Forget subtlety. For the first time, Rolex presents an audacious ombré red on its dial, now on the new Oyster Perpetual Datejust 31.
Images: Rolex.
Oyster Perpetual Datejust 31
There are sunsets, and then there are Rolex sunsets. The new Oyster Perpetual Datejust 31 in 18-carat yellow gold doesn’t just tell time—it captures the exact moment when day surrenders to night, with a red ombré dial that transitions from molten fire at its heart to midnight black at its edges, creating a chiaroscuro effect that’s nothing short of spectacular.
Oyster Perpetual Datejust 31 Yellow Gold
The master of dials
Rolex has always been something of a maestro when it comes to beautiful dials. But this isn’t just another pretty face in the watchmaker’s extensive family portrait. Since reintroducing ombré dials to their catalogue in 2019, the Swiss masters have been playing with gradients like an artist with a particularly expensive palette. Slate ombré on the Day-Date 40, blue, green or brown ombré on the Day-Date 36 … But this fiery red iteration marks a first—and what a debut. A feat achieved through Physical Vapour Deposition, the dial radiates with a mesmerising concentric gradient that seems to pulse with its own inner light.
Oyster Perpetual Datejust 31
And the drama doesn’t stop there. Ten diamond-set hour markers punctuate the dial like stars against a crimson sky. Meanwhile, 46 brilliant-cut diamonds encircle the bezel in a constellation of luxury. Next, cue the legendary President bracelet, that three-piece linked marvel originally created for the Day-Date in 1956. (And still reserved exclusively for precious metal Day-Date and Datejust models).
President bracelet of the Oyster Perpetual Datejust 31
The power behind the beauty
Then beneath all this theatrical beauty lies serious horological muscle. Behold the Calibre 2236 movement, introduced in 2014 and now reserved especially for the Datejust 31. This here is a masterclass in Swiss precision and performance. The self-winding mechanical movement features a patented Syloxi hairspring in silicon and a paramagnetic escape wheel that laughs in the face of magnetic fields. Additionally, greater shock resistance comes by way of Paraflex shock absorbers. Better still, the Calibre 2236 offers approximately 55 hours of power reserve. True to form, it also boasts a Superlative Chronometer certification that guarantees accuracy within -2/+2 seconds per day.
Movement 2236
As for sizing, the 31mm case strikes that perfect balance between presence and propriety. Large enough to make a statement, refined enough for the boardroom or ballet. It’s also waterproof to 100 meters because even luxury watches need to be practical. Naturally, the sapphire crystal sports that iconic Cyclops lens at 3 o’clock. A signature feature that magnifies the date with an attention to detail that separates the exceptional from the merely expensive.
The Oyster Perpetual Datejust 31, with the Cyclops lens at 3 o’clock
Not for the faint-hearted
Ultimately, what makes this particular Datejust truly compelling isn’t just its technical prowess or aesthetic drama. It’s the audacity to make red work in haute horlogerie. While others play it safe with classic black or conservative white, or safer shades of blue or green, Rolex delivers a dial that captures the exact hue of confidence and passion, made manifest. It’s for those who understand that sometimes the most sophisticated choice is the boldest one.
