Datejust II or Datejust 41? How to Tell the Two 41mm Rolex Datejusts Apart

Both watches are 41mm Rolex Datejusts, both have a date at 3 o'clock under a Cyclops lens, and both are rated to 100 metres. They are still different watches. The Datejust II (references in the 116300 family, such as the steel-and-white-gold 116334) arrived in 2009. The Datejust 41 (the 126300 family, such as the 126334) replaced it, starting at Baselworld 2016. If you want the newer movement, a Jubilee bracelet option and proportions closer to the classic 36mm Datejust, buy a Datejust 41. If you prefer a bolder, heavier-looking 41mm on an Oyster bracelet, the Datejust II is the one to look at. Either way, confirm the six-digit reference before you agree a price, because the two names are easy to blur.

The short version

Sources: Datejust 41 specifications from Rolex's 126334 page; launch dates and design changes from Monochrome's Baselworld 2016 report and Fratello's 2017 coverage; Datejust II movement and power reserve from Bob's Watches' comparison.

Same diameter, different proportions

The two watches share a 41mm diameter, so the spec sheet won't separate them. The design does. When Rolex introduced the Datejust 41, Monochrome noted that its bezel was thinner, its lugs thinner, more tapered and more curved, its case slimmer seen from the side, and its baton indexes a bit slimmer. Fratello also noted the larger dial aperture that comes with the thinner bezel. The hands kept the same design.

In practice, that means the Datejust II reads larger at a glance. Its broad bezel and wide markers were exactly what some buyers liked about it, and what others found too bulky. aBlogtoWatch's review described it as wearing large because of its wide lugs and relatively wide bracelet. The Datejust 41 looks more like a 36mm Datejust scaled up, which is the main reason many buyers who want a larger Datejust now choose it.

The details on the case can't tell you how either watch suits your wrist. If you're between them, try both on, or compare the two side by side at our Atlanta showroom.

Movement: 3136 or 3235

The Datejust II uses calibre 3136, the movement of the previous generation. The Datejust 41 uses calibre 3235. aBlogtoWatch reported that more than 90% of the 3235 was new rather than an update of the earlier movements. On the 126334, Rolex lists a power reserve of approximately 70 hours, a blue Parachrom hairspring, Paraflex shock absorbers and Superlative Chronometer certification at −2/+2 seconds per day after casing. The 3235 also introduced Rolex's Chronergy escapement, which both Monochrome and SJX reported as about 15% more efficient than a conventional escapement.

The most noticeable difference in daily wear is the power reserve. Bob's Watches puts the 3136 at about 48 hours, so a fully wound Datejust II taken off on Friday evening is likely to have stopped by Monday morning. A Datejust 41 should still be running. If you wear one watch every day, it matters less.

A pre-owned 3136 is still a proven movement, but no Datejust II is new any more. Ask when the watch was last serviced and what was done, and check that it holds time and power over a full day before you buy.

Bracelet: the easiest tell

The Datejust II was made on the three-link Oyster bracelet only. Monochrome pointed out that it was never offered with the five-link Jubilee, and the Datejust 41's launch brought the Jubilee back to the 41mm Datejust. Rolex's 126334 page lists the Jubilee with a folding Oysterclasp and the Easylink 5mm comfort extension link.

So a factory Jubilee on a 41mm Datejust points to a Datejust 41. The reverse doesn't hold: many Datejust 41s were sold on Oyster bracelets, and bracelets can be swapped between watches. Treat the bracelet as a clue, not proof, and confirm the reference.

How to confirm which one you're looking at

1. Read the reference. A six-digit reference starting 1163 is a Datejust II. One starting 1263 is a Datejust 41. Match it on the warranty card (if present) and on the case itself, not only in the listing title.
2. Look at the bezel and markers together. A broad bezel framing a smaller dial opening, with wide hour markers, suggests a Datejust II. A slimmer bezel and slimmer batons suggest a Datejust 41.
3. Check the bracelet against the reference. A Jubilee on a 1163xx reference means the bracelet isn't the watch's original configuration. That isn't necessarily a problem, but it should be disclosed and reflected in the price.
4. Ask about the movement and service history. The seller should be able to say which calibre is inside and when it was last serviced. A watch listed as a Datejust 41 should have the 3235.
5. Compare condition, not just the name. On either watch, crisp lug edges and an undamaged fluted bezel matter more to value than the generation. Our pre-owned Datejust buying guide covers what to check on the case, bezel, dial and bracelet.

Which should you buy?

Choose the Datejust 41 if you want the current case design, a Jubilee option, the longer power reserve and a watch that looks like a classic Datejust at a larger size. Choose the Datejust II if you like its broader bezel and bolder dial, you're happy on an Oyster bracelet, and you've confirmed the movement's service history. And if neither feels right once it's on your wrist, the 36mm Datejust is still the original size for a reason.

Pre-owned watches are one of a kind, so stock changes quickly. Browse the current Rolex Datejust collection to see which 41mm and 36mm references are available now. Every watch we sell is backed by our Lifetime Authenticity Guarantee.