Datejust 31 Yellow Gold Diamond / Oyster / Black

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31 in yellow gold with a diamond-set bezel and black dial represents a masterful synthesis of enduring elegance and refined modernity. Within the storied lineage of the Datejust collection—a symbol of timeless sophistication since 1945—this reference distinguishes itself through its meticulous attention to detail and the quiet opulence of its construction. The 31mm yellow gold case, polished to a mirror-like finish, frames a dial that exudes understated luxury, its matte black surface complemented by sleek stick indexes and hands that ensure legibility without intruding on the composition. A gem-set bezel, each diamond carefully placed to enhance rather than overshadow, adds a touch of discreet brilliance, while the sapphire crystal protects the dial with unobtrusive clarity. At the heart of the watch lies the Caliber 2235, a self-winding movement renowned for its precision and reliability, featuring a date display and a 70-hour power reserve. The closed case back, a subtle nod to the watch’s heritage of craftsmanship, underscores the commitment to quality that defines Rolex. This piece is designed for those who seek a timepiece that transcends trends, offering a balance of heritage and contemporary appeal. It is the kind of watch that commands quiet respect, whether worn during a formal evening event or as a discreet companion to everyday moments of significance. For collectors and discerning wearers alike, it embodies the enduring value of a watch that is as much about legacy as it is about artistry.

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.

178288-0075 is one of 38 executions of the 178288 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a black 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

Silver · Yellow Gold

178288-0012 · 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

+ 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