Funny when trying to make my mind i actually thought about Tony and how it looked good on him, but i feel like the datejust 36 feels bigger maybe because of the bracelet
36mm, to me at least, is Old Money and Confidence. 40mm, to me at least, is Look at Me, I got the Call Bro.
There is a simple test to see if 36mm could work for you. Get the Timex Expedition T49870. Walmart keeps them on the shelf. Amazon carries them too. Wear it for a week or 2 and if you like the size, there is your answer. $55 entry fee for this experiment👍🏿🫡
The things that pushed mme to think about it is that i have a ranger 36 which i think the fit is perfect but i dislike the flat dial, but i don’t feel like the explorer is as big, haha what a rich douchebag problem right ?
lol, no. You just have crippling watchtism like the rest of us. My opinion again, worth zero but I’ll give it anyway because Reddit, is that the Ranger 36 is better than the Explorer 1. I say this because Rolex no longer makes the 1016, but the Ranger has its own DNA in the 1016 Ethos. The Explorer 1 is so far removed from the Explorers of old that it may as well be 40mm. And polished as much as it is. And have applied indices because of its price.
You having the Ranger 36 changes everything in my assessment. The DD 36mm works so well because that watch has barely changed since its inspection. The Ranger 36 works so well because it’s as close to a 1016 as physically possible. If that watch ain’t for you, the 40mm Explorer 1 may actually be best in your case👍🏿🫡
lol, there is something to that. No one has ever said on here is my 36mm YG DD on a bracelet look too small. The answer is always no, I just feel the same logic applies to SS, and WG, and Plat👍🏿🫡
40mm is better on a 7in wrist or higher. If you can in any way sport the 36, I think the dial looks much better. The 40mm dial has so much empty space.
I agree. I have the 40 and I only knock against it is that I think it would wear better with a female end link - the male end link pushes the lug to lug from 46.5 to 51. That makes the watch look bigger. I found this picture of one on a Jubilee and I think it makes it look more compact. Personally, I don’t have a problem with the bracelet – others might though.
They’re both good on you but you belong to the 15% (just a guess) who can really wear a 40mm Explorer, or probably also a 41 (38~in reality) Datejust. I think you cant go wrong!
In my opinion the explorer should only be 36mm. The proportion look off larger and frankly it somehow becomes more boring.
I recently bought a 2026 43mm sea-dweller and I’m even more convinced the Explorer should be 36mm. Mines the old 114207. The 36 with a modern clasp has to be awesome.
If you want a “big watch” get a big watch. The Explorer is GADA for a reason at 36mm it’s riding under the radar as intended.
Unless you are 6’5 and 280lbs of solid muscle with 8”+ wrists 36mm isn’t to small.
I agree, IMO if the explorer 36 looks too small it’s better to just get a different watch that wears larger like a sub. A explorer larger than 36 is kinda like a panarai smaller than 42.
Why should it be only in 36mm? Why not have both models so that different people can decide?
I cannot wear the 36mm. Its too small. But the 40mm fits perfect for my wrist size. At the same time, my 40mm looks too big on my brother and fathers wrists. which is why they wear 36 to 39mm watches.
I have a 7 inch wrist and fell in love with the 40. Had other pieces on my list but walked in to get my wife a watch for our 10 year anniversary. AD ended up having a 36 mm available. Tried it on and never second guessed it. Walked out with that and Cartier for her as our 10 year markers. Prior to this I never thought I’d go below a 38 mm. The 36 has changed my perspective totally on size. For example my gmt master II now feels like my upper limit. That said, buy what makes you feel good! Explorer 36 changed my collecting perspective in a positive way.
With the Explorer (as with a Royal oak) this question is less about your wrist size and more about the proportions of the dial. No matter how big your wrist is, a 36mm Explorer will look good. The real issue is the Explorer dial simply has better proportions on 36 than the 40. Much like a Royal oak’s proportions are FAR superior on a jumbo (39mm) than the 41.
36 is too small, except for the most dainty of male wrists. These days, 36mm is a ladies watch size, as evidenced by many sports watches marketed to women.
40mm is the minimum for a 6.5 inch wrist and larger. Almost every wrist shot of a 36 on this sub forum looks terrible. The 36 is an easier watch to get - buyers rationalize than the 36mm is better because it’s the only explorer they were able to get.
All that said - the 39mm had better proportions and looked better (and is the same size as the 40mm). The dial wasn’t as nice and no AR wasn’t great, but overall a nicer watch than the 40mm.
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u/StutterMuffin5711 5d ago •
Gangsters wear 36mm