Datejust 31 White Gold Diamond / President / Meteorite

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31 in white gold, reference 178159-0021, embodies the quiet authority of a timepiece that has defined elegance for over seven decades. Within the Datejust collection, which first introduced the now-legendary date display in 1945, this model stands apart through its meticulous interplay of materials and finishes. The dial, a deep grey meteorite pattern, captures the organic, celestial textures of the celestial body itself, while the gem-set indexes and bezel add a discreet yet unmistakable touch of opulence. The case, crafted in 18ct white gold, is both a nod to tradition and a testament to Rolex’s mastery of precious metals, its polished surfaces reflecting light with a subtlety that avoids ostentation. At its heart lies the Caliber 2235, a self-winding movement with a date function and a power reserve of approximately 50 hours, engineered to the exacting standards for which Rolex is renowned. The sapphire crystal, paired with a closed case back, ensures the watch’s mechanical integrity remains uncompromised, while the President bracelet—characterized by its three-piece links and hidden clasp—offers a balance of comfort and refinement. This watch is for the individual who values understated sophistication, seeking a timepiece that transcends trends yet remains perpetually relevant. It is suited to moments that demand both presence and restraint: a gala, a boardroom, or simply a quiet afternoon when the weight of craftsmanship is best appreciated in silence

In Context

At 31 mm it is small by current standards, in the range most wristwatches occupied before cases began growing through the 1990s. The case back is closed, so the movement stays out of sight, and the sapphire crystal will resist everything short of deliberate abuse. 100 m is genuine swimming resistance — more than the shape of this watch suggests it would need.

The movement winds itself from the motion of your wrist. 48 hours of reserve is enough to set it down on Friday evening and find it still running on Monday. At 28,800 vph the seconds hand advances 8 times a second.

178159-0021 is one of 36 executions of the 178159 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a grey dial and a white gold case.

Rolex

White · White Gold

178159-0001 · 31 mm

Rolex

Pink · White Gold

178159-0002 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · White Gold

178159-0007 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · White Gold

178159-0010 · 31 mm

Rolex

Grey · White Gold

178159-0011 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · White Gold

178159-0012 · 31 mm

Rolex

Pink · White Gold

178159-0014 · 31 mm

Rolex

Black · White Gold

178159-0015 · 31 mm

+ 27 more variants in this family.

The 2235 is the small Rolex automatic of the six-digit generation, a 20 mm movement with a date. It carried the Datejust 31 and the 26 mm Lady-Datejust from around 2000 until the 2236 replaced it. It powers 733 watches in this library. It has 31 jewels, a 48-hour reserve and a beat of 28,800 vph, and every one is a COSC chronometer. It is the same architecture as the [2236](/calibers/rolex-2236) that followed, without the silicon Syloxi hairspring and with seven hours less reserve; the [2236 piece](/blog/the-rolex-2236-the-most-common-movement-in-this-library) explains what changed. The library finds it almost entirely in the [Datejust 31](/brands/rolex/datejust-31): 682 references, the 1782xx generation, whose 45 base references and hundreds of dial variants make that collection the largest here. The 26 mm [Lady-Datejust](/brands/rolex/lady-datejust) of the 1791xx generation accounts for 29, the [Pearlmaster](/brands/rolex/pearlmaster) 29 mm and 34 mm for 19, and the 35 mm Yacht-Master for 3. A six-digit Datejust 31 reference is a 2235; the seven-digit one is a 2236, as the [reference-number guide](/blog/how-to-read-a-watch-reference-number) explains. The 2231 was its no-date sibling in the Oyster Perpetual, and the [3135](/calibers/rolex-3135) its counterpart in the 36 mm cases.

732 other watches in the library run the Rolex 2235.

Rolex

Datejust 31 Yellow Gold Diamond / Oyster / Black MOP

178158-0056 · 31 mm

Rolex

Datejust 31 Stainless Steel Diamond / Oyster / Pink MOP

178384-0061 · 31 mm

Rolex

Datejust 31 Rolesor Everose Domed / Jubilee / Black MOP

178241-0043 · 31 mm

Rolex

Datejust 31 Yellow Gold Domed / Oyster / Champagne Roman

178248-0079 · 31 mm