Datejust 31 Stainless Steel Domed Diamond / Oyster / Blue - Diamond

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31 Reference 178344-0029 exemplifies the enduring elegance of the Datejust collection, a lineage established in 1945 as a benchmark for timeless design. This particular iteration marries stainless steel with white gold, its domed case and polished edges reflecting a balance of robustness and refinement. The dial, a deep blue that evokes the quiet intensity of the ocean, is framed by gem-set indexes that catch light with subtle precision, while stick hands add a minimalist counterpoint to the opulence of the design. The sapphire crystal, paired with the Oyster case’s waterproof integrity, ensures both durability and clarity, a hallmark of Rolex’s engineering since the 1920s. At its heart lies the Caliber 2235, an automatic movement with a date display and a power reserve of approximately 55 hours. Its Côtes de Genève finish and rhodium-plated components underscore Rolex’s commitment to horological craftsmanship, while the chronometer certification attests to its accuracy under varied conditions. The watch’s 31mm diameter and 16mm lug width cater to those who favor a more discreet presence on the wrist, yet its presence remains undiminished by scale. This timepiece is for the discerning individual who values understated sophistication—someone who appreciates the quiet authority of a watch that needs no embellishment beyond its heritage, materials, and precision. It suits occasions where subtlety speaks volumes, from formal gatherings to the quiet confidence of everyday wear.

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.

178344-0029 is one of 51 executions of the 178344 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a blue dial and a white gold, stainless steel case.

Rolex

Brown · White Gold, Stainless Steel

178344-0001 · 31 mm

Rolex

Purple · White Gold, Stainless Steel

178344-0002 · 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

+ 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