Datejust 31 Rolesor Yellow Fluted / Jubilee / Black MOP

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31, in its Rolesor iteration of yellow gold and stainless steel, embodies a refined balance of tradition and modernity. The 31mm case, framed by a fluted bezel and paired with a Jubilee bracelet, retains the Datejust’s iconic silhouette while adapting to contemporary preferences for subtler proportions. At its heart lies a black mother-of-pearl dial, its iridescent sheen enhanced by gem-set indexes that catch light with quiet precision. The stick hands, crisp and minimalist, complement the dial’s elegance without competing with it. This reference, part of the Datejust collection first introduced in 1945, continues the lineage of a watch that has long symbolized understated sophistication—a timepiece as much at home in boardroom settings as it is on the wrist of a seasoned collector. The Caliber 2235 movement, automatic and chronometer-certified, ensures reliability and accuracy, its finishing reflecting Rolex’s commitment to mechanical excellence. The sapphire crystal, paired with a closed case back, protects the intricate work within while emphasizing the watch’s durability. The 100-meter water resistance, though not a feature often flaunted, underscores the Datejust’s practicality without compromising its status as a luxury object. This watch is for those who value heritage as much as horology, seeking a piece that speaks through craftsmanship rather than ostentation. It suits occasions that demand discretion—business meetings, evening engagements, or simply the quiet confidence of daily wear—for individuals who recognize that true luxury lies in the harmony

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.

178273-0083 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