Rolex Datejust 31
📱 Track this reference's market value on the go with the watch value app — daily median, price alerts and a watchlist.
ℹ️ 1-month trend
Price change over the past 30 days. Shows the short-term market movement — relevant if you want to buy or sell soon.
ℹ️ 4-month trend
The central metric behind the momentum score. It filters out short-term swings and shows the true, medium-term market trend of this reference.
ℹ️ Volatility
Annualised price fluctuation. Below 10 % = very stable, 10–20 % = normal, above 20 % = volatile. With high volatility the price can change quickly — in both directions. Be cautious about buying without checking the current price.
ℹ️ Momentum score
ChronoCheck's own indicator from 0 to 100, calculated from the 4-month trend, volatility and market direction.
- Above 60 — Upward trend. Good time to sell, prices are rising.
- 40 – 60 — Neutral. Stable price level, no pressure to act.
- Below 40 — Downward trend. Wait or enter at a good price.
ℹ️ Investment Grade A/B/C/D
ChronoCheck's own rating for each reference. A 0–100 point scale, made up of four weighted components:
- Momentum (40 pts) — trend strength from the momentum score.
- Liquidity (25 pts) — number of active live listings.
- Stability (20 pts) — inverse volatility — the calmer, the better.
- Source robustness (15 pts) — number of independent market sources.
- A · 75+ Trend is right, liquidity good, data broad.
- B · 55–74 Solid, but one component weaker.
- C · 35–54 Average, volatility or market breadth weigh on it.
- D · below 35 Downward or too little data — a collector's piece.
Not investment advice. Pure data analysis from aggregated market sources.
The current market value of the Rolex Datejust 31 (Ref. 68240) is $7,095. Last sold at auction: $4,444 (Sotheby's, 10/2025).
What if you had bought back then …
What would a purchase at the median market price back then have become — at today's level of $7,095. A pure return calculation, excluding insurance, servicing and transaction costs.
Data from an aggregated median time series (watch_market_daily). CAGR = Compound Annual Growth Rate, normalized to 365 days. Not an investment recommendation.
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Technical data
Lift angle 52° — important for timing-machine diagnosis: with this value a watchmaker can correctly measure rate deviation, amplitude and beat error. ChronoCheck verifies such technical details directly from the manufacturers' factory specifications.
Rolex Ref. 68240 — Variants and collector names
Known as: Midsize Datejust, Boy's Size Datejust, 31mm Datejust, Ladies Midsize DJ
Production phases and changes
- 1984: Introduction of Ref. 68240 as the successor to the four-digit 68xx midsize family
- 1988: Documented early Tiffany & Co. double-signed versions
- 1991: Transition from lug through-holes ('drilled lugs') to 'no-hole case'
- 1998: Switch from tritium to Luminova lume on dials and hands
- 1999: Introduction of successor reference 78240 with Cal. 2235
- 2005: End of production for Ref. 68240 / complete replacement by 78240
Movement variants
- 2135 (?–today) · 28800 bph
Bezel variants
- Smooth Steel Bezel "Plain Bezel / Smooth Bezel"
Dial variants
- Tiffany Dial — Same as respective standard variant, with additional 'TIFFANY & CO.' on dial
- Blue Dial — Baton indices, date window at 3h
- Cream Arabic Dial — Arabic numerals, date window at 3h
- MOP Arabic Dial — Arabic numerals, date window at 3h
- Black Stick / Baton Dial — Applied baton indices, date window at 3h
- White Roman Dial — Applied Roman numerals, minute ring (Railroad/Chapter Ring), date window at 3h
- Silver Stick / Baton Dial — ROLEX / OYSTER PERPETUAL / DATEJUST, baton indices, date window at 3h
- Slate / Anniversary Dial — Baton indices, date window at 3h
Crystal variants
- Saphir Cyclops 31mm
Bracelet variants
- Jubilee Midsize Ref. 78274
- Oyster Solid Ref. 78350
Serial numbers
- 7.100.000 – R999999 (1983–1987) — Purely numeric serial numbers, engraved between the lugs at 6 o'clock. Start of production for the five-digit 682xx family from around 1983/84.
- R000001 – E999999 (1987–1990) — Letter prefix era (1987–2010). R=1987, L=1988/89, E=1990. The letters internally spelled out 'ROLEX'.
- X000001 – S999999 (1990–1994) — X=1991, N=1991, C=1992, S=1993–1994.
