Datejust 31 Yellow Gold / Domed / Malachite / President

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31 reference 278248-0004 embodies a rare harmony of tradition and artistry, distinguished by its striking malachite dial encased in 18ct yellow gold. The domed crystal, paired with the watch’s rounded silhouette, amplifies the dial’s organic texture, where the deep green of malachite—reminiscent of ancient landscapes—contrasts elegantly with the polished gold of the case and Roman numeral indexes. This interplay of materials and form reflects the Datejust collection’s enduring legacy, first introduced in 1945 as a symbol of refined accessibility within haute horlogerie. The President bracelet, a hallmark of Rolex’s craftsmanship, adds a layer of sophistication with its seamless integration of gold and the iconic five-link design, ensuring both comfort and visual continuity. At its core, the watch houses the Caliber 2236, a self-winding movement celebrated for its precision and reliability, featuring a Parachrom blue balance spring that ensures resilience against shocks and temperature fluctuations. The sapphire crystal, paired with a closed case back, underscores the watch’s durability without compromising its aesthetic allure. The 31mm diameter strikes a balance between presence and subtlety, making it a versatile companion for both formal engagements and moments of quiet distinction. This timepiece is for those who value understated elegance and the quiet confidence of a heritage that speaks volumes. It suits occasions where presence matters—boardrooms, soirées, or simply as a testament to enduring taste—worn with the assurance of a legacy that transcends trends.

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.

278248-0004 is one of 26 executions of the 278248 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a green gloss dial and a yellow gold case.

Rolex

Green · Yellow Gold

278248-0003 · 31 mm

Rolex

Champagne · Yellow Gold

278248-0013 · 31 mm

Rolex

Champagne · Yellow Gold

278248-0014 · 31 mm

Rolex

White · Yellow Gold

278248-0015 · 31 mm

Rolex

White · Yellow Gold

278248-0016 · 31 mm

Rolex

Green · Yellow Gold

278248-0017 · 31 mm

Rolex

Green · Yellow Gold

278248-0018 · 31 mm

Rolex

White · Yellow Gold

278248-0019 · 31 mm

+ 17 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