Rolex Datejust White Rolesor — Dark Grey Roman Dial Fluted Bezel | Ref. 278274

Reference 278274 presents the Datejust 31 in White Rolesor with a fluted bezel — the combination that most directly echoes the ancestral form of the Datejust as Rolex conceived it in 1945. The bezel, machined from 18 ct white gold and vertically fluted in alternating polished ridges, was originally designed as a winding-crown surrogate on bracelet watches where the crown is impractical. Today it functions as the defining formal signature of the Datejust family, its optical multiplication of light creating an impression of greater presence than the case diameter alone would suggest.

The dial is finished in dark grey, a cool neutral that engages productively with the white Rolesor architecture. Roman numerals are applied in white gold, their serif profiles rendered at a scale that balances legibility against the restrained formality of the composition. The date aperture at three o'clock is enlarged by the Cyclops lens in the scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, and the dial surface carries no additional embellishment — allowing the interplay of the grey lacquer and white gold hardware to do the expressive work. The case is sealed to 100 metres via a screw-down Twinlock crown in 18 ct white gold.

Calibre 2236 provides the motive force, Rolex's current manufacture movement for 31 mm Datejust references. The Syloxi silicon hairspring, developed in partnership with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, eliminates the need for a traditional Glucydur balance and its associated positional adjustments, contributing to a stated power reserve of approximately 55 hours. The Oystersteel Jubilee bracelet, with its characteristic five-piece semi-circular link construction, is secured by a concealed folding Crownclasp — the proprietary clasp design Rolex introduced to complement the Datejust's more formal register.