Datejust 31 Rolesor Yellow Domed / Oyster / MOP Roman

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31, in its Rolesor iteration with a yellow gold and stainless steel case, embodies the enduring marriage of craftsmanship and understated elegance that defines the collection. Introduced in 1945, the Datejust has long been a symbol of timeless sophistication, and this 31mm reference refines that legacy with a domed yellow gold case that balances modernity with the brand’s storied heritage. The dial, a pristine white MOP surface, is framed by elegant Roman numerals and slender stick hands, their sharpness softened by the gentle curvature of the case. The contrast between the warm hue of the yellow gold and the crisp whiteness of the dial creates a visual harmony that is both classic and refined, while the sapphire crystal ensures clarity and durability. At its heart lies the Caliber 2235, an automatic movement with a certified chronometer rating, offering precision and reliability through its 55-hour power reserve. The closed case back, paired with a water resistance of 100 meters, underscores the watch’s practicality without compromising its luxurious silhouette. This piece is designed for those who value heritage and subtlety, seeking a timepiece that commands respect through quiet distinction. It is equally at home in a boardroom, on a weekend stroll, or as a treasured heirloom—worn not for attention, but for the quiet confidence it conveys.

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.

178243-0005 is one of 31 executions of the 178243 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a white dial and a yellow gold, stainless steel case.

Rolex

White

178243-0001 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

178243-0002 · 31 mm

Rolex

Champagne · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

178243-0003 · 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