Datejust 31 White Gold Fluted / President / Pink Diamond

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31 Reference 178279-0036 stands as a masterful synthesis of enduring elegance and meticulous craftsmanship, embodying the Datejust collection’s legacy as one of the most iconic timepieces in horology. Introduced in 1945, the Datejust redefined the standards of a luxury watch with its self-winding movement and date display, a innovation that remains central to its identity. This particular iteration, in white gold with a pink dial, elevates the collection’s timeless design through a striking interplay of color and material. The sunburst-finished dial, rendered in a soft, rose-hued tone, is framed by gem-set indexes that catch light with quiet brilliance, while the stick hands provide a clean, legible contrast. The fluted bezel and President bracelet—characterized by its triple-link construction and hidden clasp—add a layer of refinement that underscores the watch’s status as a symbol of discreet sophistication. At its core, the Datejust 31 houses the Caliber 2235, a self-winding movement certified as a chronometer for its precision and reliability. This mechanical heart, paired with the watch’s 100-meter water resistance, ensures both performance and durability without compromising the piece’s svelte 31-millimeter case. The choice of white gold, a material synonymous with Rolex’s commitment to quality, lends the watch a warm, enduring luster that ages gracefully. This timepiece is for the discerning individual who values heritage and subtlety, seeking a watch that commands attention through restraint. It suits occasions where presence speaks louder than volume—a gala, a boardroom, or a quiet moment of reflection—worn as both a testament to legacy and a personal statement.

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.

178279-0036 is one of 25 executions of the 178279 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a pink sunburst dial and a white gold case.

Rolex

Silver · White Gold

178279-0006 · 31 mm

Rolex

Grey · White Gold

178279-0008 · 31 mm

Rolex

White · White Gold

178279-0015 · 31 mm

Rolex

Black · White Gold

178279-0017 · 31 mm

Rolex

Blue · White Gold

178279-0033 · 31 mm

Rolex

Blue · White Gold

178279-0041 · 31 mm

Rolex

Pink · White Gold

178279-0043 · 31 mm

Rolex

Black · White Gold

178279-0046 · 31 mm

+ 16 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