Datejust 31 Stainless Steel Fluted / Oyster / Meteorite

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31, in its 178274-0059 iteration, marries the brand’s enduring commitment to precision with a dial that evokes the cosmos. The meteorite dial, a signature element of this reference, displays a mesmerizing, organic pattern formed by the natural fracturing of meteorite iron, its deep grey tones shifting subtly with the angle of light. Set against this backdrop are gem-set indexes, their quiet brilliance complementing the simplicity of the stick hands, while the fluted stainless steel case—reminiscent of the Datejust’s 1945 debut—adds a tactile, sculptural presence. This model, part of a collection that has long symbolized timeless elegance, retains the Datejust’s role as a bridge between tradition and modernity, its 31mm diameter offering a refined, wearable scale. Beneath the sapphire crystal lies the Caliber 2235, a self-winding movement with a certified chronometer rating, ensuring accuracy and reliability. The closed case back, paired with a water resistance of 100 meters, underscores the watch’s practicality without compromising its aesthetic restraint. The meteorite dial’s unique character, coupled with the polished finish of the Oyster case, reflects Rolex’s mastery of material science and horological craft. This watch is for the discerning individual who values subtlety over ostentation, heritage over trend. It suits the boardroom, the gala, or the quiet moments in between—worn as a testament to understated sophistication, its presence speaking volumes without needing to.

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.

178274-0059 is one of 52 executions of the 178274 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a grey dial.

Rolex

Black · White Gold, Stainless Steel

178274-0004 · 31 mm

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

+ 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