Datejust 31 Stainless Steel / Yellow Gold / Domed / Champagne / Oyster

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31 Reference 278243-0013 exemplifies the enduring elegance of the Datejust collection, a lineage established in 1945 as a symbol of timeless sophistication. This particular iteration marries the robustness of stainless steel with the warm luster of yellow gold, forming a case that is both resilient and refined. The domed shape, a hallmark of the Datejust’s design language, lends a sense of fluidity and modernity, while the champagne sunburst dial radiates subtlety, its soft hue complemented by the precision of stick hands and indexes that evoke a classic, understated aesthetic. The sapphire crystal, paired with a closed caseback, ensures durability without compromising the watch’s discreet presence. At its core, the Datejust 31 houses the Caliber 2236, a self-winding movement crafted in-house by Rolex, featuring a certified chronometer rating for exceptional accuracy. This mechanical heart, coupled with the Oyster case’s 100-meter water resistance, underscores the brand’s commitment to both horological excellence and practicality. The 31mm diameter strikes a balance between tradition and contemporary proportion, making it a versatile choice for those who value proportion without sacrificing the Datejust’s iconic stature. Suited for the discerning individual who appreciates understated luxury, this watch thrives in moments that demand both presence and restraint—whether in a boardroom, at a gala, or during an evening stroll. It is a testament to the quiet confidence of a timepiece that needs no embellishment to command respect.

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.

278243-0013 is one of 24 executions of the 278243 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a champagne sunburst dial and a yellow gold, stainless steel case.

Rolex

White · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

278243-0001 · 31 mm

Rolex

White · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

278243-0002 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

278243-0003 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

278243-0004 · 31 mm

Rolex

Champagne · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

278243-0014 · 31 mm

Rolex

Green · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

278243-0015 · 31 mm

Rolex

Green · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

278243-0016 · 31 mm

Rolex

Grey · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

278243-0017 · 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