Buy the Datejust for a dressier everyday Rolex with more dial and metal choice, and buy the Submariner for a dive watch with a rotating ceramic bezel and deeper water resistance. Most buyers should pick the Datejust. A steel one costs less new, comes in 31, 36 and 41 mm, and slips under a cuff with ease. The Submariner is the better tool for the water. Bizak & Co. is a sourcing desk, not an authorized Rolex dealer: every watch here is found to order, not held in stock.
Last updated on November 2, 2026. Sources: Rolex Submariner 124060, Rolex Submariner Date 126610LN, Rolex Datejust 41 126300, Rolex Datejust 36 126200, Rolex Datejust models, Chrono24.
What is the difference between a Datejust and a Submariner?
The Datejust is a fixed-bezel everyday watch, and the Submariner is a dive watch with a rotating ceramic bezel. Rolex launched the Datejust in 1945, with the date in a window at 3 o'clock. The Submariner came in 1953 as Rolex's first divers' watch with 100 meters of water resistance. Rolex now gives it 300 meters. The Submariner Date, with a date window, arrived in 1969. Our Submariner date vs no date guide covers that choice. Both watches have an Oyster case, a screw-down crown, a sapphire crystal and a self-winding Rolex movement. The table shows the current Rolex specs.
| Spec | Datejust 36 and 41 | Submariner 124060 | Submariner Date 126610LN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case size | 36 mm or 41 mm (31 mm also offered) | 41 mm | 41 mm |
| Case material | Oystersteel, or white Rolesor (steel and white gold) on 126234 and 126334 | Oystersteel | Oystersteel |
| Other metals in the line | Steel with yellow or Everose gold | None on the no-date model | Steel with yellow gold, or solid yellow gold |
| Bezel | Fixed: smooth (126300), domed (126200) or fluted gold (126234, 126334) | Rotating, 60-minute, black Cerachrom ceramic | Rotating, 60-minute, black Cerachrom ceramic |
| Date | Date at 3 o'clock under a Cyclops lens | No date | Date under a Cyclops lens |
| Bracelet | Oyster (three-piece links) or Jubilee (five-piece links) | Oyster, three-piece solid links | Oyster, three-piece solid links |
| Clasp | Oysterclasp with 5 mm Easylink extension | Oysterlock safety clasp with Glidelock extension | Oysterlock safety clasp with Glidelock extension |
| Crown | Twinlock | Triplock | Triplock |
| Caliber | 3235 | 3230 | 3235 |
| Power reserve | About 70 hours | About 70 hours | About 70 hours |
| Accuracy after casing | -2/+2 seconds a day | -2/+2 seconds a day | -2/+2 seconds a day |
| Water resistance | 100 m (330 ft) | 300 m (1,000 ft) | 300 m (1,000 ft) |
| Model line launched | 1945 | 1953 | 1969 (date added) |
Choice is the other big gap. Rolex's US site lists more than 600 Datejust watches and 7 Submariner watches. The Datejust comes in 31, 36 and 41 mm. It comes in steel, and in steel with white, yellow or Everose gold. Rolex also makes a solid gold Datejust 31. Every current Submariner is 41 mm. It comes in steel, steel with yellow gold, or yellow gold. That leaves far more dial and metal combinations on the Datejust side.
Do the Datejust and Submariner use the same movement?
Almost. The Datejust 36, the Datejust 41 and the Submariner Date all use caliber 3235, and the no-date Submariner uses caliber 3230. Rolex makes both calibers itself. Each one holds about 70 hours of power. Rolex rates each watch to -2/+2 seconds a day after casing. So the movement is not a reason to pick one. The case, the bezel and the water rating are.
How do the water resistance and bezel compare?
The Submariner has 300 meters of water resistance and the Datejust has 100 meters, and only the Submariner has a rotating dive bezel. That bezel turns one way and has 60-minute markings, so a diver can time a dive and decompression stops. Its insert is Cerachrom, a hard ceramic that Rolex calls virtually scratchproof. The Submariner Date 126610LN has a Triplock crown, and so does the 124060. The Datejust has a Twinlock crown. If you do not plan to dive, the extra rating is a bonus, not a need. The Datejust bezel stays fixed. It can be smooth, domed or fluted.
How does each watch wear under a cuff?
