Rolex Datejust 278278

Rolex 278278 Dials and Retail Prices

Rolex currently lists the 278278 in 12 versions, all on the President bracelet. The case, bezel, bracelet and movement are the same on every one of them; the four digits after the reference tell you which dial a watch has.

Rolex has made the 278278 with other dials over the years. One that no longer appears in the current catalogue is the -0046, an olive green dial with a floral motif set with diamonds. We have sold two of them.

Rolex 278278 Price

At Watch My Diamonds, Rolex Datejust 278278 watches range from $48,850 to $63,720 across 4 priced listings.

At retail, the 278278 runs from $39,400 for the champagne-colour and white dials without diamonds to $41,950 for the two mother-of-pearl dials, so the dial changes the list price by $2,550 at most. Rolex revises its list prices from time to time, so a retail figure quoted in an older article is often out of date.

For an individual watch, the price depends on the dial, whether the watch is unworn, whether the box and warranty card are present and how recent the date on the card is. Watches marked “Price on request” are in stock: contact us for a current figure.

Rolex 278278 Specifications

The President Bracelet

Every current 278278 comes on the President bracelet, which Rolex created in 1956 for the launch of the Day-Date. Its semi-circular three-piece links are made only in precious metals, here 18 kt yellow gold, and it closes with a concealed folding Crownclasp, so no clasp shows on the wrist. A solid gold 31 mm Datejust on this bracelet is what many buyers mean by a “31 mm President” or a “midsize President”.

278278 vs Other Datejust 31 References

The Datejust 31 is made in several metals and with several bezels. These are the references closest to the 278278, with their US retail ranges as of October 2026:

The 278273 gives the same fluted-bezel look for about a third of the price, because only the bezel, the crown and the center bracelet links are gold. The 278275 is the same watch in Everose, Rolex’s pink gold alloy, and the 278288RBR replaces the fluting with a bezel set with diamonds. For a steel Datejust 31 with a domed bezel, see the 278240; for the yellow gold fluted look at 28 mm, the Lady-Datejust 279178. Every size and metal is on our Rolex Datejust 31 page.

What to Check Before Buying a 278278

• The dial against the papers. With 12 current dials and several earlier ones, check that the dial matches the full reference on the warranty card, including the four digits after 278278.
• Factory diamonds. Aftermarket diamond dials are common on gold Datejusts. A diamond-set 278278 should carry a diamond-dial reference on its papers, such as those in the table above, with the diamonds Rolex set at the factory.
• The case and bezel. Gold is softer than steel. Look for dents on the lugs and case sides, and for a fluted bezel whose sharp edges have been rounded by polishing.
• The bracelet. A President bracelet that has been worn for years can stretch at the links. Check that it sits evenly on the wrist and that the Crownclasp closes firmly.
• The warranty card. Rolex’s international guarantee runs five years from the date on the card, so the date matters as much as the card itself.

Every watch we sell is inspected and authenticated in house before it ships.

Rolex 278278 FAQs

What is the retail price of the Rolex 278278?

From $39,400 to $41,950 in the United States as of October 2026, depending on the dial. The champagne-colour and white dials without diamonds list for $39,400, and the two diamond-set mother-of-pearl dials for $41,950.

What size is the Rolex 278278?

31 mm. It is the Datejust 31, the size between the 28 mm Lady-Datejust and the 36 mm Datejust.

What movement does the Rolex 278278 use?

The calibre 2236, a self-winding movement made by Rolex, with a Syloxi silicon hairspring, about 55 hours of power reserve and Superlative Chronometer certification, accurate to −2/+2 seconds a day.

Is the Rolex 278278 solid gold?

Yes. The case, the fluted bezel and the President bracelet are all 18 kt yellow gold. The version with an Oystersteel case and a yellow gold bezel is the 278273, in yellow Rolesor.

Which bracelet does the Rolex 278278 come on?

Every version in Rolex’s current catalogue comes on the President bracelet in 18 kt yellow gold. For a Datejust 31 with a gold fluted bezel on an Oyster or Jubilee bracelet, look at the 278273.

What is the difference between the Rolex 278278 and the 178278?

The 278278 uses the calibre 2236, with about 55 hours of power reserve. The 178278 before it used the calibre 2235, with about 48 hours. Both are 31 mm, in 18 kt yellow gold with a fluted bezel.