Size is important. That’s certainly the case for the Rolex Oyster Perpetual, which is five or more sizes: 28, 31, 34, 36, and 41mm. This year, Crown introduced three soft, sparkling pastel colors: lavender, beige and pistachio. Plus, there is a new shiny black lacquered dial and a “Med Blue” dial that looks like the ocean on the Santorini coast. If choosing these fully executed dial colors isn’t enough, choosing one of the Rolex Oyster’s permanent 36 and 41 can be painful. Don’t worry; keep breathing, and it’s all fine. Fraterrrés to rescue!
The pain of choices regarding the 2025 Oyster Perpetual Collection is genuine. Apart from the classic silver and forest green dials, Rolex has released three fun, soft pastel dials, plus a spot-on-blue dial and a timeless black lacquer dial. And there are five sizes to choose from. I assume that most Fraterotic readers need to choose OP36 and OP41 for personal use. So we focus on the differences between these two versions at the entry level of the crown.
Next to the left side reference 134300 and small reference 126000
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36 and 41 Decide
The “big” news about OP41 is that reference 124300 has become unavailable and has given way to reference 134300. It is difficult to convey the difference between the two references, but the new one has a subtly redesigned case with a slightly sharper and thin lug. The crown is the most important difference between the new OP41 and the old OP41. The new reference Twinlock crown is larger, easier to operate, and gives the watch a more proportional look.
The overall dimensions remain the same, but we’ll go into more detail later. The final update is in the clasp. The three rows of oyster bracelets made of 904L steel with satin brush finish and polished sides are still the same, but the OysterClassp is slightly slimmer than before. The EasyLink expansion system continues to allow wearers to change the length of their bracelets by approximately 5mm.
A pretty colour palette
Choosing a color can be difficult, especially with the three pastel shades Rolex recently added to its OP collection. The lavender, beige and pistachio dials are made from brass that receives six layers of lacquer. If you prefer a purple lavender dial, you are limited to a 36mm OP or smaller size. There is no 41mm model in that color. Two other pastels and new blue and black dials are available in OP36 and OP41. It is still a color palette to choose, and when choosing, size issues grow your head.
Oyster Permanent 41 and 36
Numbers have no meaning
The 36mm Reference 126000 comes in nine dial variations, while the 41mm Reference 134300 has six dials, but the base model is two peas from the pod. The differences are size, percentage, and perception. Differences in size can be placed in numbers. However, for these carbon copy watches, the numbers don’t tell the entire story. The 36mm OP measures the bezel vertically to 35.1mm, and the OP41 shows 39.1mm on the sliding caliper of the vasion. Due to these measurements, both watches are smaller than their names suggest. Other important figures are the OP41’s 47.3mm lug to lug length and OP36’s 43.1mm span. The maximum thickness of the OPS is 11.8mm, while the 36mm version has a thickness of 11.7mm. The lug spacing for the OP41 is 21mm, but the 36mm version is 20mm. In both cases, the bracelet tapers to 17.6mm.
OP41 Pistachio
OP36 Beige
What do these confusing numbers actually mean? Like all Rolex, no matter what OP you put on your wrist, it looks bigger than you think based on the number the brand has. I believe Rolex named the largest version 41, as the 39mm case looks like the 41. The same can be said for the 36 model for the 35mm model. As the clock gets smaller, the absolute difference between the name and the actual size is smaller, but it is proportional to the same. The lack of an enlarger in the date window provides a clean look that helps create an optical illusion that will be larger than the numbers indicate.
Small but big difference
Small differences have a big impact. The dial opening of the OP41 measures 33.4mm. This is 3.4mm larger than that of the OP36. It leads to a very large dial, which evenly changes the appearance and presence of the watch.
op36
OP41
If you want to distinguish the 36mm version from the 41mm version without aligning it, here’s what to look for. The fine tip of the OP36’s hand does not reach the mark on the outside of the dial, but the larger hand does not reach the one minute’s hand. Apart from the large dial surface, both watches have a totally different proportion.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36 and 41 on the Wrist
In real life, the OP41 is 4mm larger in diameter than the OP36, with only 0.1mm thick difference. This means that OP36 has more stocker builds than its larger siblings. It’s a subtle difference in real life, but it gives the 36mm model a more traditional look than the OP41. The 36 is a classic choice, and the 41 is a modern pick. 36 is more introverted of the two, and 41 is a much more current watch, regardless of the color of the dial you choose.
On the wrist, both watches feel more or less the same. OP41 is not too big, OP36 doesn’t look too small. Sometimes you have to look twice to see what’s on your wrist. If I had to choose, I would probably opt for the 36mm version as I feel it would probably be more timeless and versatile. The OP41 is more casual, especially in pastel shades. And looking at the beige and pistachio dials, the sandy dials are more timeless than the soft green counterparts. This watch might have been one of my summer watch picks. If I had to choose a GADA watch from the lineup, my choice is the OP36 from Med Blue, as it is classic, casual, sporty, dressy and not too bright or restrained.
Same but different
Even the permanent Rolex Oyster of your choice, the case is guaranteed to be waterproof up to 100 meters. Within the two biggest versions of the OP, it beats the Calibre 3230. This is an in-house automatic mechanical movement with chronometer status. The price of the OP41 is 6,700 euros, while the price of the OP36 is 6,400 euros. A price difference of 300 euros is not a key factor in favoring one watch over another. For the OP, it’s a good idea to try almost every size. Well, if you’re in the market for 41, you don’t need to try the 28, but if you want the 36mm version, it’s not a bad idea to try the one size below. Of course, it assumes that the watch is available in your local ads, but that’s a completely different matter.
