Datejust 31 Stainless Steel/ Rose Gold / Domed / Rose - Diamond / Oyster

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31, in its 278241-0023 iteration, marries the enduring elegance of the Datejust collection with a refined interplay of materials and craftsmanship. The case, a harmonious blend of stainless steel and rose gold, reflects the brand’s mastery of metallurgy, while the domed sapphire crystal adds a subtle modernity to the watch’s silhouette. At its heart lies a rose-gold dial, finished with a sunburst pattern that catches light with quiet sophistication. The gem-set indexes, arranged in a classic layout, underscore the Datejust’s heritage as a symbol of timeless design since its introduction in 1945—a model that first introduced the date complication to the wristwatch world. The stick hands, paired with the rose-gold tone of the dial, create a balance between legibility and aesthetic restraint, embodying the understated precision for which Rolex is revered. Powering this timepiece is the in-house automatic movement 2236, a testament to Rolex’s commitment to engineering excellence. Capped with a chronometer certification, it ensures unwavering accuracy and reliability, while the 100-meter water resistance speaks to the watch’s practicality without compromising its formal demeanor. The 31mm case diameter, a nod to the Datejust’s longstanding appeal among those who favor proportion over ostentation, ensures the watch sits comfortably on the wrist, whether paired with a tailored suit or worn casually. This watch is for the discerning individual who values heritage, craftsmanship, and subtlety. It is suited to occasions that demand refinement—boardrooms, black-tie events, or quiet moments of contemplation—yet possesses the durability and versatility to accompany its owner through the demands of daily life.

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.

278241-0023 is one of 24 executions of the 278241 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a rose 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