Rolex Datejust 31 Steel & Yellow Gold White Roman Dial

When the first Rolex Datejust was introduced in 1945 – the year of the brand's 40th anniversary – it made history as the first self-winding, waterproof, officially certified chronometer wristwatch with a date display on the dial. The Cyclops lens was added in 1955 to magnify the date two and a half times, making it considerably clearer and easier to read. This feature would eventually become one of the most recognizable trademarks of Rolex. In 2018, Rolex introduced the new generation of the Datejust 31. This collection offers the characteristics of the original and iconic Rolex Datejust in a more modern design, while naturally incorporating several innovations. One of the most significant differences is the movement – the Datejust 31 has the privilege of housing calibre 2236, featuring an increased power reserve of 55 hours, an improved automatic winding system, and the innovative Syloxi silicon hairspring, offering excellent resistance to magnetic fields and temperature variations. The movement is certified as a Superlative Chronometer, guaranteeing an accuracy of -2/+2 seconds per day after casing – a considerably stricter standard than the official COSC chronometer certification. Another distinctive characteristic is the use of Yellow Rolesor – Rolex's designation for watches combining high-quality Oystersteel with 18-carat yellow gold. This combination has been one of the brand's signature features since the 1930s. It is no coincidence that the Datejust is one of the brand's most popular and recognizable models after the legendary Submariner – and the Datejust 31 allows this popularity to be expressed through a contemporary interpretation, in a size perfectly suited to the fairer half of humanity. This particular watch comes in a fantastic and relatively hard-to-find combination – a white dial with Roman numerals (referred to by Rolex as the White Roman Dial), gold markers, and an Oyster bracelet. The attention to detail on this watch (as indeed on all modern Rolex watches we have had the opportunity to present) is truly impressive. A closer inspection reveals the exceptional craftsmanship, while the overall impression is distinctly aristocratic. Starting with the incredible dial and continuing with the classic sapphire crystal featuring the Cyclops magnifier – in this case, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal provides excellent legibility and protection for the dial. Naturally, special attention should also be paid to the case and bezel – a jewellery-like combination of beautifully polished, top-grade Oystersteel and 18-carat yellow gold. The bezel is the so-called "smooth" variety and is crafted from yellow gold. And, of course, the bracelet, band, strap, or whatever you prefer to call it – as one would expect from a Rolex, it is genuinely excellent. In this case, we have an Oyster bracelet with yellow-gold centre links and a solid clasp machined from steel (rather than folded sheet metal, as is the case with many other brands). The only thing it lacks (at least in our opinion) is the Glidelock clasp found on the Submariner, although it does feature the Easylink system, allowing an additional 5 mm of quick adjustment. The lug width is 20 mm, this particular bracelet has 10 links, and it will fit a wrist of up to 18 cm.