Datejust 31 Stainless Steel Fluted / Jubilee / Rhodium Roman

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31, in its 178274-0063 iteration, exemplifies the quiet refinement that defines the collection’s enduring legacy. Introduced in 1945 as a response to demand for a self-winding chronometer with a date display, the Datejust has long been a symbol of understated elegance. This particular model updates the classic silhouette with a 31mm case, blending modern proportions with the timeless architecture of the original. The dial, a subdued grey hue, is framed by a fluted bezel in stainless steel, its subtle curves echoing the refined geometry of the Jubilee bracelet. Rhodium-plated Roman numerals and slender stick hands add a touch of restraint, their contrast against the dial’s tone enhancing legibility without drawing undue attention. At its heart lies the Caliber 2235, a COSC-certified automatic movement with a 70-hour power reserve, ensuring precision and reliability. The sapphire crystal, paired with a closed case back, underscores the watch’s durability, while the 100-meter water resistance makes it suitable for everyday wear. The combination of stainless steel and white gold in the case reflects Rolex’s mastery of material integration, offering both resilience and a warm, lustrous finish. This watch is for those who value discretion as much as craftsmanship—professionals, connoisseurs, and collectors who seek a timepiece that complements a refined lifestyle without overt statement. It suits formal occasions with ease, yet its versatility ensures it remains a steadfast companion in both professional and personal settings.

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.

178274-0063 is one of 52 executions of the 178274 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a grey dial and a white gold, stainless steel case.

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