Datejust 31 Rolesor Yellow Domed / Oyster / MOP

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31, in its 178243-0001 iteration, embodies a quiet mastery of proportion and refinement, blending the enduring legacy of the Datejust collection with contemporary elegance. The 31mm case, crafted in Rolesor—a harmonious union of 18ct white gold and stainless steel—features a domed profile that amplifies its presence without sacrificing the wrist-fitting grace expected of a modern luxury watch. At its heart lies a mother-of-pearl dial, its iridescent sheen subtly shifting under light, framed by gem-set indexes that add a discreet yet luxurious flourish. The stick hands, paired with a date window at the 6 o’clock position, evoke the clean minimalism of mid-20th-century horology, a nod to the Datejust’s 1945 debut as the first waterproof chronometer-equipped wristwatch with a date display. Powering this timepiece is Rolex’s Caliber 2235, an automatic movement renowned for its precision and reliability, with a 70-hour power reserve that ensures uninterrupted performance. The sapphire crystal, paired with a closed case back, underscores the watch’s robust construction, while its 100-meter water resistance makes it as practical as it is striking. The MOP dial’s interplay with the gold and steel of the case creates a visual balance that feels both timeless and contemporary, a hallmark of Rolex’s ability to evolve without abandoning its roots. This watch is for those who seek distinction through subtlety—a collector who values heritage, craftsmanship, and the quiet confidence of a piece that demands no explanation. It suits occasions where presence matters: a boardroom meeting, a gala, or simply a moment of quiet appreciation on the wrist.

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.

178243-0001 is one of 31 executions of the 178243 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a white dial.

Rolex

Silver · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

178243-0002 · 31 mm

Rolex

Champagne · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

178243-0003 · 31 mm

Rolex

White · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

178243-0005 · 31 mm

Rolex

Champagne · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

178243-0008 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

178243-0016 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

178243-0022 · 31 mm

Rolex

Champagne · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

178243-0024 · 31 mm

Rolex

Black · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

178243-0025 · 31 mm

+ 22 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