New Rolex Datejust 41 vs. Old Datejust II – COMPARISON

Today we’ll be comparing the Rolex Datejust II reference number 116333, versus the newer model, the Rolex Datejust 41 reference number 126333. We’ll be comparing the prices, the dial, the bezel, the case, the crowns, the bracelets, the clasp, and we’ll talk about the movement towards the end as well.

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Comparison Transcript: Rolex Milguass vs Rolex Datejust II

Today we’ll be comparing the Rolex Datejust II reference number 116333, versus the newer model, the Rolex Datejust 41 reference number 126333. We’ll be comparing the prices, the dial, the bezel, the case, the crowns, the bracelets, the clasp, and we’ll talk about the movement towards the end as well. Okay? So let’s start off, the price of the Datejust II, as of November 2016, the current pricing if you were to buy it from a Rolex retailer will be 11,650 dollars. But you can get it at Jaztime for as low as 9,200 dollars. Which is a savings of 2,450 dollars. For the newer version, the newer model, the Datejust 41, you can get this at a Rolex retailer for 12,050 dollars. Or you can get it at Jaztime for as low as 9,600 dollars which is again another additional savings of 2,450 dollars.

Comparing the dials: Rolex Datejust 41 vs Rolex Datejust II

New Rolex Datejust 41 vs. Old Datejust II Dial COMPARISON

Let’s go ahead and compare the dials now. So the dials as you can see, obviously very different. The older version here on my left, the Datejust 2 has a very nice black dial. This is going against the newer version’s nice silver dial as you can see. It kinda captures the light quite nicely on the silver dial as you can see it kind of beam across on the sides here. Very nice. The hour markers, the hour markers are in roman numerals on the Datejust II, and they aren’t luminescent, they’re all 18 carat yellow gold. While the new Datejust 41, has index stick markers, that are fashioned at 18 carat yellow gold to prevent tarnishing and it has luminosity for up to eight hours. So the Datejust 41 will go up to eight hours in the dark. And that also can be said about the hands as well. While the older Datejust can’t glow in the dark, if this were to be out in the sunlight, that gold will actually shine very, very nicely and be actually a lot more readable during the day. But it definitely will add more of a definite shine on the dial because of just these markers being in all 18 carat yellow gold. So that’s something to keep in mind if you want that nice shine under the sunlight during the day. Or if you want that readability during the night. That’s something to choose from.

One thing I like to mention before we move on from the dials is that each one of these watches come in obviously the other come in different colors, different dial colors. The older Datejust is offered in black, slate, ivory, and champagne. And the newer version is offered in silver, white, and champagne, also black as well. Another thing I like to bring out is we also have another one of the older models. So these two models here, the one on my left and my very far right, these are the models introduced in 2007. These are the Datejust II models. Now, one of them is made in all stainless steel. This is made out of 904L steel, which is very nice. While the other version has the Rolesor, which is Rolex’s term for having gold and steel on the same watch. So this older version, the steel version, was only offered in black white, silver, and blue.

Well I wanted to also talk about the diamond dials as well. If you don’t like the roman numerals, here are the roman numerals, there’s an index markers, and these are the Arabic numerals. If you don’t like any of those and you wanna say “Hey, “I’m feeling a little more luxurious, “let’s go with diamond dials.” so here, the two tone, the two tone only offers the diamond dial on the champagne and ivory only.The DateJust 41 only offers the diamond dial on the champagne and the black dial. The all stainless steel will only offer the diamond dial on the slate and the silver dial only. So that’s something to keep in mind if you’re looking for a diamond dial or you wanna choose which kinda bracelet. You want the two toned, and you only have certain amount of options. Let’s put that to the side. Alright. Okay, one last thing I’d like to finish off is we have this date of the three o’clock position. Both have a cyclops lens that sits on top of the crystal.

Comparing the 18k Gold Bezels: Rolex Datejust 41 vs Rolex Datejust II

New Rolex Datejust 41 vs. Old Datejust II Bezel COMPARISON

And let’s go ahead and move on to the bezel now. Now looking at these bezels, you’re probably thinking, “It’s not really much comparing. “They look like pretty much the same bezel.” But if you look closely, they are both that nice 18 carat yellow gold fluted bezel gives it very nice shine, almost like a disco ball when the sunlight hits this fluted bezel. But the newer model, the Datejust 41, the newer model has actually a thinner bezel. It’s kinda hard to see, but let me go ahead and bring it a little bit closer. The width of the bezel is just a tiny bit thinner than the bezel on the older one.

