Rolex Datejust 31 White Rolesor — Purple Diamond Roman Dial | Ref. 178384

Occupying the mid-point between the Lady-Datejust 28 and the Datejust 36, the Datejust 31 in White Rolesor offers a case scale that suits a wide range of wrists and wearing styles. Reference 178384 is built around a 31 mm Oyster case in which Oystersteel and 18-carat white gold are combined, with the precious metal reserved for the 46-diamond bezel and the bracelet's centre links — two of the most visible accent points on a watch of this proportion.

The dial is a remarkable compositional exercise: a purple surface inlaid with diamond hour markers at the cardinal positions and Roman numeral indices — including the distinctive VI marker that confirms dial orientation — creating a layered hierarchy of texture and light. Purple is among the rarer and more demanding dial colours in the Rolex catalogue, its depth shifting between violet and aubergine depending on the ambient light source, ensuring the watch reads differently across the day. The Cyclops lens magnifies the date display at three o'clock.

Calibre 2235, a self-winding movement with a 48-hour power reserve, powers the watch; the 178xxx reference confirms the earlier series production, prior to the introduction of the current Syloxi-equipped 2236. An Oyster bracelet with flat three-piece links and a deployment clasp completes the specification, offering 100 metres of water resistance and the solid, rattle-free wrist presence that characterises Rolex's bracelet engineering at its most accomplished.