The best way I can describe the Rolex Oyster 31mm line is that it is a mystery. While it is a very handsome collection, I am not sure how to peg it. In other words, I am still trying to figure out just how these watches differ from the Datejust models.

In its "Oyster 31mm Campaign" Rolex calls these models "The man's watch women prefer." Obviously, since I am not a member of the feminine persuasion, I have no way of confirming or denying the veracity of this statement. So I will just resort to the non-committal "no comment."

Basically, the idea behind Rolex's marketing strategy is to take the men's Rolex Datejust models, pretty some of them up, and sell them as women's watches. Of course, Datejust line already has a fine ladies' collection called the Lady Datejust. Yes, but these, I suppose, are strictly for women who prefer women's watches, not for women who prefer men's watches. I hope you are following all this.

The only real difference between the Lady Datejust and Oyster 31mm I can see with a naked eye is the dial diameter. The former is 26 mm, while the latter is, like the Datejust gent's models, 31 mm. That explains the difference between the Lady Datejust and the 31mm models. The difference between men's Datejust and 31mm remains, as I already said, an enigma.

Although this line really is a matter of perplexity to me, I shan't focus on this point any longer. Rather, let me give you an overview of some of the models.

There is quite a wide variety of watches ranging from understated to flashy. The simplest model, and thus the one I find most attractive, is in platinum with an ice-blue "concentric" dial (a series of fine circles) and a President bracelet. I do not like - since I am not a fan of glitzy watches - an 18-carat yellow gold model with diamonds on the white mother-of-pearl dial and the bezel.

As I said, the Oyster 31mm line is a bit confusing to me. After all, a Rolex Datejust is still a Datejust by any other name.