- W000001 – A999999 (1994–1999) — W=1994/95, T=1996, U=1997–1998, A=1999. Known examples: R367641 (approx. 1988), X827069 (approx. 1993), U529481 (approx. 1997).
- K000001 – F999999 (1999–2005) — Final production years of the 68240. P/K=2000, Y=2002, F=2003–2005, D=2005. From 2005, Rolex began additionally engraving the serial number on the rehaut.
The Ref. 68240 replaces the four-digit 68xx midsize family in 1984, marking Rolex's shift to five-digit reference numbers in this case segment. Making their debut here: a sapphire crystal and a quickset date via the caliber 2135. Collectors know the 31mm case under names like Midsize Datejust or Boy's Size Datejust, occasionally also Ladies Midsize DJ.
## The Tiffany Signature: A Special Case
From around 1988, examples turn up with a double signature on the dial — Rolex and Tiffany & Co. together, paired with a certificate issued explicitly to the New York jeweler. These pieces are sought-after outliers within 68240 production today, not the standard case.
## From Drilled Lugs to No-Hole Case
In 1991, the case construction changes at the lugs. Early examples have drilled through-holes for the spring bars; later ones from the X/N/C-series era do not. Anyone looking at a 68240 with a serial number from this window should look closely at which variant they've got in front of them.
## Tritium Gives Way to Luminova
In 1998, regulation of radioactive materials forces Rolex to move away from tritium. Luminova, marketed by Rolex as LumiBrite, takes over on the dial and hands. Transitional pieces with mixed components exist, but they're rarely documented.
## Phasing Out Alongside the 78240
Starting in 1999, the successor reference 78240, with the upgraded caliber 2235, runs in parallel. The 68240 nonetheless stays in production into the F/D serial number era, with the last examples dating to 2003–2005. Eight dial variants, from silver stick to mother-of-pearl Arabic, plus a smooth bezel with no numerals, define this reference right up to the end.
Brand profile: Rolex
Rolex is the most counterfeited watch brand in the world. Super-clones (VSF, ARF, Clean — the latter inactive since the 07/2025 raid, with only old stock still circulating) reach 95%+ similarity. Authenticity can almost always only be identified through micro-details and caliber behavior.
- Case back: ALWAYS solid and closed — any display window means it's definitely fake (exception: vintage Ref. 6085 only)
- Minute hand length: genuine Rolex minute hands end EXACTLY at the minute chapter ring. 1 mm too long = fake. The strongest VSF tell.
- Seconds hand: smooth sweep without any hesitation — the slightest tick-tock motion means it's fake
- Cyclops lens (on Date models): must magnify exactly 2.5×, with the date filling almost the entire window
Serial number format: Since 2010, a random alphanumeric combination (e.g. 'G3M9K721'). 2000-2010: a letter plus 6-7 digits. Serial number engraved on the rehaut at 6 o'clock (from ~2005). Older models: between the lug shoulders at 6 o'clock on the case.
Further sources
Buying guide: Rolex Datejust 31
Entry into Rolex
At $7,095 this reference is one of the more affordable ways to wear a Rolex on your wrist. That is precisely why many pieces have already passed through several hands — condition varies accordingly. Buyers here should pay particular attention to service history and honest photos from the seller.
Watch out for swings: This reference has an above-average volatility of 55.1 percent. In concrete terms: the price can move by several hundred euros within a few weeks. Check the current value before buying or selling — old listings or auction results from two months ago are of little help.
What to look out for when buying?
- Authenticity: The serial number and reference on the case must match the papers. A professional authenticity check of the Rolex Datejust 31 reliably rules out counterfeits.
- Condition: Check scratches on the case and bezel — professional refurbishment can leave traces.
- Service history: A documented service by the manufacturer or a certified watchmaker increases the value.
- Scope of delivery: Box, papers and warranty card make a noticeable price difference on the Datejust 31.
- Independent certification: The CPS-52 standard covers 52 checkpoints — from the serial number and the timing machine to water resistance. The result is secured on the blockchain and can be verified at any time.
Check the market value live now
Interactive price analysis with momentum indicator and buy/sell signal.
Go to the market value tool →Auction results Rolex Datejust 31 68240
Recent hammer prices for this reference from international auction houses:
| Price | House | Date |
|---|---|---|
| $4,444 | Sotheby's | 10/2025 |
| $19,400 | Phillips | 02/2025 |
| $4,621 | Sotheby's | 02/2023 |
| $4,267 | Sotheby's | 02/2023 |
| $2,421 | Christie's | 12/2022 |