The Datejust slips under a cuff more easily. Its bezel is fixed, so it can be smooth, domed or fluted, and nothing turns. Rolex gives the Submariner a rotating bezel with a knurled edge for grip with gloves, and that edge can snag a snug sleeve. Size helps too. The Datejust 36 126200 is 36 mm. The Datejust 41 126300 and both Submariners are 41 mm. For more on size, read Datejust 36 vs 41. Rolex does not list case height on its spec pages, so try both on. The Submariner clasp has a Glidelock system that lets you adjust the fit without tools. The Datejust clasp has an Easylink piece that adds about 5 mm of length.
How much do the Datejust and Submariner cost?
A steel Datejust lists in the high four figures, and a steel Submariner lists in the low five figures. Those are Rolex US list prices on November 2, 2026. White Rolesor Datejust 36 and 41 models, which pair steel with white gold, list from the high four to the low five figures. That puts a 126334 or 126234 close to a steel Submariner. Asking prices on Chrono24 usually run higher. For the Submariner 124060 and the Submariner Date 126610LN, they sit in the low five figures. For the steel Datejust 126300 and 126200, they run from the high four to the low five figures. Asking prices are not sale prices. The table covers the middle 80 percent of the first 60 Chrono24 listings for each reference.
| Reference | Watch | Metal and bezel | Rolex US list band | Chrono24 asking band | Chrono24 listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 126200 | Datejust 36 | Oystersteel, domed bezel | High four figures | High four to low five figures | 1,191 |
| 126300 | Datejust 41 | Oystersteel, smooth bezel | High four figures | High four to low five figures | 2,822 |
| 126234 | Datejust 36 | White Rolesor, fluted bezel | High four to low five figures | Low five figures | 2,387 |
| 126334 | Datejust 41 | White Rolesor, fluted bezel | Low five figures | Low five figures | 4,171 |
| 124060 | Submariner | Oystersteel, black Cerachrom bezel | Low five figures | Low five figures | 587 |
| 126610LN | Submariner Date | Oystersteel, black Cerachrom bezel | Low five figures | Low five figures | 866 |
Which is easier to buy, a Datejust or a Submariner?
On Chrono24, the Datejust is easier to buy, new or pre-owned. On November 2, 2026, a Chrono24 search for the Datejust 41 126300 showed 2,822 listings. The same search for the Submariner 124060 showed 587. That is nearly five times as many. The 126334 showed 4,171 listings, against 866 for the Submariner Date 126610LN. Prices point the same way. Among the first 60 Chrono24 listings for the 126300, the cheapest asks less than Rolex's list price, and the sixth cheapest asks about 6% over. For the 124060, the cheapest asks about 14% over list, and the sixth cheapest asks about a quarter over. That hints at a Submariner that is hard to get at list. Asking prices are not sale prices, so treat this as a signal. Browse the Datejust range and the Submariner range to see the references.
Datejust or Submariner: which should you buy?
Most buyers should buy the Datejust. Buy the Datejust if you want one Rolex for the office, dinner and the weekend. Buy it if you want a lower price in steel, a 36 mm or 41 mm case, or a fluted gold bezel. The Datejust 36 range and the Datejust 41 range cover both sizes.
Buy the Submariner if you want a dive watch with a rotating ceramic bezel and 300 meters of water resistance. Buy it if you like the tool-watch look and can pay more and search longer. Still unsure? Read our best first Rolex guide. If you want gold, read Day-Date vs Datejust. If budget is tight, see Oyster Perpetual vs Datejust.
Related reading: Best Rolex for men and Rolex GMT-Master II vs Submariner.
Quick answers
Is the Datejust or the Submariner better?
Neither is better, because they do different jobs. The Datejust is the better everyday and dress watch. The Submariner is the better dive watch.
Do the Datejust and Submariner use the same movement?
Almost. The Datejust 36, the Datejust 41 and the Submariner Date all use caliber 3235, and the no-date Submariner uses caliber 3230. All four hold about 70 hours of power.
Does the Submariner have a date?
The Submariner Date 126610LN does, under a Cyclops lens. The Submariner 124060 has no date. Every Datejust shows the date at 3 o'clock.
Which costs more new?
The Submariner costs more in steel. Rolex lists a steel Submariner in the low five figures and a steel Datejust in the high four figures. A white Rolesor Datejust 126234 or 126334 lists close to a steel Submariner.
Which Rolex should I buy first?
For most buyers, the Datejust. It costs less in steel, suits more dress codes and is easier to find on Chrono24. Choose the Submariner first if you want a sports watch for the water.
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Want a Datejust or a Submariner found? Tell us the model, size, material and strap or bracelet, whether you want new or pre-owned, and your budget and timing, through our sourcing enquiry form. We confirm the specific watch, photographs and final price before you commit, and a $200 deposit, credited to the price, starts your sourcing request.
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