Datejust 31 Rose Gold / Domed / Grey - Roman / Oyster

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31 in rose gold exemplifies the brand’s mastery of blending tradition with refined modernity. Introduced in 1945 as a response to the demand for a self-winding watch with a date display, the Datejust collection has long symbolized understated sophistication, and this 31mm iteration distills that legacy into a more intimate, wearable form. The domed case, crafted from 18ct rose gold, exudes warmth and durability, while the grey sunburst dial—its texture reminiscent of a stormy sky—offers a striking contrast to the polished gold of the case. Roman numerals, applied with precision, anchor the dial’s elegance, complemented by slender stick hands that trace their lineage to the early 20th-century designs that defined Rolex’s identity. The sapphire crystal, paired with a closed case back, ensures both protection and a seamless aesthetic, while the 100-meter water resistance underscores the Oyster case’s enduring resilience. At the heart of this timepiece lies the Caliber 2236, a self-winding movement with a 55-hour power reserve, its construction a testament to Rolex’s commitment to in-house innovation and precision. The watch’s 31mm diameter and 16mm lug width render it particularly suited to those who seek a balance between presence and discretion, its proportions echoing the proportions of vintage Datejust models while adapting to contemporary sensibilities. This watch is for the discerning individual who values heritage without sacrificing modernity, its quiet confidence making it equally at home in boardroom settings, formal dinners, or as a timeless heirloom. It speaks to those who understand that true luxury lies not in ostentation, but in the quiet assurance of craftsmanship.

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.

278245-0031 is one of 24 executions of the 278245 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a grey sunburst dial and a rose gold case.

Rolex

White · Rose Gold

278245-0013 · 31 mm

Rolex

White · Rose Gold

278245-0014 · 31 mm

Rolex

Brown · Rose Gold

278245-0015 · 31 mm

Rolex

Brown · Rose Gold

278245-0016 · 31 mm

Rolex

White · Rose Gold

278245-0017 · 31 mm

Rolex

White · Rose Gold

278245-0018 · 31 mm

Rolex

White · Rose Gold

278245-0019 · 31 mm

Rolex

White · Rose Gold

278245-0020 · 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