Datejust 31 Rolesor Yellow Fluted / Oyster/ Black MOP

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31, in its Rolesor Yellow Fluted iteration, embodies the quiet authority of a timepiece that has defined elegance for generations. With a 31mm case crafted from a harmonious blend of 18ct yellow gold and stainless steel, its fluted bezel—a hallmark of the Datejust collection since 1945—adds a tactile and visual refinement that remains instantly recognizable. The dial, a deep black mother-of-pearl surface, catches light with a subtle iridescence, while the gem-set indexes and slender stick hands create a balance between restraint and sophistication. This particular reference, with its closed case back and sapphire crystal, preserves the Datejust’s legacy of understated durability, ensuring it remains as functional as it is refined. At its heart lies the Caliber 2235, a self-winding movement with a date display that exemplifies Rolex’s commitment to precision engineering. The watch’s 100-meter water resistance and Oyster case construction further underscore its reliability, a testament to the brand’s enduring reputation for quality. The Datejust 31’s design, though rooted in the mid-20th century, feels perpetually contemporary—its proportions and materials speaking to a timeless silhouette that transcends trends. This watch is for the discerning individual who values heritage without ostentation, a piece suited to both formal occasions and the quiet confidence of everyday wear. It is not a statement, but a legacy in the making.

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.

178273-0081 is one of 32 executions of the 178273 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a black dial.

Rolex

Champagne · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

178273-0001 · 31 mm

Rolex

Champagne · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

178273-0002 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

178273-0006 · 31 mm

Rolex

Champagne · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

178273-0009 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

178273-0010 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

178273-0011 · 31 mm

Rolex

Champagne · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

178273-0013 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

178273-0015 · 31 mm

+ 23 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