before Buying a Rolex Datejust
Thinking about buying a Rolex Datejust? There are a few things to keep in mind before making such a purchase. This watch has so many options, so many combinations to choose from, that it can be easy to make a mistake. We'll tell you what you need to know before investing in the crown.
0:00 Know Your Options
3:35 Pricing & Popularity
5:13 Key Dates & Improvements
7:16 Vintage vs. Modern vs. Neo-Vintage
9:06 Datejust Alternatives
11:16 BONUS
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36mm or 41mm? Steel or two-tone? Oyster or jubilee? Smooth or fluted?
36mm two-tone on a jubilee. Full Grandpa.
For me it’s 41mm, jubilee bracelet, fluted bezel, two tone with the Wimbledon dial.
Steel, 41, fluted with jubilee 😉
Perfect configuration: of course 36mm for 7 to 7.5 inch wrist, Steel, black dial, jubilee and fluted.
41mm, fluted, jubilee!
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 did sell the rest. Apart from Casio for sport/gardening I had no need for anything else.
I just realized that I have had my Datejust for 38 years. I’m 58. It’s a lovely piece 🫡
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,
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
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.
your presentation style is wonderful. Well done!
Hey, excellent video! Thanks for the great content 👏👏👏
The Aqua Terra is a perfect alternative!
Good call!
Also the Globemaster.
I would like an aqua terra but can't stand its shark teeth like hour markers. If it had more conventional style markers, it would be the perfect alternative.
😂
Exactly I was a bit confused as to why he didint mention it 😂
I have the palm. I loved it since day 1. I never understood why people didn’t like it. It’s awesome.
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.
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.
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.
Educational! Muchas gracias.
great video. very informative
The Tudor non-diver Black Bay line is also a cost effective alternative. A cross between an OP and a DJ.
Very useful, thanks.
Excellent video!! What about the Omega Seamaster Aquaterra? ;)
Great discussion.
The blue 41 is my watch. I just love it. The fluted bezel was for me.
36mm is the best size, I have a 7inch wrist and it looks great. Not too small at all.
The most important point Thomas made here is that Datejusts are available at your Rolex AD. Excellent video.
BS "available". I'm on the waiting list for two different DJ's at two different AD's ... one's a simple steel DJ with Jubilee and smooth bezel, the other one's a yellow two-tone DJ with diamond dial. And I'm waiting 19 months, respectively 13 months by now ... Bucherer and Wempe ... "available" ... ROFLMAO ...
@@ulrichschnier307 If you can't get one now from an AD your face doesn't fit. Rolex have obviously decided they don't want you as a customer. Sometimes that happens. Always a bad move to deal with two ADs . Word gets around and the word is flipper. I'm not a big spender and I've had two steel Datejusts this year. I'd maybe buy a Tudor or go grey,
@@BAF605 I'm already wearing a GMT Master II "Pepsi" ... they KNOW that I am a customer ...
@@ulrichschnier307 I don't understand then. I'm into double figures of Rolex bought at retail, some hot, some not. I wanted all of them My only other buy was a Tag which I did want. Maybe find a better AD??
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).
Have the 16220 engine turned bezel and I love it 😍 daily for me
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
I can't take my eyes of the ap on your wrist 😍
@ 2:27 what is reference for that date just....very informative video BTW
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 !
Aqua Terra is a perfect alternative
Perfect configuration: 36mm for 7 to 7.5 inch wrist, Steel, black dial, jubilee and fluted.
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.
Would be better if you discussed the history of the cyclops lens, an iconic feature of the datejust.
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!
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.
People are less cliché'd and far less snobby.
Would love to see my Datejust II stainless fluted bezel blue dial paired with an Oysterflex bracelet. Possible?
@Chrono24Official and what watch are you wearing in video my good sir?
Planning on getting vintage DJ Buckley dial. Should I get it with original documents or not and is it worth it in general?
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.
Omega Aquaterra is just perfect a 38 mm, just the right size and price around 6 k new.
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.
I’m confused why you didn’t mention the Omega Aquaterra??? Also, a Tissot Gentleman Powermatic is a great alternative under $1,000 👍
i love your polo!! where is it from
Love my 126300 in blue. At 100M WR, it’s my one in done with Rolex
36 / Stainless Steel / Fluted / Jubilee. It really isn't that hard 😅
Exactly
36mm, jubilee bracelet, engine turned bezel, white dial with roman numerals. I have worn it everyday for 26 years.
