Datejust 31 Stainless Steel / Yellow Gold / Fluted / MOP / Jubilee

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31 Reference 278273-0028 embodies the enduring elegance of the Datejust collection, a lineage that has defined sophistication since its introduction in 1945. This particular iteration marries the timeless allure of stainless steel with the warm radiance of yellow gold, framed by the iconic fluted bezel that has become a hallmark of Rolex’s design language. The dial, a luminous mother-of-pearl surface with a high-gloss finish, is accentuated by gem-set indexes that catch the light with quiet precision, while the slender stick hands trace their path with understated clarity. The combination of materials and craftsmanship reflects a balance between tradition and refinement, ensuring the watch remains both a functional timepiece and a statement of enduring taste. At its core, the watch is powered by Rolex’s in-house Caliber 2236, an automatic movement renowned for its reliability and the inclusion of a date display that operates with seamless accuracy. The sapphire crystal, paired with a water resistance rating of 100 meters, underscores the watch’s practicality without compromising its luxurious essence. Encased within a 31mm diameter, the timepiece is proportioned for wearability, its rounded silhouette and Jubilee bracelet—characterized by its five-link design—offering both comfort and a sense of occasion. This watch is for the discerning individual who values heritage, precision, and subtlety. It is suited to moments that demand quiet authority, whether in boardrooms, at formal gatherings, or as a personal talisman of achievement. Its presence is not ostentatious, yet it carries the weight of a legacy that has, for over seven decades, set the

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.

278273-0028 is one of 24 executions of the 278273 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a white gloss dial.

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