Datejust 31 Stainless Steel/ Rose Gold / Fluted / Rose - Diamond / Oyster

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31, in its 278271-0023 iteration, marries the brand’s enduring commitment to refined craftsmanship with a contemporary reinterpretation of classic design. The case, a harmonious blend of stainless steel and rose gold, frames a dial that exudes quiet sophistication—its rose hue, rendered in a sunburst finish, captures light with subtle depth and warmth. The fluted bezel, a hallmark of the Datejust collection since its introduction in 1945, adds a tactile and visual dimension that underscores the watch’s heritage as a symbol of enduring elegance. Gem-set indexes, arranged with precision, complement the stick hands, their minimalist form reinforcing the dial’s clean, uncluttered character. This reference, while modern in its execution, pays homage to the Datejust’s legacy as a benchmark for understated luxury, a role it has upheld for over seven decades. At its core, the watch is powered by Rolex’s in-house 2236 automatic movement, a marvel of engineering that combines precision with reliability. Certified as a chronometer, it ensures exceptional accuracy, while its 70-hour power reserve reflects the brand’s mastery of mechanical innovation. The sapphire crystal, paired with a closed case back, safeguards the movement’s integrity without compromising the watch’s sleek profile. This timepiece is for the discerning individual who values heritage, craftsmanship, and the quiet confidence of a watch that demands no attention yet commands respect. It suits those who seek a companion for both formal occasions and the quiet moments of everyday life, where subtlety and legacy converge.

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.

278271-0023 is one of 24 executions of the 278271 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a rose 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