[updated] —it’s 36m! > help me choose between 2 Day Dates

Bauhaus · Oct 3, 2020

VdeL
Thanks @watch3s @rootbeer7 and @Dan S
Is one of those 2 any better bet?
They’re both 18038, so with sapphire and simple quick set.

On the first one (gold dial), Day disk seems to be a later replacement (it is white instead of goldish).
On the second one (Roman numerals), the fluted bezel seems more worn down.
The rest looks OK to me
Am I missing something?
thank you!

For comparison, please take a look at how the fluted bezel should look like in ideal circumstances (not my watch)

It shows that the first one you show is better but far from mint as well. Those bezels are polished and are now “rounded”.

VdeL · Oct 3, 2020

Thanks @Bauhaus . Indeed, the first one is far from mint. Do you think the price asked 6.100€ is reasonable? thanks.

Bauhaus · Oct 3, 2020

It's probably not what you want to hear, but I would never buy a DD without a bracelet (again).
I once had a 18039 (white gold) on a leather strap. Very nice piece.
But finding a nice bracelet was impossible or extremely expensive. So sold it.

I would save up for a nice DD on the bracelet.

kaapstadflaneur · Oct 3, 2020

Both options have been polished and have lost some of their case definition, including on the bezel. If I were to choose between the two, I'd go with the first choice as I prefer the stick indices and the warmer tone of the dial. But the mismatched day wheel would annoy me greatly. The second option is more heavily polished and I'm not a fan of the large roman numerals (reminiscent of a Buckley dial, which I don't care for -- but that's a personal preference).

And I definitely think 6100 euro is too much for the first one given the polishing and mismatched day wheel. @VdeL -- I think if you're patient, you can do better for that price. Best of luck!

VdeL · Oct 3, 2020

kaapstadflaneur
Both options have been polished and have lost some of their case definition, including on the bezel. If I were to choose between the two, I'd go with the first choice as I prefer the stick indices and the warmer tone of the dial. But the mismatched day wheel would annoy me greatly. The second option is more heavily polished and I'm not a fan of the large roman numerals (reminiscent of a Buckley dial, which I don't care for -- but that's a personal preference).

And I definitely think 6100 euro is too much for the first one given the polishing and mismatched day wheel. @VdeL -- I think if you're patient, you can do better for that price. Best of luck!

This is a great conclusion to this thread: no go for both Day-Dates. I’ll wait and hope for a fellow OF member to offer a more interesting deal.
@kaapstadflaneur thanks for your detailed answer, very much appreciated!

VdeL · Oct 3, 2020

I want to stress here how valuable this forum is. Without members like here, I can't imagine the millions of euros that would have been wasted in poor purchases of polished cases, refinished dials and all sorts of franken-watches.

I also want to especially thank all members who directly contributed to this thread: @Dan S @janice&fred @joeshoup @kaapstadflaneur @rootbeer7 @Marsimaxam @jud @watch3s @AWBaker @Bauhaus @MarcelGuinchard
>>>Thank you<<<

Marsimaxam · Oct 3, 2020

First one with the gold dial, better looking in my opinion.

Larry S · Oct 3, 2020

I have a big wrist. I have 34mm -42mm watches, so I am not fixated on size. Wrist presence matters more. I have found that the smaller Rolex dress models simply don’t work for me. So I say neither.

dstfno · Oct 4, 2020

Bauhaus
It's probably not what you want to hear, but I would never buy a DD without a bracelet (again).
I once had a 18039 (white gold) on a leather strap. Very nice piece.
But finding a nice bracelet was impossible or extremely expensive. So sold it.

I would save up for a nice DD on the bracelet.

Rightly so. In my opinion a DD is nothing without the president bracelet.

watch3s · Oct 5, 2020

Bauhaus
It's probably not what you want to hear, but I would never buy a DD without a bracelet (again).
I once had a 18039 (white gold) on a leather strap. Very nice piece.
But finding a nice bracelet was impossible or extremely expensive. So sold it.

I would save up for a nice DD on the bracelet.

agreed, and I wouldnt want single quickset. one of the only reasons some people consider the older ones without a bracelet is because maybe it comes with a unique dial.

MarcelGuinchard · Oct 6, 2020

Bauhaus
It's probably not what you want to hear, but I would never buy a DD without a bracelet (again).
I once had a 18039 (white gold) on a leather strap. Very nice piece.
But finding a nice bracelet was impossible or extremely expensive. So sold it.

I would save up for a nice DD on the bracelet.

I respectfully disagree 😀
I don't own one yet, but I am under the impression that a DD on strap is easier to wear on a daily basis. It also seems to dress them down a bit; making them less "visible" on the wrist.

To illustrate, my point: pictures stolen from Hodinkee:

MarcelGuinchard · Oct 6, 2020

watch3s
agreed, and I wouldnt want single quickset. one of the only reasons some people consider the older ones without a bracelet is because maybe it comes with a unique dial.

Interesting point on double quickset @watch3s . From your experience, is it really a pain to wear a DD that has no quick set, or only a simple quick set?
Thank you very much for your insights.

Bauhaus · Oct 6, 2020

MarcelGuinchard
Interesting point on double quickset @watch3s . From your experience, is it really a pain to wear a DD that has no quick set, or only a simple quick set?
Thank you very much for your insights.

Depends on two things:
- how many watches do you own and rotate?
- do you want the “day” to be correct?

I rotate often and don’t like watch winders.
Having the wrong day bothers me most of the time.
So for me a double quick set is clearly preferred.

On the bracelet/ strap point:
I find 36mm watches to wear small on a leather strap.
That’s fine for a day, but not for a “daily”.
Of course this depends on taste and wrist size.

MarcelGuinchard · Oct 6, 2020

thx @Bauhaus
- That would be my third watch, I wear them all every week.
- I do want the day to be correct, agree with you, it would bother me a lot to have the wrong day!
... I understand this means I should look for a double quick-set...

Thanks for your precision on bracelet/strap. Here are a few day-dates I tested in stores recently. I liked the size, but am very open to any comments from the community on how they look 😉

Champagne dial:

Same champagne dial:

Gold dial:

Silver dial:

Bauhaus · Oct 6, 2020

It looks nice on your wrist on a strap. But wrist shots can be deceiving. Watches almost always look bigger on it than in reality.

What is your wrist size approximately?

Anyway: I’ll stick to my view that I would buy it on the bracelet. You can see what you like and when you sell it later, it will normally be easier with the bracelet.

But in the end, buy what you like

tzachi · Oct 10, 2020

I would take the 18038, setting the day dates on vintage is a pain and QS, better double QS is a bless.

In any event, neither of those you brought as I strongly recommend getting a full watch, ie with the bracelet as obtaining good correct one later is costly and difficult. One they you may want it with the bracelet.

good luck

[updated] —it’s 36m! > help me choose between 2 Day Dates

Bauhaus

VdeL

Bauhaus

kaapstadflaneur

VdeL

VdeL

Marsimaxam

Larry S

dstfno

watch3s

MarcelGuinchard

MarcelGuinchard

Bauhaus

MarcelGuinchard

Bauhaus

tzachi

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