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

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31, in its 278243-0025 iteration, marries the enduring elegance of the Datejust collection with a refined interplay of materials and craftsmanship. The 31mm case, a harmonious blend of stainless steel and yellow gold, frames a champagne dial finished with a sunburst pattern that captures light with quiet sophistication. Gem-set indexes add a subtle sparkle, while the stick hands and domed crystal contribute to a timeless, balanced silhouette. This reference, part of a collection first introduced in 1945, embodies the Datejust’s legacy as a symbol of understated prestige, its design evolving while retaining the hallmark of Rolex’s commitment to precision and wearability. The Oyster case, with its 100-meter water resistance, ensures durability without compromising the watch’s svelte profile, making it as practical as it is polished. At its heart lies the Caliber 2236, an automatic movement renowned for its reliability and the inclusion of a date display that operates with seamless accuracy. The movement’s architecture, developed in-house by Rolex, reflects the brand’s mastery of horology, with components finished to exacting standards that are both functional and aesthetically discreet. This level of engineering underscores the Datejust 31’s role as a daily companion for those who value heritage and performance in equal measure. Suited for the discerning individual who seeks a piece that transcends trends, this watch is ideal for occasions where presence matters—whether in boardrooms, at social engagements, or during moments of quiet reflection. Its combination of classic design and modern refinement ensures it remains a steadfast companion, as relevant today as it was in the mid-20th century.

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.

278243-0025 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

278243-0013 · 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

+ 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