Datejust 31 White Gold Diamond / Jubilee Diamond / Black Roman

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31, in its 178159-0061 iteration, stands as a masterclass in understated opulence, blending the brand’s storied heritage with contemporary refinement. A white gold case, polished to a mirror-like sheen, frames a bezel encrusted with diamonds that catch light with quiet brilliance, while the dial’s deep black expanse is punctuated by Roman numerals and slender stick hands, evoking the timeless elegance of early 20th-century horology. The Jubilee bracelet, with its five-link design, adds a tactile warmth that complements the watch’s formal demeanor, ensuring both comfort and a sense of occasion. As the flagship model of the Datejust collection—a line first introduced in 1945 to mark the debut of the self-winding perpetual calendar—this reference honors a legacy of precision and accessibility, now reimagined with a touch of discreet luxury. At its core, the watch houses the Caliber 2235, a movement that exemplifies Rolex’s engineering prowess. With a 38-hour power reserve and a date display that shifts seamlessly through the sapphire crystal, it underscores the brand’s commitment to reliability and innovation. The 100-meter water resistance, though modest by modern standards, reflects a focus on everyday wearability rather than extreme conditions, aligning with the Datejust’s role as a versatile companion for both professional and personal moments. This watch is for the discerning individual who values heritage without ostentation, seeking a piece that commands respect through craftsmanship rather than volume. It suits formal engagements, yet its enduring design ensures it remains equally at home in the quiet confidence of daily life.

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.

178159-0061 is one of 36 executions of the 178159 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a black 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