Datejust 31 White Gold Diamond / Jubilee Diamond / Paved Roman

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31, in its 178159-0044 iteration, embodies the quiet authority of a timepiece that has defined elegance for generations. A modern interpretation of the Datejust collection’s enduring legacy, this model marries the brand’s mastery of craftsmanship with a refined aesthetic. The white gold case, polished to a luminous sheen, frames a dial that is both understated and opulent: a pave-set surface of diamonds forms the backdrop for Roman numerals, their crisp edges echoing the clean lines of the stick hands. The bezel, encrusted with gemstones, adds a subtle yet unmistakable touch of luxury, while the sapphire crystal ensures clarity and durability. The Jubilee bracelet, with its five-link design, complements the watch’s balance of formality and wearability, a hallmark of the Datejust’s enduring appeal since its debut in 1945. At its core, the watch houses the Caliber 2235, a self-winding movement that delivers precision with a power reserve of approximately 55 hours. Its construction, from the oscillating weight to the gear train, reflects Rolex’s commitment to mechanical excellence—a quiet testament to the brand’s engineering ethos. The 31mm case diameter, paired with a 16mm lug width, ensures a presence that is neither overwhelming nor diminutive, striking a balance suited to both casual and formal settings. This watch is for the discerning individual who values subtlety over ostentation, a collector who understands that true luxury lies in the harmony of detail and tradition. It is a companion for moments that demand refinement, whether in the boardroom, at a gala, or on the wrist of someone who knows the

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.

178159-0044 is one of 36 executions of the 178159 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a paved 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