Datejust 31 Stainless Steel / Rose Gold / Domed / Aubergine - Roman / Jubilee

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31 in its 278241-0020 iteration marries the brand’s enduring legacy of precision with a contemporary reinterpretation of elegance. This reference stands out for its striking interplay of materials: a 31mm case blending polished stainless steel with rose gold, a pairing that balances classicism with a touch of modern restraint. The dial, a deep aubergine hue, is rendered in a sunburst finish that captures light with subtle dynamism, while Roman numerals and stick hands contribute to a timeless aesthetic that echoes the Datejust collection’s origins as a symbol of sophistication since 1945. The domed sapphire crystal and closed case back further underscore Rolex’s commitment to durability without compromising the watch’s refined silhouette. At its heart lies the Caliber 2236, a self-winding movement certified as a chronometer by the COSC, ensuring precision within a 50-hour power reserve. This mechanical backbone is housed in a case with a 16mm lug width, a dimension that enhances wearability while maintaining the Datejust’s signature presence. The Jubilee bracelet, with its five-link design, complements the watch’s dual-material case, offering both comfort and a signature link to Rolex’s mid-20th-century innovations. This watch is for the discerning individual who values understated luxury—someone who appreciates the quiet confidence of a piece that transcends trends. It suits formal occasions with its restrained opulence, yet its versatility makes it equally at home in the everyday, a testament to Rolex’s ability to craft timepieces that are as functional as they are iconic.

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. 55 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.

278241-0020 is one of 24 executions of the 278241 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a purple sunburst dial and a rose gold, stainless steel case.

Rolex

White · Rose Gold, Stainless Steel

278241-0001 · 31 mm

Rolex

White · Rose Gold, Stainless Steel

278241-0002 · 31 mm

Rolex

Brown · Rose Gold, Stainless Steel

278241-0003 · 31 mm

Rolex

Brown · Rose Gold, Stainless Steel

278241-0004 · 31 mm

Rolex

Rose · Rose Gold, Stainless Steel

278241-0005 · 31 mm

Rolex

Rose · Rose Gold, Stainless Steel

278241-0006 · 31 mm

Rolex

Rose · Rose Gold, Stainless Steel

278241-0009 · 31 mm

Rolex

Rose · Rose Gold, Stainless Steel

278241-0010 · 31 mm

+ 15 more variants in this family.

The 2236 is the Rolex movement inside more watches in this library than any other: 907, in the 28 mm Lady-Datejust and the 31 mm Datejust 31. It was the first Rolex caliber with a silicon hairspring. Introduced in 2014 in the Pearlmaster 34, it is a 20 mm automatic with a date, 31 jewels, a 55-hour reserve and a beat of 28,800 vph, certified by the COSC and then tested again by Rolex after casing to the Superlative Chronometer tolerance of two seconds a day. Its distinction is the Syloxi hairspring: silicon, immune to magnetism, etched to a patented geometry that keeps the spring concentric in every position, and paired with Paraflex shock absorbers. The larger Rolex calibers kept the Parachrom alloy spring; Syloxi did not reach a men's movement until the 7140 of 2023. The [2236 piece](/blog/the-rolex-2236-the-most-common-movement-in-this-library) sets out that history. In the library it powers 488 [Datejust 31](/brands/rolex/datejust-31) references, the seven-digit 2782xx generation of 2020, 399 [Lady-Datejusts](/brands/rolex/lady-datejust) of the 2791xx generation of 2015, 15 [Pearlmasters](/brands/rolex/pearlmaster) and 5 [Yacht-Master 37s](/brands/rolex/yacht-master). The [2235](/calibers/rolex-2235) is the 48-hour movement it replaced, the [2232](/calibers/rolex-2232) its no-date sibling for the Oyster Perpetual, and the [3235](/calibers/rolex-3235) its counterpart in the 36 mm and 41 mm cases.

906 other watches in the library run the Rolex 2236.

Rolex

Lady-Datejust 28 Rolesor Everose Diamond / Oyster / MOP

279381RBR-0014 · 28 mm

Rolex

Lady-Datejust 28 Rolesor Rose Diamond / Jubilee / MOP

279381rbr-0013 · 28 mm

Rolex

Lady-Datejust 28 Rolesor Yellow Domed / Oyster / MOP

279163-0014 · 28 mm

Rolex

Datejust 31 Stainless Steel / Yellow Gold / Diamond / Black MOP / Oyster

278383RBR-0023 · 31 mm