Datejust 31 Rolesor Yellow Domed Diamond / Oyster / Champagne Roman

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31 178343-0005 stands apart for its harmonious fusion of classical elegance and modern craftsmanship, embodying the enduring appeal of the Datejust collection since its introduction in 1945. The dial, a rich champagne hue, is framed by a yellow gold and stainless steel Rolesor case, its domed bezel set with a subtle yet refined arrangement of diamonds that catch light with quiet sophistication. Roman numerals, rendered in a deep, lustrous finish, anchor the dial’s design, while slender stick hands trace their path with precision, ensuring legibility without intruding on the watch’s understated grandeur. The sapphire crystal, paired with a closed case back, underscores the timepiece’s durability and discretion, while the 31mm diameter and 16mm lug width offer a balanced presence on the wrist. At its core, the watch houses the Caliber 2235, an automatic movement celebrated for its reliability and precision, with a power reserve of approximately 50 hours. This mechanical heart, coupled with the Datejust’s legacy as a symbol of timeless horology, positions the piece as both a functional instrument and a quiet statement of refinement. The collection’s significance lies in its ability to merge innovation with tradition, a principle evident in the Datejust 31’s polished execution and enduring design. This watch suits those who value subtlety over ostentation, seeking a timepiece that commands respect through craftsmanship rather than volume. It is

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.

178343-0005 is one of 34 executions of the 178343 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a champagne dial and a yellow gold, stainless steel case.

Rolex

Green · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

178343-0001 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

178343-0002 · 31 mm

Rolex

Champagne · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

178343-0003 · 31 mm

Rolex

White · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

178343-0004 · 31 mm

Rolex

White

178343-0006 · 31 mm

Rolex

White

178343-0007 · 31 mm

Rolex

Black

178343-0008 · 31 mm

Rolex

Black

178343-0010 · 31 mm

+ 25 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