Datejust 31 Stainless Steel Fluted / Oyster / Black - Roman

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31, in its 2020 iteration with a black dial and fluted white gold bezel, embodies the quiet authority of a timepiece that has defined elegance for generations. As the flagship model of the Datejust collection—a series first introduced in 1945 to mark the invention of the self-winding perpetual calendar—this reference merges heritage with contemporary refinement. The 31mm stainless steel case, adorned with a fluted white gold bezel, frames a dial of profound simplicity: a matte black surface accented by luminous Roman numerals and slender stick hands, their precision underscored by the gloss finish that enhances the watch’s understated sophistication. The bezel’s subtle texture adds a tactile dimension, a nod to the Datejust’s enduring design language that balances formality with approachability. At its heart lies the Caliber 2236, a self-winding movement with a date display that exemplifies Rolex’s mastery of mechanical engineering. Its 31mm diameter ensures a proportionate presence on the wrist, while the sapphire crystal and 100-meter water resistance reflect the brand’s commitment to durability without compromising aesthetics. The closed case back, though unadorned, speaks to the craftsmanship within—a silent testament to the hours spent perfecting every component. This watch is for those who value tradition as much as innovation, whose discernment lies in details others overlook. It suits the boardroom, the gala, or the quiet moments between, a companion as timeless as the hands that guide it.

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.

278274-0001 is one of 34 executions of the 278274 base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a black gloss dial and a white gold, stainless steel case. Introduced in 2020.

Rolex

Black · White Gold, Stainless Steel

278274-0002 · 31 mm

Rolex

White

278274-0005 · 31 mm

Rolex

White

278274-0006 · 31 mm

Rolex

Grey · White Gold, Stainless Steel

278274-0007 · 31 mm

Rolex

Grey · White Gold, Stainless Steel

278274-0008 · 31 mm

Rolex

White · White Gold, Stainless Steel

278274-0009 · 31 mm

Rolex

White · White Gold, Stainless Steel

278274-0010 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · White Gold, Stainless Steel

278274-0011 · 31 mm

+ 25 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