Rolex Explorer 36mm vs 40mm
While I was impatiently waiting on “the call” for a 36mm Explorer earlier this year Rolex released the 40mm Explorer. Which made me second guess the 36 now that the 40 was an option. A month later I got the call and didn’t hesitate. Last week I finally got a chance to compare the two at an AD. Which confirmed what I suspected all along, I am most definitely Team 36mm.
I’ve no doubt Rolex will sell a ton of the new 40s though. Would love to know how they compare sales wise!
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Sooner Nation
Member since
Last active: 33 min ago
6.75” / 17.15 cm
I'm glad you confirmed that you made the right choice. Rolex no doubt will sell every 40mm it makes at full MSRP.
I'm currently thinking I may look to a 39mm at more attractive prices than what that 40mm is going for grey market.
The 40 looks like the 36 was stung by bees, imo. Still a killer piece!
i think 36mm will served you better
A friend who has decent connections to Rolex here in Toronto has agreed to source a 40mm Explorer for me when I finally grow weary of the other mid tier watches that I am fixated on. I suspect he is building up further his own spend history. I really miss the good old days when you woke up, wanted to wear a new watch to some function such as a wedding, budgeted an extra hour to buy it before arriving at the social event. Spending your hard earned dollars should not be that complicated.
A friend who has decent connections to Rolex here in Toronto has agreed to source a 40mm Explorer for me when I finally grow weary of the other mid tier watches that I am fixated on. I suspect he is building up further his own spend history. I really miss the good old days when you woke up, wanted to wear a new watch to some function such as a wedding, budgeted an extra hour to buy it before arriving at the social event. Spending your hard earned dollars should not be that complicated.
I got lucky, only had a 3.5 month wait for the Explorer. I had settled in for a long wait, so was pleasantly surprised. Can't help but wonder if there were people who preferred the 40 so pulled their name off the list for a 36, thereby shortening my wait.
Fun fact...I waited longer for the Baltic MR01 than the Rolex. Go figure.
I saw both in person recently and was surprised by how much more I liked the36 vs the 40. The dial features look better proportioned on the 36 to me than the 40. The 40 isn’t bad, by any means, but the 36 looks ‘right’ to me.
I saw both in person recently and was surprised by how much more I liked the36 vs the 40. The dial features look better proportioned on the 36 to me than the 40. The 40 isn’t bad, by any means, but the 36 looks ‘right’ to me.
Had a similar reaction to the 39mm Explorer years ago but without a 36 to compare it to. The larger sizes just don’t look right to my eye.