Help me decide on my first Rolex

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xanadu

O.G.
Jul 27, 2007
76
3
#1
hello everyone, i'm planning to purchase my first ever Rolex in time for my 30th bday this december (and Christmas gift to myself as well :D). and because of the price, it probably would be my only rolex! please help me decide.

what i want is something i could wear everyday (work and/or shopping) and on some dressy events. what i'm eyeing for is (1) the midsize datejust with domed bezel, oyster band, silver concentric dial with arabic numbers or (2) datejust white dial, roman numerals with fluted bezel, jubilee band.

should i go in between and say get one with domed bezel, oyster band with roman dial? >> white or silver dial?

or go with (1) for the casual look for now and then later on (much, much later on) get a two-tone jubilee band with some diamonds for the dressy look? of course this 'later on' might take years.

or go for (2) even if it's a little overbudget?

i think the jubilee band is much more classy and has the 'rolex look' but the oyster band has its own classy touch too, in a subtle way.

any input would be appreciated! :D
thanks in advance!
 
#2
I say for your first do something close to what I did, I'm attaching a pic. I have the midsize with smooth bezel, jubilee bracelet, and pink roman numeral dial. I was torn with bezel/band combo but my husband convinced me the jubilee was prettier and more feminine and I know he was right with that decision for me, then actually finding it in a store was a little difficult because usually you see oyster bracelet/ smooth bezel, or jubilee/ fluted. I'm not a huge fan of the fluted bezel anymore (but that's personal) but I especially didn't like it on the larger size, it is pretty on the small women's only version and think that my "some day" watch may be a smaller one with fluted bezel and diamond markers. To tell you the truth though, I'm just so happy with this watch that I've kinda lost the desire for my next one..... Good luck!
 

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#3
Oh, and this watch is VERY versatile, it looks great with jeans or an evening dress. It's subtle enough that in any situation it blends in perfectly and it's just so easy to dress up or down, a classic staple that you'll never get bored of!
 
#4
xanadu said:
hello everyone, i'm planning to purchase my first ever Rolex in time for my 30th bday this december (and Christmas gift to myself as well :D). and because of the price, it probably would be my only rolex! please help me decide.

what i want is something i could wear everyday (work and/or shopping) and on some dressy events. what i'm eyeing for is (1) the midsize datejust with domed bezel, oyster band, silver concentric dial with arabic numbers or (2) datejust white dial, roman numerals with fluted bezel, jubilee band.

should i go in between and say get one with domed bezel, oyster band with roman dial? >> white or silver dial?

or go with (1) for the casual look for now and then later on (much, much later on) get a two-tone jubilee band with some diamonds for the dressy look? of course this 'later on' might take years.

or go for (2) even if it's a little overbudget?

i think the jubilee band is much more classy and has the 'rolex look' but the oyster band has its own classy touch too, in a subtle way.

any input would be appreciated! :D
thanks in advance!
Click to expand...


I think the Oyster is more sporty looking, and if you are only looking for one right now, that is versatile, I would go with 2-tone jubilee, whatever bezel you like, and a white dial. Says 'classic' to me. I like the fluted bezel in the women's and midsize with a jubilee, and I like the smooth bezel better with the Oyster (that's just me)

I think those concentric dials of the different colors I've seen (if they are the ones I am thinking of)are a passing fad, and also make the dial hard to read (JMO and no one ever has said I am a fashion expert, LOL!)

I think choice 2 has more staying power. Either stainless or 2-tone.

You can always 'trade-up' in the future if your taste really changes.
 
#5
I recently got a Datejust, white face, Presidential band, two tone, with Roman Numeral markers. I like it because it's both dressy and casual--then again, I could say that for any Rolex. That's why they're so great. But go with your gut instinct and get what you really love and think you could wear anywhere. Honestly, if it's a Rolex, it's appropriate for any situation, no matter what--football game, charity fundraiser, school plays, elegant dinner parties. Rolex is a true winner! Enjoy, and post pics of what you choose!
 
#6
hi all, thank you for your suggestions/comments.

you're right, lola24, it indeed is confusing to choose the band/bezel combo plus the face color. i've been reading forums and browsing thru catalogs for the past week! thanks for posting pix :tup:

chessmont, my sister advised the same thing: concentric dials might be a fad; fluted goes better with jubilee, smooth with oyster. you guys think alike! :smile1: thanks for finally convincing me to take the concentric option out.

so, i've narrowed it down to 2 options for midsize stainless:
(1) jubilee with smooth bezel, roman
(2) jubilee with fluted bezel, roman

however, my budget is suggesting this: oyster band with smooth bezel, roman haha!! but since i've been saving up for this, why not save some more. it's got to be just perfect :D

royal, i'd be taking your advice to go with with my gut feel. will try out the 2 options IRL and see which i'd love! will definitely post pics soon..

help with the color please :confused1:, white looks classic but would it make the midsize appear bigger?
with silver/pink - do you guys have difficulty reading the numbers?
thanks!
 
