Datejust 31 White Gold Diamond / Red Gradient - Diamond

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31, in its white gold and diamond-set iteration, embodies a quiet mastery of proportion and materiality that defines the collection’s enduring appeal. The 31mm case, crafted in 18ct white gold, is a deliberate nod to the Datejust’s original 1945 design, refined for modern wear while retaining the watch’s hallmark elegance. A bezel encrusted with gem-set diamonds frames a dial that transitions from deep crimson at the outer edges to a subtle, luminous hue near the center—a gradient finish that evokes both sophistication and a touch of theatricality. The stick hands and gem-set indexes, paired with a sapphire crystal, ensure clarity and precision, while the closed case back conceals the movement’s mechanical integrity. At the heart of this timepiece lies the Caliber 2236, an automatic movement with a 55-hour power reserve, engineered for reliability and precision. Its presence underscores the Datejust’s role as a bridge between tradition and contemporary horology, a watch that marries the brand’s heritage of innovation with the understated craftsmanship expected of a luxury icon. The 100-meter water resistance and the subtle interplay of light across the dial’s surfaces further emphasize its balance between function and artistry. This watch is for the discerning individual who values heritage without ostentation, a piece suited to formal occasions or moments of quiet significance. It speaks to those who recognize that true luxury lies not in excess, but in the meticulous execution of detail—a philosophy that has defined Rolex for over a century.

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.

278289RBR-0028 is one of 16 executions of the 278289RBR base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a red gradient dial and a white gold case.

Rolex

Grey · White Gold

278289RBR-0006 · 31 mm

Rolex

White · White Gold

278289RBR-0007 · 31 mm

Rolex

Black · White Gold

278289RBR-0011 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · White Gold

278289RBR-0012 · 31 mm

Rolex

Pink · White Gold

278289RBR-0013 · 31 mm

Rolex

Grey · White Gold

278289RBR-0014 · 31 mm

Rolex

Green · White Gold

278289RBR-0015 · 31 mm

Rolex

Pink · White Gold

278289RBR-0016 · 31 mm

+ 7 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