Datejust 31 Stainless Steel Diamond / Jubilee / Black

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31, in its 178384-0031 iteration, marries the enduring elegance of the Datejust collection with a refined interplay of materials and proportions. At 31mm, its case strikes a balance between classic presence and modern wearability, crafted from a combination of stainless steel and white gold, with a diamond-set bezel that adds a subtle yet deliberate touch of opulence. The black dial, understated yet commanding, is framed by stick indexes and hands that echo the clean minimalism of the collection’s mid-20th-century origins, while the sapphire crystal ensures clarity and resilience. The Jubilee bracelet, with its signature five-link design, complements the watch’s harmonious blend of form and function, a hallmark of Rolex’s commitment to both aesthetics and comfort. At the heart of this timepiece lies the Caliber 2235, an automatic movement celebrated for its precision and reliability. Certified as a chronometer, it incorporates a Parachrom balance spring, enhancing resistance to shocks and magnetic interference—a testament to Rolex’s engineering mastery. The closed case back, paired with a water resistance rating of 100 meters, underscores the watch’s practicality without compromising its sartorial grace. This reference suits the discerning individual who values understated sophistication, whether for formal engagements, professional settings, or moments of quiet distinction. It is a testament to the Datejust’s legacy as a symbol of timeless achievement, worn with the quiet confidence of those who understand that true luxury lies in refinement, not ostentation.

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.

178384-0031 is one of 52 executions of the 178384 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a black 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