White Roman Numerals 41 with Jubilee with the bezel, by far the best Datejust.
Omega Globemaster as an alternative in the Omega line.
I love your content! But where'd u buy your shirt haha
Thanks! It's a cashmere polo from Vince that I bought secondhand for cheap
To me, the DJ has always been the most attractive looking watch Rolex has ever made. Should be 36mm, jubilee, fluted for sure ✨
36mm Linen Dials are worth a mention here 😍
indeed
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.
Speedmaster 57 is a good alternative
Love my Tudor BB54
Which watch is the host wearing in the video?
Superb 😊
What that it’s a fantastic watch? Damn right.
I like Grand Seikos due to the fact they have inventory at their stores.
Sir, everything is great in your video, except the mic quality.
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.
10:09 apples to Asian pears. That’s good. Accurate and amusing. Not sure if people get it. But who cares?
Does the Tudor Prince counts as a competition or cheaper option?
what ?😂😂
Aqua Terra
I have the 16014 Rolex Datejust. My only complaint is that it hurts to wind and a pain to screw the crown back on.
Perhaps time for service, mine is buttery smooth …😂
@@frankies.5269 Perhaps. It is +2, -2 seconds a day still.
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.
Thank you for the excellent feedback here. We decided to keep the combination conversation more general as there are *even more* options to include when you consider the different eras of the Datejust available on the wider market. The Aqua Terra is an excellent alternative to the DJ - good call. And the Sky-Dweller was omitted because the starting price on Chrono24 is more than double that of a DJ41, and we wanted to keep the list to
@@Chrono24Official Thanks for responding, all excellent points. I was fortunate to get my SD at an AD in HKG [no wait and no sales tax], but like you stated still over $10K.
6th thing to know, you’ll want them all.
Great
Why didn't you mention Aqua Terra as a Omega alternative ? Seems like an obvious and purposeful omission.
the video is about the rolex datejust. Not about alternatives
Roman or Stick dial?
OP > DJ No need to set a date. I know what day it is. Simplicity for the win 🙌
You don't think that the Tudor Royal fits in here?
"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?
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.
the 41mm version is actually 39.8mm so technically it's a 36mm vs 40mm comparison
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.
Lume on hands is way too narrow compared to hour markers, this has always bugged me and therefore will never buy one.
I think the dj looks better then sub 😅 although sub beautiful just quite lot fakes in circulation
Aqua Terra?????
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
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)
Lol. The first time I saw one I was just getting into Rolex and a guy in my jury duty pool had one on. It looked amazing but I saw it ticking and just assumed he had a fake Rolex w a cheap quartz movement in it. Couple years later I learned about the oysterquartz and realized my mistake. 🤦♂️
DJ in +/- 38.5 size for 2024 anyone?? 36 is just too small for many and 41 too large (for a DJ).
Agree!
The 36mm is bigger than you think. Fits great on my 7inch wrist.
@@RAJohnson713 Thanks , your comments give me hope.... I'll go try one on soon at the AD. : )
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.
Globemaster
Fluted dial? Isn´t it Motif dial?
"Fluted-motif dial" is how Rolex describes it in press releases, but the motif at play is the fluting, so people call it the "fluted dial" for short.
@@Chrono24Official I see. Thank you, I like your videos so it wasn’t a complaint, just a question! :)
Seriously ?How can you compare a datejust with a BB58🤔🥴🤡
I like apples and Asian pears
What does he wear on his wrist though?
Hey Georgio, that’s a vintage AP dress watch.
@@Chrono24Official Thank you. Any chance of sharing the reference or the model please?
That part is still a mystery to me, and AP’s archival extracts are a bit expensive, but you can find similar pieces by searching for AP dress watches on Chrono24 (lots of great deals out there)
The Tissot Gent Powermatic 80 is just as nice and a fraction of the price
Lol can’t compare
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
first : when all buyers think they'll do money with it ,))))
Comparing apples to Asian pears 😂👌
Do people actually want the palm motif? Doesn't look like it retains value.
Ugly
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!
If you see this as impartial advice then you get what you deserve 😂.
teen wolf ur model?…never seen a wrist so hairy. Whatsupwitdat
Raw-lecks
One thing is……from a financial point of view……bad bad bad investment
Tudor is gross 🤮. Solely for losers. Pay retail for a Tudor, then try to sell it--might as well be a Movado.
That goes for almost every brand except Rolex, Patek, or AP.