The Rolex 278273 is a 31 mm Datejust in Rolesor, which pairs Oystersteel with Everose gold. It runs the Calibre 2236, a self-winding movement with a Syloxi hairspring and a 55-hour power reserve. A fake Rolex 278273 gives itself away in three places: the coronet etched inside the crystal, the engraved rehaut, and the finish on the movement.
What are the specs of the Rolex Datejust 278273?
The 278273 belongs to the Datejust 31 line, the smallest of the modern Datejust family. Rolex builds it as a two-tone watch, with a steel case and an Everose gold bezel and center bracelet links. Configurations differ by bezel (fluted or diamond-set) and by dial.
- Case: 31 mm Oyster case in Oystersteel, with an Everose gold bezel
- Movement: Calibre 2236, automatic, Syloxi hairspring, 55-hour power reserve
- Accuracy: Superlative Chronometer certification, -2/+2 seconds per day
- Water resistance: 100 m (330 ft), Twinlock winding crown
- Crystal: scratch-resistant sapphire with a Cyclops lens over the date
- Bracelet: Oyster or Jubilee in Rolesor with a folding Oysterclasp
- Reference codes: 278273 for Everose gold, 278274 for white gold, 278271 for yellow gold
How much does a 278273 cost?
Rolex sets retail for the 278273 in a band from about $12,000 to $20,000 USD, based on the bezel and dial. Diamond-set bezels and dials sit at the top of that range. Check rolex.com or an authorized dealer for the current price, since Rolex updates pricing during the year.
Pre-owned examples from the 2019 to 2025 production run trade below retail. Two-tone Datejust references lose more value than all-steel models, and diamonds help at retail while hurting at resale.
How do you spot a fake Rolex 278273?
Counterfeiters copy the outline of a two-tone Datejust, but they miss the small details that Rolex cuts on a lathe and finishes under a microscope. Work through the checks below, and have a watchmaker open the caseback before you spend money.
The laser coronet in the crystal
Rolex etches a tiny coronet at 6 o'clock, inside the sapphire crystal, with five points and a circle of dots around it. It appears at an angle under a 10x loupe and almost disappears in straight-on light. Fakes print the coronet, cut it too large, or leave it off.
The Cyclops lens and the date
The Cyclops lens magnifies the date 2.5 times and carries an anti-reflective coating that keeps the number readable from the side. On fakes the lens sits off-center, the date font looks thin or stretched, and the glass throws a blue haze.
The case, the weight, and the engravings
Everose gold is a dense alloy of gold and platinum, so a genuine 278273 has real weight in the hand. Gold plating on a counterfeit wears through at the lugs and the crown, showing base metal underneath. The rehaut (the inner ring) carries the word ROLEX repeated around the dial, cut deep and lined up with the minute markers.
The movement
Rolex does not sell the Calibre 2236 to anyone outside its own factory, so a real 278273 hides a Rolex-signed movement behind a solid caseback. Counterfeits use unbranded or cloned calibres with a different beat rate and a rough finish. If a seller shows a display caseback on a Datejust 31, walk away.
Box, card, and paperwork
Rolex ships the watch with a green warranty card that matches the serial on the case, plus a booklet and a hang tag. Fakes come with copied cards and printed booklets that use the wrong font. Ask for photos of the serial and the card together before you pay.
Is it legal to buy or sell a fake Rolex 278273?
In the United States, importing counterfeit goods that carry a trademark is illegal under 19 U.S.C. 1526, and Customs and Border Protection seizes those shipments. Selling replicas opens the seller to civil suits from Rolex and, in repeat cases, criminal charges. Rolex service centers will not repair a counterfeit, so a fake has no resale value and no parts support.
What should you check before buying a 278273?
- Buy from an authorized dealer or a pre-owned specialist that gives a written authenticity guarantee.
- Match the serial on the case with the number on the warranty card.
- Ask a watchmaker to verify the movement and the gold content of the bezel.
- Compare the asking price with listings on Chrono24 and results from major auction houses.
- Pay with a method that offers buyer protection, and keep the receipt.
Common questions about the 278273
Is the 278273 a men's watch or a women's watch?
Rolex markets the Datejust 31 to both. The 31 mm case suits a smaller wrist or a classic unisex look. Buyers who want a larger Datejust move up to the 36 mm or 41 mm references.
What is the difference between the 278273 and the 278274?
The final digit of a Datejust reference marks the metal mix. The 278273 is Oystersteel with Everose gold, the 278274 swaps in white gold, and the 278271 uses yellow gold. Case size, movement, and water resistance stay the same across the three.
Does a 278273 hold its value?
Two-tone Datejust models depreciate more than all-steel ones, and diamond bezels add at retail but not at resale. Buy the 278273 to wear it, and treat any profit story as a sales pitch.