Rolex Datejust 31 Yellow Gold — White Roman Dial | Ref. 178248

Rendered in solid 18ct yellow gold, the Datejust 31 reference 178248 occupies a precisely calibrated position in Rolex's dresswear canon — substantial enough for a confident statement, refined enough for the most formal context. The white dial with Roman numeral indices draws directly on the original Datejust vocabulary introduced in 1945, marrying classical legibility with enduring prestige.

Inside beats the Calibre 2236, Rolex's manufacture movement built exclusively for the 31 mm case family. Its standout feature is the Syloxi hairspring, machined from silicon for superior resistance to magnetic fields and temperature variation, delivering a 55-hour power reserve. The 31 mm Oyster case in 18ct yellow gold is water-resistant to 100 metres, sealed by the patented Twinlock crown and a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with Cyclops lens over the date aperture.

This reference appeals to collectors who view the Datejust 31 as a standalone proposition rather than a scaled-down alternative — one where yellow gold elevates the Roman dial into genuine jewellery-watch territory. Supply of solid-gold Datejust 31s tends to be tighter than their two-tone counterparts, lending this configuration a degree of rarity that supports long-term value retention.