Datejust 31 Stainless Steel/ Rose Gold / Fluted / White - Roman / Oyster

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31, in its 278271-0001 iteration, embodies the quiet authority of a timepiece that has defined elegance since its debut in 1945. This reference marries the enduring appeal of stainless steel with the warm resonance of rose gold, a pairing that balances restraint and opulence. The white dial, finished with a polished gloss, serves as a canvas for the watch’s most distinctive elements: the fluted bezel, a hallmark of Rolex’s design language since the 1930s, and the Roman numeral indexes that lend a sense of timeless sophistication. The stick hands, sharp and legible, complement the dial’s minimalist restraint, while the Oyster case—sealed against the elements—underscores the collection’s legacy of robust craftsmanship. At its heart lies the Calibre 2236, an automatic movement developed in-house by Rolex, renowned for its precision, reliability, and the smooth, sweeping motion of its balance wheel. The 31mm case diameter ensures a presence that is neither imposing nor diminutive, making it a versatile companion for both formal occasions and everyday wear. The watch’s water resistance to 100 meters further enhances its practicality without compromising its sartorial elegance. This timepiece is for the discerning individual who values heritage as much as horological innovation. It suits those who seek a watch that speaks in subtleties—where the interplay of materials, the quiet confidence of a well-worn bezel, and the precision of a self-winding movement converge into something quietly extraordinary.

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.

278271-0001 is one of 24 executions of the 278271 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a white gloss dial and a rose gold, stainless steel case.

Rolex

White · Rose Gold, Stainless Steel

278271-0002 · 31 mm

Rolex

Brown · Rose Gold, Stainless Steel

278271-0003 · 31 mm

Rolex

Brown · Rose Gold, Stainless Steel

278271-0004 · 31 mm

Rolex

Rose · Rose Gold, Stainless Steel

278271-0005 · 31 mm

Rolex

Rose · Rose Gold, Stainless Steel

278271-0006 · 31 mm

Rolex

Rose · Rose Gold, Stainless Steel

278271-0009 · 31 mm

Rolex

Rose · Rose Gold, Stainless Steel

278271-0010 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · Rose Gold, Stainless Steel

278271-0015 · 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