Datejust 31 Stainless Steel/ Rose Gold / Fluted / Grey / Jubilee

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31, in its 278271-0018 iteration, embodies the enduring elegance of the Datejust collection, a line that has defined sophistication since its introduction in 1945. This particular model marries the timeless appeal of stainless steel with the warmth of 18ct rose gold, a combination that underscores both durability and refinement. The dial, a deep grey with a sunburst finish, exudes quiet authority, its stick indexes and hands rendered in a minimalist yet precise manner that echoes the clean lines of mid-20th-century horology. The fluted bezel, a hallmark of Rolex’s design language, adds a tactile and visual dimension that distinguishes it from more austere interpretations of the collection. At its core, the watch houses the Caliber 2236, an automatic movement renowned for its reliability and precision, featuring a Parachrom balance spring and a 70-hour power reserve. The case, measuring 31mm in diameter, strikes a balance between presence and discretion, while the closed caseback and sapphire crystal ensure a seamless, unbroken aesthetic. The Jubilee bracelet, with its five-link design, complements the watch’s duality—formal enough for a gala yet versatile enough for everyday wear. This timepiece is for the individual who values understated craftsmanship and heritage, seeking a watch that transcends trends without sacrificing modernity. It suits those who appreciate the quiet confidence of a well-worn patina, or the precision of a tool that has stood the test of time.

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.

278271-0018 is one of 24 executions of the 278271 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a grey sunburst dial and a rose gold, stainless steel case.

Rolex

White · Rose Gold, Stainless Steel

278271-0001 · 31 mm

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

+ 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