Datejust 31 Stainless Steel / Yellow Gold / Fluted / Grey - Roman / Jubilee

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31, in its 278273-0018 iteration, embodies the quiet authority of a timepiece that balances tradition with contemporary refinement. This particular reference marries stainless steel and yellow gold in a composition that feels both timeless and deliberate, its fluted bezel echoing the iconic design language of the Datejust collection, first introduced in 1945 as a symbol of accessible luxury. The grey sunburst dial, with its subtle depth and warmth, is framed by Roman numerals and stick hands that exude a restrained elegance, while the Jubilee bracelet—crafted with the same meticulous attention to detail—ensures a secure yet comfortable fit. The case’s 31mm diameter strikes a harmonious balance between presence and proportion, making it a versatile companion for both formal and informal occasions. At its heart lies the Caliber 2236, an automatic movement with a 55-hour power reserve, featuring a Parachrom blue balance spring and a Cerachrom bezel insert that resists fading and corrosion. These technical nuances underscore Rolex’s commitment to precision and durability, hallmarks of the brand’s engineering legacy. The watch’s water resistance to 100 meters further attests to its practicality without compromising its sartorial grace. This timepiece is for those who value understated sophistication and the quiet confidence of a heritage that needs no embellishment. It is a statement of restraint, suited to moments that demand both presence and discretion—whether in the boardroom, at a gala, or on the wrist of someone who understands that true luxury lies in the details that remain unspoken.

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.

278273-0018 is one of 24 executions of the 278273 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a grey sunburst dial and a yellow gold, stainless steel case.

Rolex

White · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

278273-0001 · 31 mm

Rolex

White · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

278273-0002 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

278273-0003 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

278273-0004 · 31 mm

Rolex

Champagne · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

278273-0013 · 31 mm

Rolex

Champagne · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

278273-0014 · 31 mm

Rolex

Green · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

278273-0015 · 31 mm

Rolex

Green · Yellow Gold, Stainless Steel

278273-0016 · 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