Datejust 31 Stainless Steel Diamond / Jubilee / Purple - Roman

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31, in its distinctive iteration with a purple dial and Roman numerals, embodies a rare balance of tradition and quiet innovation. This reference, though unassuming in its numbering, stands apart through its deliberate choice of color—a deep, rich purple that evokes both elegance and individuality—set against the enduring symmetry of the Datejust’s round case and the refined contrast of white gold and stainless steel. The Jubilee bracelet, a hallmark of the collection since its 1945 debut, wraps the wrist with a familiar yet timeless grace, while the stick hands and Roman indexes lend a sense of quiet authority to the dial’s bold hue. The Datejust’s heritage as a symbol of accessible luxury is here reimagined through a subtle, intentional departure from convention, proving that even within the rigid framework of Rolex’s design language, there is room for nuance. Beneath the sapphire crystal, the Caliber 2235 automatic movement operates with the precision expected of a modern Rolex, its Parachrom balance spring and Chronergy escapement ensuring resilience and accuracy. The closed case back, paired with the 100-meter water resistance, reinforces the watch’s practicality without compromising its aesthetic restraint. This is a timepiece that thrives in the interplay between function and form, where every detail is considered but never overstated. Suited for the discerning individual who values understated sophistication, this Datejust 31 is an ideal companion for moments that demand both presence and discretion—whether in the boardroom, at a gala, or worn as a daily testament to refined taste. It is not a statement, but a signature.

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.

178384-0013 is one of 52 executions of the 178384 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a purple dial and a white gold, stainless steel case.

Rolex

Silver · White Gold, Stainless Steel

178384-0001 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · White Gold, Stainless Steel

178384-0003 · 31 mm

Rolex

White

178384-0004 · 31 mm

Rolex

Black

178384-0005 · 31 mm

Rolex

White · White Gold, Stainless Steel

178384-0006 · 31 mm

Rolex

Grey · White Gold, Stainless Steel

178384-0007 · 31 mm

Rolex

Pink · White Gold, Stainless Steel

178384-0009 · 31 mm

Rolex

Grey · White Gold, Stainless Steel

178384-0010 · 31 mm

+ 43 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