Quick answer
The replica Rolex 278273 copies the Datejust 31 in yellow Rolesor, a 31 mm two-tone model with a fluted bezel and a Jubilee bracelet. Copies of this reference fall into three broad tiers: light fashion pieces, mid-tier builds in 316L steel, and top-tier builds in 904L steel with gold plating thick enough to survive a polish. Because the case is small, flaws that would hide on a 41 mm dive watch are easy to see here. Buy the tier that matches your tolerance for detail, and get case measurements in writing before you pay.
What the genuine 278273 is
Rolex lists the 278273 as a Datejust 31 in yellow Rolesor. That means a stainless steel case, a yellow gold fluted bezel, a gold winding crown, and a Jubilee bracelet that mixes gold and steel links. The case measures 31 mm across, which places it between the 26 mm Lady-Datejust and the 36 mm Datejust. Dials are usually sunray-finished in champagne, silver, or white, with mother-of-pearl and diamond options in the catalog. The genuine watch carries a 100 m water resistance rating and the Calibre 2236 with a Syloxi hairspring. The reference covers a family of dial and bracelet combinations rather than one single watch.
How to evaluate a replica 278273 before you buy
- Ask for caliper photos of the case width at 3 to 9 o'clock, the total thickness, and the lug width. A 31 mm copy should sit close to 31 mm wide, near 10.5 mm thick, and take a 16 mm bracelet.
- Look at the bezel under direct light. The flutes should be evenly spaced with sharp edges, not rounded from over-polishing, and the gold tone should match the crown.
- Inspect the dial for a true sunray finish that shifts from dark to bright as you tilt it. The coronet at 12 and the hour markers should be crisp, not blurry at the edges.
- Check the date window at 3 o'clock. The number should sit centered in the aperture, use the right font, and sit under a cyclops with roughly 2.5x magnification.
- Examine the bracelet where the gold and steel links meet. The transition should be clean on both sides of the clasp, with no plating bleed onto the steel.
- Wind the crown a few turns and set the date. The quickset should snap cleanly, the crown should screw down without grit, and the rotor should not rattle when you shake the watch gently.
- Weigh the watch in hand. A 904L build feels denser than a 316L build of the same size. If the seller cannot tell you which steel is used, assume 316L.
- Ask whether the case back gasket and crown gaskets are fitted. Treat any replica as splash resistant only, regardless of what the case back engraving claims.
Movements you will see inside
Most 278273 copies run one of three movements. The first is a 2671-based automatic, a small caliber that fits the 31 mm case well and keeps a date function. The second is a decorated Asian automatic running at 28,800 vibrations per hour, usually with a stamped rotor that imitates the Rolex finish. The third is a clone of the Calibre 2236, which is rare in this size and costs more. A 3135 clone will not fit, so any seller advertising one in a 31 mm case is misdescribing the watch.
Flaws that show up most often
- Bezel plating thin at the flute edges, wearing through to steel within months of daily wear.
- Cyclops with weak magnification or a date that sits low in the window.
- Dial printing that is too heavy, especially the coronet and the minute track.
- End links that do not sit flush against the case, leaving a visible step.
- Crown guards that are too thick or too soft compared with the genuine profile.
Care and service
- Wipe the case and bracelet with a soft cloth after wear to remove skin oils that dull gold plating.
- Keep the watch away from chlorinated water and perfume, both of which attack plated surfaces.
- Have the movement serviced every three to five years if you wear the watch daily, or sooner if it starts losing more than 20 seconds a day.