Women's Rolex Buying Guide: Sizes, Models and What to Pay

There is no such thing as a women's Rolex, only Rolexes in sizes. Rolex markets the 28mm and 31mm models to women and the 36mm and above to everybody, and plenty of women wear a 40mm Submariner. Here is the honest guide, organised by what you actually want rather than by what the catalogue assumes.

Start with size, not with the category

The sizes that matter are 26mm and 28mm (Lady-Datejust), 31mm (Datejust 31), 34mm (Oyster Perpetual, Air-King), 36mm (Datejust, Oyster Perpetual, Explorer) and 40mm+ (sports models).

On a 15-16cm wrist, 26-31mm is proportionate. On 16-17cm, 31-36mm. Above 17cm, a 36mm Datejust or a 40mm sports watch works perfectly.

The Lady-Datejust: best value in Rolex

Our 345 Lady-Datejusts start at £3,125. This is the only part of the Rolex catalogue where solid 18ct gold on a President bracelet is achievable at prices that would buy a steel sports watch in larger sizes.

Mother-of-pearl dials, diamond markers, Roman numerals and the full range of Rolesor combinations are all here. We hold 88 mother-of-pearl dials across the catalogue.

The Datejust 31 and 36

The Datejust 31 (278240, 178240) is the modern mid-size and probably the most-bought women's Rolex in Britain. The Datejust 36 is unisex, and a great many women prefer it — it has the widest dial choice of any Rolex and it does not read as small.

If you want one watch that works for the office and for a wedding, a 36mm Datejust with a fluted bezel and a Jubilee bracelet is the answer.

Sports models

A 36mm Explorer, a 34mm Oyster Perpetual or a 40mm Submariner are all worn by women who want a tool watch rather than jewellery. The 31mm and 37mm Yacht-Masters were made specifically as smaller sports options.

There is no reason not to. A watch fits or it does not.

Diamonds: factory versus aftermarket

Rolex sets diamonds at the factory and documents them on the reference and the warranty card. Aftermarket setting — stones added later by a third party — reduces value substantially and can compromise water resistance where the case has been drilled.

Check the reference includes the diamond designation. Check the stone spacing is perfectly even. And be sceptical of a "diamond Rolex" priced close to a plain one.

What to spend

Under £3,125 you are not buying a genuine Lady-Datejust. Between there and £8,000 you have a wide choice of Rolesor and steel with excellent dials. Above that, solid gold and factory diamonds come into range.

We hold 262 watches under £5,000 across the catalogue, a significant proportion of them in smaller sizes.

Browse the collection

Browse the women's Rolex collection or go straight to the Lady-Datejust — 345 watches from £3,125.