Datejust 31 Stainless Steel Diamond / Jubilee / Grey - Roman

About This Watch

The Rolex Datejust 31, in its 2020 iteration with a grey sunburst dial and diamond-set white gold bezel, exemplifies the brand’s mastery of balancing tradition with contemporary refinement. The 31mm case, crafted from stainless steel and accented with white gold, frames a dial that exudes understated sophistication—its sunburst finish catching light with subtle gradations, while Roman numerals and stick hands lend a timeless elegance. The diamond-set bezel, a hallmark of the collection’s opulence, complements the Jubilee bracelet’s refined curves, ensuring a harmonious interplay between materials and proportions. At its core, the watch houses the Caliber 2236, a self-winding movement renowned for its precision engineering and reliability, a testament to Rolex’s unwavering commitment to mechanical excellence. The Datejust collection, first introduced in 1945, has long symbolized the intersection of horology and heritage, and this reference continues that legacy with meticulous attention to detail. Its 100-meter water resistance and sapphire crystal further underscore its durability without compromising its svelte silhouette. This timepiece is for the discerning individual who values discretion as much as craftsmanship—someone who appreciates the quiet confidence of a watch that speaks through its heritage, materials, and precision. It suits occasions that demand both formality and subtlety, from boardroom negotiations to evening engagements, where its presence is felt rather than announced.

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-0026 is one of 34 executions of the 278384RBR base reference. Underneath they are the same watch; what separates this one is a grey sunburst dial and a white gold, stainless steel case. Introduced in 2020.

Rolex

Black · White Gold, Stainless Steel

278384RBR-0001 · 31 mm

Rolex

Black · White Gold, Stainless Steel

278384RBR-0002 · 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

+ 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