Comparing the Supercase: Rolex Datejust 41 vs Rolex Datejust II

New Rolex Datejust 41 vs. Old Datejust II Case COMPARISON

The cases are both 41 millimeter cases, I’m not lying to you, they are both 41 millimeter cases. And I’m actually going to actually demonstrate the measurements to you. So give me one second here while I pull out my little measuring tool. So, with the introduction of the Datejust 41, Rolex decided to make the case sizes a little bit different. It wasn’t really noticeable at first. But when you actually look at it side by side, you’re actually gonna see that the case looks like it’s smaller on the 41. Now don’t get me wrong, they are both wearing the super case. It’s just that the slim down, the super case on the 41 a bit. So like I said, these are both 41 millimeters and I can go ahead and show you that. So I’m putting down the 41, and showing you the Datejust II. So we’re gonna go we are going to diagonally hold this to measure that. So there’s the case size, 41 millimeters. And that’s the diameter. That’s the diameter there. And for the for the Datejust 41, as they called it. This is 904L steel. It’s very durable steel. So like I said, these are both 41 millimeters. And let me go ahead and do the thickness now. So once again, the 41 is down, I am doing the Datejust II.

So we’re gonna go ahead and go from the side. As you can see, that’s the thickness there. That 12.17, kinda fluctuates a little bit. That 12.22 area. So as you can see there. That’s the thickness of that one. And I will show you the thickness on the side of the Datejust 41. See. Not quite noticeable at first, but it has been slimmed down, that super case is still there. You can tell by the tapering of the edges of the case. It still has a nice taper. The older style case is much more of a sharper taper. And as you can see here. So like I said, the diameter was 41. Look at that case thickness. 11.70. Okay. The profile is a little bit smaller. Really, that’s pretty much up to preference. I believe both of these will fit under a suit cuff or just cuff very nicely. Obviously the Datejust II will just slip under even easier as the profile isn’t as high. But still, it’s just a half a millimeter difference in terms of case size. So, that really isn’t too big of a deal, but if you have a larger wrist, that might be something to think about. If you really like higher profile watches, that’s also something to think about.

Comparing the Rolesor Bracelets: Rolex Datejust 41 vs Rolex Datejust II

New Rolex Datejust 41 vs. Old Datejust II Bracelet COMPARISON

Alright, so let’s go ahead and move on to the bracelets now. Here is the that is the Rolex Datejust II and this is the Datejust 41 bracelet. So as you can see, very different bracelets. The jubilee or the oyster bracelet with a nice high polished gold down the center with satin finish on the sides for more contrast to bring out more of that gold color. So it’s very nice. As you can see, it’s a newer style bracelet too. So there isn’t much a give on the links. The same can be said about the jubilee.

One thing to note though, is that the jubilee bracelet wasn’t offered until the Datejust 41 came out which was 2016. So this jubilee bracelet is brand new to the Datejust line. And it’s for that 41. It also comes in a different two tone, it also comes in a rose gold and the rose gold wasn’t offered until the 2016 model which was this one here on the right. So this one’s also up to preference. The oyster’s a little bit more bolder in look with that pattern. But the jubilee’s pattern is also very nice. Has a little more shine to it I believe as you can see, it hits every single link. Every single five piece link individually. And the pattern’s very nicely across the wrist. Just very nicely all the way around.

Reviewing the Rolex Clasps: Rolex Datejust 41 vs Rolex Datejust II

New Rolex Datejust 41 vs. Old Datejust II Clasps COMPARISON

So let’s go ahead and move on to the clasp now. Okay, so here are the clasp. So they’re pretty much almost the same size. The clasp on this one looks a little bit tinier. Just everything about the 41 looks a little more tinier, a little more compact. It’s just some improvements. But otherwise, the functions of the clasps are pretty much the same. They’re both folding oyster clasps. Very easy to demonstrate here. Just like that, very simple, very easily pops out. Okay. Same thing with the 41. Very simple, very easy. Just pops out like that. Okay, so let me go ahead and show you that comparison between these two. Alright, let’s compare these clasps.

