The steel Datejust 31 with the diamond bezel and the chocolate dial.

The Datejust 36 is the watch Rolex built its reputation on: the first self-winding wristwatch with a date that changed at midnight, launched in 1945, and made ever since in a 36mm Oyster case with a screw-down crown, an automatic chronometer movement, the date under its Cyclops lens at three, a fluted, smooth or engine-turned bezel, and a Jubilee or Oyster bracelet. Because Rolex made it for eight decades in every dial and metal, the pre-owned market is deep and this is where the money goes when people search for a Rolex that is not a Submariner.

Rolex’s chocolate dial is a warm brown sunray that it pairs with Everose on most watches; on the 178344 it sits under a white gold bezel set with 24 diamonds, in a steel case on a steel Oyster bracelet, so the only warmth is the dial and the only sparkle is the bezel and the two diamond numerals. It is the diamond Datejust 31 for someone who does not want yellow gold, and the Oyster bracelet makes it wear like a sports watch.

WGACA gives the reference as 178344, the size as 31mm, the case as steel with a diamond-encrusted bezel and sapphire, the movement as quickset automatic, the clasp as an Oysterclasp and the condition as Excellent with light scratching to the hardware. It does not state box, papers or year. The chocolate Roman dial with diamond VI and IX and the Oyster bracelet are from the title and the photograph; the white gold bezel with 24 diamonds, the calibre, chronometer rating, reserve and 100 metres are Rolex’s published figures for the 178344.

WGACA authenticates in-house and is not a Rolex authorised dealer, and Amazon adds its 30-day return window. Ask for the serial, whether box or papers come with it, and when it was last serviced. Nothing here was measured on the watch.

This unit is sold by What Goes Around Comes Around (WGACA) through Amazon Luxury Stores, authenticated by the seller with Amazon’s 30-day return window on top; it is one piece, and when it sells the listing goes away, so the second button opens the live search for 31mm Datejusts.

Steel and two-tone Datejusts have resold close to what pre-owned buyers paid, sometimes more, sometimes less; that is a pattern, not a promise, and nothing here is investment advice.