Any Rolex owners about?

[hangingheadinshame]

DH has asked me to choose on. Definitely going 2nd hand, sorry preowned, but I can't decide which size to go for.

My favourite model is the Datejust but I can't decide between 26mm or 31mm.
DD thinks I might regret the smaller size because women tend to wear bigger watches nowadays but I think the smaller one looks less bling.

I've never owned such a special piece of jewellery and don't want to get it wrong.

I have the smaller 26 mm Datejust. It is classic. I have had it for 12 years. I love it and wear it 24 hours a day.
The downside is it has just cost me four figures for a service.

I have 26mm too. TBH I dont wear it much but do prefer it from the larger size. More classic.

Gosh Green, that's an awful lot. Was it a routine service or did it break?
Did you go back to Rolex for it?
The dealer I've approached mentioned £100 every 5 years.

Smaller watches are far more elegant.

It was running slowhanging, and to be fair I had never had it serviced before.
I took it to a local specialist who did it on the premises as I wasn't happy to send it to Rolex. This man was great, although I had to sit for a few months on a waiting list and take it in when I was contacted to do so.

Bold fail.

Thanks for the comments. I do prefer the smaller size but just getting cold feet.
Will take it for regular servicing to avoid Green's whopper bill.

I've got the smaller size Oyster date just, I have tiny wrists (I had to have 4 links removed to get it to fit). Don't worry about current fashion, a Rolex is timeless and doesn't need to fit in with current trends.

I'm so pleased with mine, it's so hard wearing and goes with everything.

Interesting about servicing, I've had mine two years and haven't had it serviced yet.

I have a 26mm which DM bought in 1986- never been serviced etc still going strong!

26mm datejust here too. Had the exact same dilemma as you but don't regret the smaller size at all, my wrists are quite small.

If you haven't already, go and try them on to see how they look on you. As others have said, trend may currently be for big watches but the 26mm is a classic.

450 for the last service with Rolex.

I don't own one (sadly) but have given this considerable thought...definitely go for the smaller size. Large watches are just a current trend. The smaller size is classic and will last you a lifetime.

Thanks all. I feel very reassured that I'm making the right choice in choosing the smaller one.
I've looked at so many models I've got blinded by them.

My datejust is 31mm, dainty wrists but chunky elsewhere.

For some reason, the 26mm felt like a "dress watch" and the 31mm felt much more like an every day watch.

26mm one here. Love mine to bits. Wear it every day as a normal watch. I'm probably the poorest person you will ever meet wearing a Rolex the one last nice thing from my old richer life.

Whoever told you £100 for a service though is having a laugh. Mine was last serviced in 03 and it was £500 then. Lots of family members also have Rolex's and it's definitely a grand to service them. They do come back new though!

I've a 31mm oyster perpetual Air King. It's also a vintage one (early 90's) and truly the most precious thing I own. It's absolutely timeless and will be passed down to my kids eventually. I wear it every day.

This one is mine (nearly)

Got a rose gold colour face - literally goes with EVERY outfit!

Definitely get the date just though. Mine does actually have roman numerals on it, which is different.

Best bit. Paid £2300 back in 01 and it would now cost me £8k for the same watch. So it's gone up massively in value.

The bigger ones are useful for when you become middle aged and long sighted, I can barely tell the time on mine now

when you're paying close to a grand every 4 / 5 years for a service (the £100 / every 2 years is for a battery change for battery models), bear in mind they may have it for up to 3 months

I have the smaller one and I love it. It's had 3 services and stopped working twice

My first repair was under warranty and 1st services were circa £75 - all with Rolex head office in the west end.

I recently found a local, luxury watch specialist who charged £200 for a service, clean and repair.

Main jewellers charging near to £500.

I adore my watch but cannot understand the current prices. Mine has more than doubled in value in 15 years - I don't get it?

I have a datejust, for its first service I paid £550.. I would never buy another for that reason alone!

I have the datejust in a 36mm size because I'm quite big boned and I wanted a large faced watch.

I used to work for a Rolex agency (hence why I've got one with a huge discount lol) and they should be serviced every 3-4 years. A basic datejust will cost about £450 and usually takes 6-8 weeks, Rolex have an enormous servicing department in Kent. If you have it serviced elsewhere you need to know that the watchmaker is a Rolex certified one because if they aren't using the proper seals etc it will cost a huuuuge amount further down the line.

And although the servicing seems expensive, a watch is running 24/7 so the cost compared to a car service is very low. When they service a watch, every single part is taken apart and cleaned, it is re-oiled and all new seals added. In effect you get a new watch back, steel bracelets are all polished etc.

I have a midi date just with a white gold bezel. It's beautiful and I love the size. Because of my job and where I work I wear it very rarely. My husband gave it to me over 20 years ago and it was expensive but now it would be insanely expensive. I do prefer the midi size I think they look really elegant but not too girly.

one reason for sticking with Rolex servicing is that it means it will maintain its resale value much better - and there is a roaring 2nd hand trade in these watches so it's worth it