Datejust 31 Rolesor Yellow Fluted Diamond / Oyster / MOP Roman

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31 178313-0033 embodies the quiet refinement that defines the Datejust collection, a lineage of timepieces first introduced in 1945 as a response to the demand for a watch that could seamlessly transition from boardroom to evening gala. This particular model, distinguished by its Rolesor construction—combining 18ct yellow gold with stainless steel—features a fluted diamond-set bezel that echoes the iconic design language of the Oyster case, while the dial’s mother-of-pearl surface shimmers with a soft, iridescent white hue. The Roman numerals and slender stick hands lend a timeless elegance, balanced by the subtle contrast of the MOP dial against the polished gold accents. At 31mm in diameter, the case offers a more intimate scale than its larger counterparts, ensuring a comfortable fit without compromising the presence of the watch. Beneath the sapphire crystal lies the Caliber 2235, a self-winding movement engineered for precision and reliability, with a date function discreetly housed at the 3 o’clock position—a hallmark of the Datejust’s enduring appeal. The closed case back and 100-meter water resistance underscore Rolex’s commitment to durability, while the Oyster case’s rounded form and 16mm lug width reflect a balance between tradition and modern wearability. This watch is for those who value understated sophistication, seeking a piece that merges heritage with contemporary craftsmanship. It is equally at home in the quiet moments of daily life or as a discreet statement of discernment

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.

178313-0033 is one of 31 executions of the 178313 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a white dial.

Rolex

Black · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

178313-0001 · 31 mm

Rolex

White

178313-0002 · 31 mm

Rolex

Champagne · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

178313-0006 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

178313-0013 · 31 mm

Rolex

Champagne · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

178313-0017 · 31 mm

Rolex

Black · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

178313-0021 · 31 mm

Rolex

Black

178313-0026 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

178313-0027 · 31 mm

+ 22 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