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Review Women’s luxury watches

Rolex Datejust 31 review: worth it or skip?

Buy9.0/10 research score

Quick answer

Buy it, if you want everyday Rolex. Why: datejust 31. The catch: hard to buy.

By Opulique Editorial Team Updated 1 min read

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Rolex Datejust 31

Our verdict on the Rolex Datejust 31

Buy it if
you want everyday Rolex.
Skip it if
you want small.
Best for
Versatile Rolex
Key feature
Datejust 31
Typical price
$9,500–$14,000
Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Key specifications

Case31 mm steel
MovementRolex 2236
Water resistance100 m
Power reserve55 hours

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

A good fit if you

  • you want everyday Rolex
  • value holds value
  • can spend around $9,500–$14,000

Skip it if you

  • you want small
  • mind this: hard to buy

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Holds value
  • Versatile

Cons

  • Hard to buy

The verdict in one breath

The Rolex Datejust 31 is a women’s luxury watch we would point most people to. What earns it the buy: datejust 31. In our list it is the pick for: versatile Rolex.

Reasons to buy

  • Holds value
  • Versatile

Reasons to skip

  • Hard to buy

The details that matter

  • Case: 31 mm steel
  • Movement: Rolex 2236
  • Water resistance: 100 m
  • Power reserve: 55 hours

Worth knowing

Popular size.

Buy it or skip it?

Buy it if you want everyday Rolex. Skip it if you want small; the Bulgari Serpenti Tubogas is the better buy then. Everything else is in our list of the best women’s luxury watches.

Alternatives worth considering

Bulgari Serpenti Tubogas

Bulgari · Women’s luxury watches

Bulgari Serpenti Tubogas

Buy it if you want a jewelry statement.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
Snake icon
Typical price
$9,000–$13,000

Pros

  • Iconic

Cons

  • Pricey
Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review
Cartier Panthère Two-Tone Medium

Cartier · Women’s luxury watches

Cartier Panthère Two-Tone Medium

Buy it if you want warm.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
Two-tone Panthère
Typical price
$9,000–$11,000

Pros

  • Iconic

Cons

  • Pricey
Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review

Frequently asked questions

Should I buy the Rolex Datejust 31?

Buy it, if you want everyday Rolex. Why: datejust 31. The catch: hard to buy.

When should I skip it?

Skip it if you want small. The Bulgari Serpenti Tubogas is the better buy then.

What does the Rolex Datejust 31 cost?

Usually $9,500–$14,000 in the US. Luxury houses raise prices often, so check the current price before you buy.

Opulique Editorial Team

Part of the Opulique research team. We compare specifications, documentation and real-world trade-offs so you can decide faster.

How we research products Editorial policy

Rolex Datejust 31: the full buy-or-skip review

Is the Rolex Datejust 31 worth the money? Short answer: buy it, if you want everyday Rolex. This review explains what this Rolex piece gets right, where it falls short, what it usually costs and which women’s luxury watch to buy instead if it is not right for you.

What the Rolex Datejust 31 does well

The headline: datejust 31. The details: Case: 31 mm steel; Movement: Rolex 2236; Water resistance: 100 m; Power reserve: 55 hours. In our list it is the pick for: versatile Rolex. It usually sells for $9,500–$14,000 in the US.

Popular size.

The trade-offs

Good: holds value, versatile. Not so good: hard to buy. Read the skip-if line before you spend: skip it if you want small.

What to buy instead

Instead, consider the Bulgari Serpenti Tubogas ($9,000–$13,000): tubogas coil. Better if you want a jewelry statement.

Instead, consider the Cartier Panthère Two-Tone Medium ($9,000–$11,000): steel and gold. Better if you want warm.

Instead, consider the Rolex Datejust 36 Diamond Dial ($11,000–$16,000): datejust 36 diamond dial. Better if you want sparkle.

Before you buy

Movement: quartz is accurate and low-maintenance for a watch you wear now and then; automatic suits daily wear. Size: 25 to 36 mm is classic for most wrists; small diamonds and bracelets change the feel more than size. Metal: steel is the best value; gold and diamond versions can cost several times more.

Buyer tip

Steel Cartier, Rolex and Omega watches hold value well; gold and gem-set fashion-house watches resell at a big discount.

Buying in Europe: authorized-dealer prices for Swiss watches are set per country and include VAT; a watch bought in Switzerland or the EU carries the same international warranty as one bought in the US. Grey-market and pre-owned prices are often quoted in euros or Swiss francs.

Luxury prices move in a different rhythm from everyday shopping. The great houses (Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Rolex) raise prices once or twice a year, often in January and in spring, and almost never discount their icons. Seasonal pieces, colors and many shoes, coats and knitwear drop 30–50% in the end-of-season sales in January and from late June. Watches from brands such as Omega, TAG Heuer, Longines and Breitling, and most fragrance, see the best prices around Prime Day and Black Friday. Judge any deal against the usual price we show.

Buy from the fashion house, an authorized retailer or a reseller that authenticates and guarantees every piece, and keep the receipt, the dust bag, the box and any warranty card: they matter for repairs and for resale. Swiss watches carry a 2- to 5-year international warranty when bought from an authorized dealer, and buyers in the EU and UK also have a legal guarantee of at least two years on new goods.