#7
^^I love my pink face, it's actually looks like a very nude tone on my skin so it goes with everything. I have no problem reading the time, especially with the roman numerals. Def. go take a look at them in person, though everyone says smooth goes better with oyster and jubilee goes better with fluted, switching it up with some contrast is also nice. Plus, don't feel like it's better to get the fluted bezel because it's the more expensive one, when I tried on the larger size with the fluted I did NOT like it, it was much different to me than the fluted bezel on the smaller size and just way too overpowering on my wrist. Play around with the combos, don't settle, and take your time, it took me about three years to finally settle on the one I got and I'm so glad I waited because they had changed the case and bracelets in that time period which are much nicer than the older ones. I started out thinking ladies, fluted bezel, jubilee, baton markers or maybe diamond (which was much cheaper on the older watch, like either the same price or a pinch more expensive than what I wound up paying for mine) and well wound up with what I have without a single regret. You'll know what I mean about the old case and bracelet as soon as you pick one up, though of course older Rolex's are still gorgeous and classic the new solid case and bracelet circa 2006 is just exceptional, it added about $1,000 to the base price on top of the usual price increases but it really is worth it.
 
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#8
I have a stainless mid-size with Rhodium Roman (silver looking) face. Mine is jubilee and fluted. However I totally love Lola24's combo with the smooth. In Harper's Bazaar there is a ladies size jubilee with smooth and it looks great. It is a two-tone which I want next. I also am saving for diamond markers. Which color face do you guys think I should get? I thought blue was kind of neat but I'm unsure. I don't want silver and I think I may have trouble reading time on gold. I'm not in love with black. And I don't want to spend any extra on MOP cause the diamond markers are a lot. So I guess that leaves a blue, white, and those jubilee faces with words on them. What do you think looks best?
 
#9
I agree that the jubilee and fluted bezel has a more classic and slightly dressier look while the oyster bracelet has a bit of a more sporty, causal look. Personally I think that the jubilee looks a little more feminine. If your going with the oyster for a more sporty look I do like the smooth bezel better. I would get the jubilee/fluted because I prefer the classic look but it just depends what you are going for and what makes your heart skip more! As for dials, I like the classic look of white and silver has a nice sleekness to it. Pink is also nice for something different. Try the different styles and dial colors on in person to see what you love the most!
 
#10
Do you like diamond markers on white? What color face do you like best with diamond markers? Also if I already have a stainless with Roman numbers and want something different on a two-tone, what combo do you suggest? It is such a big decision!
 
#11
^^I think you should really take a good look at the gold/champagne face, it's beautiful on two tone and it may not be hard to read, my pink face is not that much different than the gold, it's like rose gold vs. yellow gold, and I don't have any problems reading it..... I'm not loving a white face with diamonds and the blue is pretty but that's quite a color commitment IMO. Other than that I love diamonds on silver, pink, and mother of pearl. My tag with diamond markers is on MOP (although not a rolex) I'm very happy with that combo.
 
#12
jubilee bracelet with fluted bezel is a good combination. If you want diamond marker, get it now instead of roman. Otherwise, you will ending up to spend on 2. In which you probably only wear 1 that is diamond marker! 1 costs less than 2, that way saves yourself for couple of LV purses :tup:

For diamond markers, I recommend the silver or black dial.

I have both silver and black diamond dials in mid-size with jubilee bracelet on fluted bezel.
 
#13
Lola24 - I just ruled out the blue! I tried it on today next to a white jubilee face. The white was so much prettier. Now I want to go back to look at the gold/champagne face with diamond markers! Do you like the gold/champagne more than silver face? Which do you think looks nicer of the two on a two-tone ladies with jubilee bracelet?
 
#14
I have a fluted/jubilee, combo. My face is gold/champagne. The gold/champagne face is very pretty. It's definitely less common than a silver face IMO. One tone is absolutely gorgeous, it speaks the less is more. I find two tone a bit too "old" feel for me. I love my fluted/jubilee/gold/champagne face rolex. I had it since 2003, and still love it!
 
#15
Xanadu - Go for fluted with jubilee, classic signature Rolex model. If you don't like white dial, consider silver/pink - by the way, you are only 30, it's not difficult to read! Personally, smooth bezel with oyster bracelet looks like any other sporty watches, just not a Rolex.
 
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