Datejust 31 Yellow Gold Diamond / President / Silver Diamond

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31, in its 178288-0012 iteration, exemplifies the quiet authority of a timepiece that balances heritage with contemporary refinement. A 31-millimeter yellow gold case, polished to a warm luster, frames a silver dial finished with a sunburst pattern that catches light with subtle gradation. The bezel, adorned with gem-set diamonds, complements the gem-set indexes, creating a harmonious interplay of sparkle and restraint. This particular model, part of the Datejust collection introduced in 1945, retains the enduring elegance that has made it a cornerstone of Rolex’s legacy—its design a testament to the brand’s commitment to precision and timeless aesthetics. The watch is secured by a president bracelet, its links meticulously crafted to ensure both comfort and a sense of quiet opulence. At its heart lies the Caliber 2235, an automatic movement renowned for its reliability and the inclusion of a date display that operates with seamless precision. The sapphire crystal, paired with a closed case back, underscores the watch’s durability, while its 100-meter water resistance ensures it remains functional beyond formal settings. The interplay of materials—gold, diamond, and silver—reflects a mastery of craftsmanship that has defined Rolex for over a century. This watch is for the discerning individual who values understated sophistication, whether in the boardroom, at a gala, or as a quiet statement of legacy. It is not merely an instrument of timekeeping but a reflection of the wearer’s appreciation for heritage, artistry, and the quiet confidence of a well-made object.

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.

178288-0012 is one of 38 executions of the 178288 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

178288-0001 · 31 mm

Rolex

Champagne · Yellow Gold

178288-0007 · 31 mm

Rolex

White · Yellow Gold

178288-0010 · 31 mm

Rolex

Black · Yellow Gold

178288-0011 · 31 mm

Rolex

Black · Yellow Gold

178288-0016 · 31 mm

Rolex

Champagne · Yellow Gold

178288-0021 · 31 mm

Rolex

White · Yellow Gold

178288-0025 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · Yellow Gold

178288-0028 · 31 mm

+ 29 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