Datejust 31 Stainless Steel Diamond / Jubilee / Black - Roman

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31, introduced in 2020, embodies the enduring refinement of a collection that has defined luxury wristwatches since its debut in 1945. This particular iteration, with its black dial and diamond-set white gold bezel, merges timeless design with meticulous craftsmanship. The 31mm stainless steel case, paired with a polished white gold bezel, offers a striking contrast that underscores the Datejust’s legacy as a bridge between classic elegance and modern precision. The dial’s deep black finish, complemented by Roman numerals and slender stick hands, exudes quiet sophistication, while the Jubilee bracelet ensures a secure yet comfortable fit. The sapphire crystal, paired with a closed case back, protects the intricate mechanics within, a hallmark of Rolex’s commitment to durability and discretion. At its heart lies the self-winding Caliber 2236, a movement renowned for its reliability and precision, with a 70-hour power reserve that speaks to Rolex’s engineering mastery. The watch’s 100-meter water resistance and 16mm lug width further emphasize its balance of practicality and poise. This reference, though unassuming in its presentation, carries the weight of a lineage that has graced wrists across generations, from boardrooms to red carpets. Suited for those who value understated distinction, this Datejust 31 is an heirloom-in-waiting—ideal for the discerning collector or the individual who prefers their luxury to speak in subtleties rather than statements.

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.

278384RBR-0002 is one of 34 executions of the 278384RBR 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

278384RBR-0001 · 31 mm

Rolex

White

278384RBR-0007 · 31 mm

Rolex

White

278384RBR-0008 · 31 mm

Rolex

Grey · White Gold, Stainless Steel

278384RBR-0009 · 31 mm

Rolex

Grey · White Gold, Stainless Steel

278384RBR-0010 · 31 mm

Rolex

White · White Gold, Stainless Steel

278384RBR-0013 · 31 mm

Rolex

White · White Gold, Stainless Steel

278384RBR-0014 · 31 mm

Rolex

Silver · White Gold, Stainless Steel

278384RBR-0015 · 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