Datejust 31 Yellow Gold Fluted / Oyster / Silver Roman

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31, in its Yellow Gold Fluted Oyster case, embodies the quiet authority of a timepiece that has defined elegance since its introduction in 1945. This particular iteration, with its 31-millimeter diameter and 16-millimeter lug width, strikes a balance between presence and proportion, ensuring it sits comfortably on the wrist while retaining the gravitas of a true luxury watch. The dial, a sunburst-finished silver disk, is adorned with Roman numerals and stick hands that exude restraint and precision, their simplicity heightened by the contrast of the fluted bezel’s polished edges. The sapphire crystal, paired with a closed case back, underscores the watch’s durability without compromising its refined aesthetic, a hallmark of the Datejust’s enduring appeal. At its heart lies the Caliber 2235, an automatic movement that integrates a date display and a power reserve of approximately 55 hours, reflecting Rolex’s commitment to both technical mastery and user convenience. The yellow gold, a material synonymous with the brand’s legacy, is meticulously crafted to maintain its luster over decades, a testament to the craftsmanship that has positioned the Datejust as a symbol of timeless value. This watch is for the individual who seeks distinction without ostentation, whose presence is marked by understated confidence. It suits occasions where precision and tradition matter—whether in a boardroom, at a gala, or as a companion to life’s most significant moments. Its heritage, design, and engineering converge to create a piece that transcends trends, offering a quiet assertion of legacy.

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.

178278-0126 is one of 37 executions of the 178278 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a silver sunburst dial and a yellow gold case.

Rolex

White · Yellow Gold

178278-0010 · 31 mm

Rolex

Champagne · Yellow Gold

178278-0018 · 31 mm

Rolex

Champagne · Yellow Gold

178278-0021 · 31 mm

Rolex

Champagne · Yellow Gold

178278-0025 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · Yellow Gold

178278-0028 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · Yellow Gold

178278-0031 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · Yellow Gold

178278-0034 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · Yellow Gold

178278-0037 · 31 mm

+ 28 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