Datejust 31 Yellow Gold Domed / Oyster / MOP

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31, in its 178248-0014 iteration, embodies the quiet authority of a timepiece that has defined elegance since its introduction in 1945. This particular reference marries the enduring appeal of the Datejust collection with a refined interpretation of classic luxury: a 31-millimeter yellow gold case, its domed form lending a sense of warmth and presence, paired with a mother-of-pearl dial that shimmers with a subtle, organic iridescence. The dial’s white hue is accented by gem-set indexes, their precision-cut edges catching light with quiet sophistication, while stick hands trace the hours with unobtrusive clarity. The Oyster case, sealed with a sapphire crystal and a closed back, ensures resilience without compromising the watch’s sculptural elegance, its 100-meter water resistance a testament to Rolex’s commitment to durability. At its heart lies the Caliber 2235, an automatic movement distinguished by its high-frequency balance wheel and Parachrom hairspring, ensuring exceptional precision and reliability. The Datejust 31’s lineage is steeped in the brand’s legacy of innovation and timeless design, a lineage that this reference honors through its restrained opulence. Its proportions—modest in size yet commanding in presence—make it a watch that thrives in the interplay between intimacy and grandeur. This timepiece is for those who value understated sophistication, whose tastes are shaped by heritage rather than trend. It suits the discerning wearer who seeks a companion for both formal occasions and the quiet moments of daily life, a watch that speaks in the language of enduring craftsmanship.

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.

178248-0014 is one of 38 executions of the 178248 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a white dial and a yellow gold case.

Rolex

Champagne · Yellow Gold

178248-0012 · 31 mm

Rolex

White · Yellow Gold

178248-0013 · 31 mm

Rolex

Black · Yellow Gold

178248-0019 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · Yellow Gold

178248-0020 · 31 mm

Rolex

Champagne · Yellow Gold

178248-0023 · 31 mm

Rolex

White · Yellow Gold

178248-0025 · 31 mm

Rolex

Black · Yellow Gold

178248-0026 · 31 mm

Rolex

Champagne · Yellow Gold

178248-0028 · 31 mm

+ 29 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