Datejust 31 Rolesor Yellow Domed / Jubilee / Black

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31, in its Rolesor Yellow Domed iteration, embodies the quiet sophistication of a timepiece that has defined luxury horology for generations. The 31mm case, a harmonious blend of yellow gold and stainless steel, reflects the brand’s mastery of metallurgy, while the domed shape evokes the enduring elegance of the Datejust collection, first introduced in 1945 as a symbol of timeless design. The black dial, framed by gem-set indexes and paired with stick hands, offers a striking contrast that underscores the watch’s understated refinement. The Jubilee bracelet, with its signature five-link design, adds a layer of comfort and fluidity, ensuring the piece transitions seamlessly from formal occasions to casual moments of significance. At its core, the Datejust 31 is powered by Rolex’s Caliber 2235, an automatic movement renowned for its precision, reliability, and in-house craftsmanship. The sapphire crystal, paired with a closed case back, ensures durability without compromising the watch’s discreet allure. The 100-meter water resistance and the meticulous attention to detail in every component—from the polished edges of the case to the crisp engravings on the dial—reflect Rolex’s unwavering commitment to quality. This watch is for those who seek a companion that transcends trends, a piece that carries the weight of heritage without demanding attention. It suits the individual who values discretion as much as excellence, whether marking a personal milestone or simply choosing to wear a legacy.

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.

178243-0050 is one of 31 executions of the 178243 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a black 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

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

+ 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