Authentic Pre-Owned Rolex Datejust 41

Which Datejust 41 is which

Rolex builds the Datejust 41 in a handful of metal combinations, and the reference number tells you which one you are holding. The 126300 is all Oystersteel with a smooth bezel. Rolex lists it at $8,950 on the Oyster bracelet and $9,150 on the Jubilee, yet a pre-owned 126300 usually sells between $9,000 and $13,000. A popular dial can cost more used than new. The reason is supply: ask an authorized dealer for a blue 126300 and you'll usually leave with your name on a list, not a watch.

The 126334 adds the fluted bezel in 18k white gold. At list that bezel is a $2,700 difference ($11,850 against $9,150 on Jubilee), and pre-owned the 126334 runs from about $11,000 to $19,500, with blue, mint green and Wimbledon dials at the top. Most owners couldn't tell you the bezel is gold. They bought it for the fluting.

Two-tone is where the market flips. The 126333 in yellow Rolesor has a gold bezel, crown and center links, lists around $16,900 to $17,700 new, and pre-owned examples often sell under that, typically $13,000 to $19,000 depending on dial and year. At Ermitage Jewelers our 126333 with the Wimbledon dial is priced at $14,950 as this is written, nearly $2,000 under the least expensive new 126333 at list. [ПРОВЕРИТЬ] The Everose version, the 126331, lists between $17,450 and $18,200 and trades from roughly $14,000 to $22,000.

The smooth-bezel gold combinations, 126303 in yellow and 126301 in Everose, are rarer on the secondary market. When one comes in, it tends to go to someone who has been waiting for it.

Datejust II or Datejust 41?

This is the question that actually saves money. The Datejust II was the first 41mm Datejust, made from 2009 to 2016 in references 116300, 116334 and 116333. It runs on the caliber 3136 with about 48 hours of power reserve. Rolex replaced it in 2016 and 2017 with the Datejust 41: thinner bezel, slimmer lugs, and the caliber 3235 with about 70 hours, so a watch you take off Friday evening is still running Monday morning.

Side by side, the Datejust II looks bigger than its numbers. The Datejust 41 looks like a classic 36mm Datejust that grew up.

Pre-owned, the gap is real. A 116300 typically sells for $7,000 to $9,000, a 116334 for $9,000 to $13,000, a 116333 for $10,000 to $14,000. Our view: if you want the newer movement and the cleaner case, pay for the 126 series. If you want a fluted 41mm Datejust for the least money, the 116334 is the best value in the whole range, and it's the one we'd point a friend toward.

Oyster or Jubilee

The Jubilee's five-piece links dress the watch up and drape better on a smaller wrist. The Oyster's three flat links look sportier and hide scratches. Both come with the 5mm Easylink extension on the Datejust 41, so a hot afternoon is not a problem either way. If this is your only watch, take the Jubilee.

What we look at before a Datejust 41 goes online

The fluted bezel tells you more about a watch's history than anything else on it. Sharp, crisp flutes mean nobody has taken a polishing wheel to it. Rounded edges mean it has been polished, maybe more than once, and white gold doesn't grow back.

After the bezel, we check:

• the lugs and case sides for overpolishing, which softens the lines and takes metal off the case;
• the dial and bezel for aftermarket diamonds, which are more common on the Datejust than on any other Rolex; a "126300 iced" listing is not a factory watch, and Rolex service centers can refuse or replace parts that aren't theirs;
• the serial and reference numbers between the lugs, and the warranty card date, since Rolex serials stopped telling you the year around 2010;
• the bracelet for stretch, which shows up mostly on older Jubilees. Box and papers move the price less than most people expect. We explain the actual dollar difference in our guide to box and papers.

Is 41mm too big?

On a wrist under about 6.75 inches, it can be. The case wears larger than the number because the dial fills most of it. If you're unsure, compare it with the 36mm models in our Rolex Datejust collection before you decide. Plenty of buyers try the 41, then go back to the 36 and never regret it.

Questions about the Rolex Datejust 41

How much does a Rolex Datejust 41 cost? New, Rolex lists the steel 126300 at $8,950 to $9,150 and the fluted 126334 at $11,650 to $11,850. Pre-owned, the 126300 usually sells for $9,000 to $13,000, the 126334 for $11,000 to $19,500, the two-tone 126333 for $13,000 to $19,000, and the older Datejust II from about $7,000. Our full Rolex price guide covers other models.

What's the difference between the 126300 and the 126334? Only the bezel. The 126300 has a smooth steel bezel, the 126334 a fluted 18k white gold one. Case, movement, dials and bracelets are otherwise the same.

Is the Datejust II the same as the Datejust 41? No. Both are 41mm, but the Datejust II (2009 to 2016) has a wider bezel, thicker lugs and the 48-hour caliber 3136. The Datejust 41 has a slimmer case and the 70-hour caliber 3235.

Does a pre-owned Datejust 41 hold its value? Steel and fluted steel models have held close to or above list. Two-tone models trade below list, which is why we think they're the better buy pre-owned rather than new.

Can I trade in my current watch? Yes. Ermitage Jewelers credits your Rolex at the same price we'd pay in cash and applies it to the Datejust 41 you want. Start on our sell your Rolex page.