Datejust 31 Stainless Steel Fluted / Oyster / Purple - Roman

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31, in its 178274-0087 iteration, embodies a refined balance of tradition and modernity, distinguished by its striking purple dial and the interplay of white gold and stainless steel. The fluted bezel, a hallmark of the Datejust collection since its 1945 debut, lends a timeless elegance, while the Oyster case ensures robustness without compromising sophistication. The dial’s deep purple hue, paired with Roman numeral indexes and slender stick hands, creates a visual harmony that is both distinctive and understated. This reference, though part of a collection synonymous with enduring heritage, subtly reimagines classic design through a contemporary color palette, appealing to those who seek a watch that commands attention without ostentation. At its core, the Datejust 31 is powered by Rolex’s in-house Caliber 2235, a self-winding movement celebrated for its precision, reliability, and the inclusion of a Parachrom blue balance spring, which enhances resistance to shocks and magnetic fields. The sapphire crystal, paired with a closed case back, underscores the watch’s commitment to durability and discretion. Measuring 31mm in diameter, its proportions are tailored for those who prefer a refined presence on the wrist, balancing the Datejust’s historical role as a symbol of achievement with a more intimate scale. This watch is for the discerning individual who values heritage, craftsmanship, and quiet distinction. It suits occasions where subtlety speaks volumes—whether in the boardroom, at a gala, or during moments of personal reflection. Its presence is a testament to the wearer’s appreciation for timepieces that transcend trends, marrying technical mastery with an enduring aesthetic.

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.

178274-0087 is one of 52 executions of the 178274 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a purple 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