The Agony Of Choice: Deciding Between The Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36 And 41
Size matters. That’s certainly the case for the Rolex Oyster Perpetual that comes in no fewer than five sizes — 28, 31, 34, 36, and 41mm. This year, The Crown introduced three soft and shimmering pastel colors — lavender, beige, and pistachio. In addition, there’s a new glossy black lacquered dial and a “med blue” dial that looks like the waters of the coast of Santorini. If choosing between these perfectly executed dial colors wasn’t enough, choosing between a Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36 and 41 can be agonizing. Don’t worry; keep breathing, and it will all be okay. Fratello to the rescue!
The agony of choice regarding the 2025 Oyster Perpetual collection is real. Apart from the classic silver and the forest-green dials, Rolex released three delightfully soft pastel-colored dials, plus a spot-on blue one and a timeless black lacquered dial. And then there are five sizes to choose from. I’m assuming that most Fratello readers have to choose between the OP36 and the OP41 for personal use. Therefore, I will concentrate on the difference between these two versions of The Crown’s entry-level watch.
Reference 134300 on the left, next to the smaller reference 126000
Deciding between the Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36 and 41
The “big” news regarding the OP41 is that reference 124300 is no longer available and has made way for reference 134300. It’s hard to tell the difference between the two references, but the new one has a subtly redesigned case with slightly sharper and thinner lugs — marginal differences that are almost impossible to spot. The crown is the most significant difference between the new and the old OP41. The Twinlock crown on the new reference is bigger, making it easier to operate and giving the watch a more proportioned look.
The overall dimensions have remained the same, but more about that later on. The last update is found on the clasp. The three-row Oyster bracelet made from 904L steel with a satin-brushed finish and polished sides is still the same, but the Oysterclasp is now slightly slimmer than before. The Easylink extension system continues to allow the wearer to quickly change the length of the bracelet by approximately 5mm.
Quite the color palette
Choosing between colors can be difficult, especially with the three pastel shades that Rolex recently added to the OP collection. The lavender, beige, and pistachio dials are made from brass that received six layers of lacquer. If you prefer the purplish lavender dial, you are limited to the 36mm OP or the smaller sizes; a 41mm model in that color doesn’t exist. The other two pastels and the new blue and black dials are available in the OP36 and OP41. It’s still quite the color palette to choose from, and when making a choice, the matter of size rears its head.
Oyster Perpetual 41 and 36
Numbers mean nothing
The 36mm reference 126000 comes in nine dial variations, and the 41mm reference 134300 has six dials to choose from, but the basic models are also two peas in a pod. The difference is in size, proportion, and perception. The size differences can be put in numbers. However, in the case of these carbon-copy watches, the numbers don’t tell the whole story. The 36mm OP measures 35.1mm vertically across the bezel, while the OP41 shows 39.1mm on our Bergeon sliding calipers. By these measurements, both watches are smaller than their names suggest. Other numbers that matter are the 47.3mm lug-to-lug length of the OP41 and the 43.1mm span of the OP36. The biggest of the OPs is 11.8mm thick, and the 36mm version is 11.7mm thick. The lug spacing of the OP41 measures 21mm, while on the 36mm version, it’s 20mm. On both, the bracelet tapers to 17.6mm.
What do these confusing numbers mean in reality? No matter what OP you put on your wrist, like every Rolex, it will look bigger than you think based on the number the brand puts on it. It makes me believe Rolex named the biggest version 41 because the 39mm case wears and looks like a 41. And the same goes for the 35mm model with the name 36. As the watch is smaller, the absolute difference between the name and actual size gets smaller, but it stays the same proportionally. The absence of a magnifier over a date window offers a clean look that also helps create an optical illusion of being bigger than the numbers suggest.
Small but big differences
Small differences have a big impact. The dial opening of the OP41 measures 33.4mm, which is 3.4mm bigger than that of the OP36. That leads to a significantly bigger dial, which changes the look and presence of the watch equally.
If you want to distinguish the 36mm version from the 41mm one without having them side by side, here’s what to look for: the tip of the minute hand on the OP36 doesn’t reach the markings on the outside of the dial, but the minute hand of the bigger one does. Apart from the larger dial surface, the proportions of both watches are quite different.
The Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36 and 41 on the wrist
In real life, the OP41 is 4mm larger in diameter than the OP36, and the difference in thickness is just 0.1mm. This means the OP36 has a stockier build than its larger brother. It’s a subtle difference in real life, but it does give the 36mm model a more traditional appearance than the OP41. The 36 is the classic choice, while the 41 is the contemporary pick. The 36 is the more introverted of the two, and the 41 is a much more present watch, no matter the dial color you pick.
On the wrist, both watches feel more or less the same. The OP41 never looks too big, and the OP36 never seems too small. Sometimes you even have to look twice to see which is on the wrist. If I had to pick, I would probably choose the 36mm version because it feels more timeless and versatile. The OP41 is more casual, especially in a pastel shade. And when looking at the beige and pistachio dials, the sandy one is more timeless than its soft green counterpart — this watch could have been one of my summer watch picks. If I had to pick a GADA watch from the lineup, my choice would be the OP36 in med blue since it is classic and casual, sporty and dressy, and neither too bright nor too subdued.
The same but different
No matter the Rolex Oyster Perpetual you pick, the case is guaranteed waterproof to 100 meters. Inside the two biggest versions of the OP beats the caliber 3230, an in-house self-winding mechanical movement with chronometer status. The price of the OP41 is €6,700, and the OP36 costs €6,400. The €300 price difference won’t be the crucial factor that makes you prefer one watch over another. In the case of the OP, trying on almost all sizes is a good idea. Okay, if you’re in the market for the 41, you don’t have to try the 28, but if you’re sure you want the 36mm version, trying on one size below and one above is not a bad idea. Of course, that’s assuming the watches are available at your local AD, but that is a different matter altogether.
