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

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31, in its 178344-0035 iteration, stands apart for its refined interplay of materials and the quiet authority of its design. The blue sunburst dial, a hue both timeless and striking, is framed by Roman numerals and slender stick hands that lend the watch a sense of measured elegance. Encased in a combination of stainless steel and white gold, the 31mm case balances the robustness of the former with the warmth of the latter, while the domed sapphire crystal and polished edges reflect Rolex’s enduring commitment to precision and durability. This reference draws from the Datejust collection’s legacy as a symbol of understated sophistication since its introduction in the 1940s, its proportions and finishes updated for modern wear without compromising the timeless appeal that has defined the line. At its core, the watch houses the Caliber 2235, an automatic movement renowned for its reliability and the inclusion of a Parachrom blue balance spring, which enhances resistance to shocks and magnetic interference. The Jubilee bracelet, with its five-link design and subtle curvature, complements the case’s geometry, ensuring comfort as much as aesthetics. The closed case back and 100-meter water resistance further underscore the watch’s practicality without detracting from its formal character. This piece is for the discerning individual who values heritage, craftsmanship, and the quiet confidence of a watch that demands no explanation. It suits occasions where presence matters—whether in the boardroom, at a gala, or as a quiet testament to achievement worn on the wrist.

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.

178344-0035 is one of 51 executions of the 178344 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a blue sunburst 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