Alright. So they’re pretty much the same in regards to the blades. We have the Rolex name embossed onto the clasp itself. And it’s pretty much very similar there. One thing I would like to mention though is the comfort extension link system. Both of these watches have ’em. I’m just gonna go ahead and demonstrate it on the Datejust II. As you can see here. At the very back of the clasp, you can extend it five millimeters outwards, or five millimeters inwards. Just with that tiny link there. Very simple, very easy to use. It’s more for ease of life for when it gets a hotter day, your wrist swells up. You would extend the bracelet outward five millimeters and it would look like this. And let’s just say it’s not as hot anymore, you would just place it back in, and it will look like this. It snaps in, very easy, very simple. Both of these watches have that feature. So not too much of a comparison there, that’s just something I wanted to mention to keep in mind. It’s very nice.

Comparing the Rolex Movements: Rolex Datejust 41 vs Rolex Datejust II

New Rolex Datejust 41 vs. Old Datejust II Movement COMPARISON

Okay, so let’s go ahead and talk about the movements now. So, for both of these watches they have a very simple oyster case, case back as you can see there. Pretty much the same in terms of the case. You can see there. However there is a difference in the movements. For the older version, the one on the left here, the Datejust II, we have the 31-36 movement, which is very similar to the Rolex 31-35 movement that has been in production for over 15 years and has a superlative chronometer certification which means that it has a daily gain or loss of two seconds a day. Which is very precise time keeping. However they updated the 31-35 to 31-36 to make the main plate a little bit larger so that it actually fits this 41 millimeter case. And another thing that they added was a paraflex shock absorbent. Which is Rolex’s own in-house made shock absorbent. So basically, if this watch was hit, any shocks or anything, the balance wheel would still keep in place and it’ll be realigned properly so you don’t lose anymore time or the watch stops working.

So, with that said, for the movement of this one, we have the 32-35 movement. So the 32-35 movement is is a more upgraded movement, similar to the 31-35 or 31-25, yeah 31-35 sorry. Very similar to that, keeps the hours, keeps the seconds. Instantaneous changing of the date. They both have that paraflex shock absorbent system that I mentioned before. But the main thing to take away from the movement of this one compared to the older version is that this movement has a much higher power reserve, okay. The power reserve of the 31-36 movement on the Datejust Two is only 48 hours. While the power reserve on the Datejust 41 has a power reserve of 70 hours.  So it has much more efficient energy use, okay. So this watch, so the Datejust 41, if you were to put this down on a Friday, pick it up on a Monday, it would probably still be working as opposed to if you would do the same to the Datejust II there on my left. It would probably stop running, and you would have to rewind it. So that’s something to keep in mind if you plan to use it only on occasion.

Alright, the only main feature that either of these watches show is just the instantaneous changing of the date that’s provided by that movement function. I can show you that here really quickly. This is on the Datejust II . Oops, a little bit too far there. So I’ve unwound the crown. The crown is just unwound counterclockwise. It’s Rolex’s twin lock double waterproof system and all you have to do is unwind it, light tug once, and there you go. Very simple, very easy to use. It can change at a very quickly, very easily, okay. And it works for both watches.

Conclusion: Rolex Datejust 41 vs Rolex Datejust II

New Rolex Datejust 41 vs. Old Datejust II Wrist COMPARISON

Alright, so let me go ahead and show you these watches on the wrist now. So pop that open. Place that over. This is the 116333. Looking very nice there with that black dial, that roman numerals. Being fashioned in all 18 carat gold. Really catch the light. So let me go ahead and show you the newer version, the 41. The 126333. Look at that. It’s not everyday you see a silver dial. That silver dial really pops, very beautiful. And just that jubilee bracelet, looks as absolutely wonderful, okay. So, really, it comes down to a matter of preference. It always really comes down to a matter of preference and what you want in a watch. And really if you’re looking for a watch, either one is just very good for just casual wear, occasional wear.

They’re just very beautiful watches and it really just comes down to the taste in color. Do you really like that black, do you like those roman numerals? If not, there are other options as I mentioned before. You know, it does come in a diamond dial as well on only the champagne and the ivory, however. But if you’re not too big of a fan of the yellow gold you can also go with this one, because this one also comes in the rose gold as well and there are more dial options and everything’s a little more upgraded on this watch, the more modern. Has the diamond dowels on the champagne and the black dials. The rose gold colors are offered in the chocolate or sun dust dials. We offer the lowest prices guaranteed, free shipping and a one year warranty. And if you like the video, please like, comment, and subscribe below. We got lots more to show you guys, thanks for watching. Hope to see you guys soon.

 

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