Datejust 31 Yellow Gold / Domed / Black MOP / Oyster

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31, in its 278248-0037 iteration, embodies the quiet authority of a timepiece that has defined elegance for over seven decades. Introduced in 1945 as Rolex’s first waterproof chronometer-certified watch, the Datejust collection remains a benchmark of understated sophistication, and this particular reference amplifies its legacy with a 31-millimeter yellow gold case that balances intimacy with presence. The domed sapphire crystal, a hallmark of modern Rolex design, frames a dial of deep black mother-of-pearl, its iridescent sheen subtly shifting with the light. Gem-set indexes, meticulously placed, lend a touch of discreet opulence, while stick hands ensure legibility without intruding on the dial’s serene composition. At its core, the watch houses the Caliber 2236, a self-winding movement with a 55-hour power reserve, reflecting Rolex’s commitment to precision and reliability. The closed caseback, paired with a water resistance of 100 meters, underscores its practicality without compromising its status as a work of art. The Oyster case, forged from 18ct yellow gold, is both a nod to tradition and a testament to enduring craftsmanship, its polished surfaces gleaming with the kind of quiet confidence that only time can refine. This watch is for those who value heritage as much as horology, seeking a piece that transcends trends yet remains unmistakably contemporary. It suits the boardroom, the gala, or the quiet moment of reflection—where presence speaks louder than proclamation.

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.

278248-0037 is one of 26 executions of the 278248 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a black gloss dial and a yellow gold case.

Rolex

Green · Yellow Gold

278248-0003 · 31 mm

Rolex

Green · Yellow Gold

278248-0004 · 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

+ 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