Datejust 31 Stainless Steel Domed Diamond / Jubilee / Purple - Roman

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31, in its 178344-0002 iteration, marries the enduring elegance of the Datejust collection with a distinctive interpretation of classic design. The dial, a deep, saturated purple, evokes a sense of quiet sophistication, its hue deepened by the polished white gold and stainless steel case, which frames the piece with understated opulence. The domed diamond bezel adds a subtle yet deliberate contrast to the Jubilee bracelet’s refined symmetry, while the Roman numeral indexes and stick hands lend the watch a timeless readability that aligns with the Datejust’s legacy as a benchmark of enduring style since its introduction in 1945. The sapphire crystal, paired with a closed case back, ensures the watch’s integrity against the elements, a testament to Rolex’s commitment to durability without compromising aesthetics. At its heart lies the Caliber 2235, an automatic movement renowned for its precision and reliability, featuring a Parachrom balance spring and a 70-hour power reserve. This mechanical sophistication is discreetly housed within the 31mm case, a size that balances presence with wearability, ensuring the watch remains as practical as it is polished. The purple dial, though unconventional for the Datejust, is executed with the same meticulous attention to detail that defines the collection’s heritage—each element, from the lume on the hands to the brushed finish of the case, is considered with the precision of a master craftsman. This watch is for the discerning individual who values heritage without sacrificing individuality, a piece suited to both formal occasions and the quiet confidence of everyday wear. It speaks to those who recognize that true luxury lies not in excess, but in the harmony of form, function, and the quiet assurance of a name that needs no embellishment.

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.

178344-0002 is one of 51 executions of the 178344 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a purple dial and a white gold, stainless steel case.

Rolex

Brown · White Gold, Stainless Steel

178344-0001 · 31 mm

Rolex

Grey · White Gold, Stainless Steel

178344-0003 · 31 mm

Rolex

White

178344-0004 · 31 mm

Rolex

White · White Gold, Stainless Steel

178344-0005 · 31 mm

Rolex

White

178344-0006 · 31 mm

Rolex

White

178344-0007 · 31 mm

Rolex

Black

178344-0008 · 31 mm

Rolex

Grey · White Gold, Stainless Steel

178344-0010 · 31 mm

+ 42 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