Datejust 31 Stainless Steel Fluted / Jubilee / Black

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31, in its 178274-0004 iteration, embodies the quiet authority of a timepiece that has defined elegance since its introduction in 1945. This reference marries the enduring appeal of the Datejust collection—known for its harmonious balance of tradition and innovation—with a contemporary refinement. The black dial, framed by a fluted stainless steel bezel, exudes understated sophistication, its stick indexes and hands offering a clean, legible contrast against the deep hue. The case, a fusion of white gold and stainless steel, adds a layer of tactile richness while maintaining the Datejust’s signature proportionality, with a 31mm diameter that ensures wearability without compromise. The Jubilee bracelet, with its five-link design, wraps the wrist with a gentle, secure embrace, a hallmark of Rolex’s commitment to both comfort and durability. At its heart lies the Caliber 2235, a self-winding movement certified as a chronometer for its precision and reliability. This mechanical workhorse, with its 288 components and 28,800 vibrations per hour, ensures the watch’s performance meets the exacting standards of a brand that has long been synonymous with engineering excellence. The sapphire crystal, paired with a closed case back, protects the intricate mechanics while emphasizing the watch’s robust construction. Water resistance to 100 meters further underscores its practicality, a feature that has evolved since the Datejust’s debut but remains seamlessly integrated into its design. This watch is for the discerning individual who values heritage, craftsmanship, and subtlety. It suits occasions that demand presence—whether in boardrooms, at cultural events, or during moments of quiet reflection. Its enduring design ensures it is as relevant today as it was in the mid-20th century, a testament to the timeless language of horology.

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.

178274-0004 is one of 52 executions of the 178274 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a black dial and a white gold, stainless steel case.

Rolex

Black · White Gold, Stainless Steel

178274-0005 · 31 mm

Rolex

White · White Gold, Stainless Steel

178274-0008 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · White Gold, Stainless Steel

178274-0009 · 31 mm

Rolex

Pink · White Gold, Stainless Steel

178274-0012 · 31 mm

Rolex

Black · White Gold, Stainless Steel

178274-0014 · 31 mm

Rolex

Grey

178274-0016 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · White Gold, Stainless Steel

178274-0017 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · White Gold, Stainless Steel

178274-0018 · 31 mm

+ 43 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