The Rolex Cellini Collections: Here’s What You Need to Know


Rolex watches are the most recognized, high-profile timepieces available. When the occasion calls for something dressed-up, look no further than the manufacture’s Cellini line of elegant dress watches. Rolex launched three new and distinctive Cellini families at Baselworld 2014. Here’s what you need to know.
Cellini timepieces are known for their refined elegance and simplicity, and the new families continue that tradition. Each family is named for the information it conveys: Time, Date, and Dual Time – names as pure as the watches themselves.

Though the families differ based on degree of mechanical complication, they share several attributes. The cases are available exclusively in 18k white or Everose gold that has been cast by Rolex in its own foundry. At 39 mm, the cases are perfectly sized for modern dress watches. Each case is topped by a two-tier bezel – one smooth and the other with the trademark Rolex fluting. Similar fluting provides functional decoration on the caseback. A special tool grips the fluting to gain access to the self-winding, COSC-certified, Rolex Manufacture mechanical movements inside.

The flared crowns screw down to maintain a pristine environment within the case. The casebacks are domed, as they were in earlier eras.

The dials are either lacquered or embellished with a black or a silver-plated classic “rayon flammé de la gloire” guilloche motif and adorned with gold applique hour markers. Each Cellini is secured to the wrist by a shiny black or brown alligator leather strap, stitched, remborded, and with an 18k gold buckle.

rolex cellini watches

The Cellini Time models represent the perfect expression of classic watchmaking with stylized, elongated Roman numerals and stretched applique hour markers divided by a minute track that has been moved toward the center of the dial, closer to the tips of the hands.

The faceted, sword-shaped hands, count off the hours, minutes and seconds with the precision of the self-winding chronometer movement.

Each version is priced at $15,200. Find the available versions and specifications below the images.

Rolex Cellini - Time model - front
Rolex Cellini - Time model - reclining

The Cellini Time model is offered in four versions: With a black or white lacquered dial, and with a 39 mm case in a choice of 18k white or Everose gold. It is fitted on a remborded and stitched alligator leather strap with large scales, in shiny black or brown depending on the model, with an 18k gold buckle matching the gold of the case.


Select Model Specifications

Center hour, minute and seconds hands

Case
39 mm, 18k white gold, polished finish
Double bezel, domed and fluted
Domed case back, screw down
Flared screw-down winding crown with Rolex emblem
Domed sapphire crystal
Waterproof to a depth of 50 meters

Movement
Self-winding mechanical movement,
Manufacture Rolex,
COSC-certified chronometer
Blue Parachrom hairspring with Breguet overcoil
28,800 beats/hour (4Hz)
31 rubies
Approximately 48-hour power reserve
The Cellini Date models add a date function via a hand on a small sub-dial located at 3 o’clock. The gold-rimmed subdial with a guilloche motif at its center shows the dates. A small gold hand indicates the current date, as on timepieces of yesteryear. Each model is priced at $17,800.

The Cellini Date model is offered in four versions: White gold with black or silver dial featuring a “rayon flammé de la gloire” guilloche motif, black strap. Everose gold with black or silver dial featuring a “rayon flammé de la gloire” guilloche motif, brown strap.

The specifications appear below the images.

Rolex Cellini - Date model - angle
Rolex Cellini - Date model - reclining
Rolex Cellini - Date model

Select Model Specifications

Functions
Center hour, minute and seconds hands
Date display on a sub-dial with hand at 3 o’clock
Case
39 mm, 18k white gold, polished finish
Double bezel, domed and fluted
Domed case back, screw down
Flared screw-down winding crown with Rolex emblem
Domed sapphire crystal
Waterproof to a depth of 50 meters

Movement
Self-winding mechanical movement,
Manufacure Rolex
COSC-certified chronometer
Blue Parachrom hairspring with Breguet overcoil
28,800 beats/hour (4Hz)
31 rubies
Approximately 48-hour power reserve

Dial
Silver guilloche
18k white gold hour markers and hands

Strap
Shiny black alligator leather
18k white gold buckle
Finally, the Cellini Dual Time models indicate the time in two time zones simultaneously and feature an elegant sun and moon day/night indicator in an aperture on the sub-dial for the second time zone.

The small gold-rimmed sub-dial at 6 o’clock shows the minutes and hours in a faraway part of the world. To differentiate daytime hours from night-time hours, a sun or moon symbol transits the aperture at 9 o’clock on the sub-dial.

To assist travelers, the hour hand can be set independently by successive “jumps” to adjust to a new local time zone, without disturbing the functioning of the watch or the chronometric precision of its self-winding movement.

The Cellini Dual Time model is offered in four versions: with a black or silver dial featuring a “rayon flammé de la gloire” guilloche motif, and with a 39 mm case in a choice of 18k white or Everose gold. It is mounted on an alligator leather strap with large scales, remborded and stitched, in shiny black or brown depending on the model, and fitted with an 18k gold buckle matching the gold of the case.

Each version is priced at $19,400. Specifications appear below the images.

Rolex Cellini - Dual Time model - front
Rolex Cellini - Dual Time model - reclining
Rolex Cellini - Dual Time model - dial cu

Select Model Specifications

Functions
Center hour, minute and seconds hands
Second time zone at 6 o’clock with day/night indicator

Case
39 mm, 18k Everose gold, polished finish
Double bezel, domed and fluted
Domed case back, screw down
Flared screw-down winding crown
with Rolex emblem
Domed sapphire crystal
Waterproof to a depth of 50 meters

Movement
Self-winding mechanical movement,
Manufacture Rolex
COSC-certified chronometer
Blue Parachrom hairspring with Breguet overcoil
28,800 beats/hour (4Hz)
31 rubies
Approximately 48-hour power reserve

Dial
Silver guilloche
18k pink gold hour markers and hands

Strap
Shiny brown alligator leather
18k Everose gold buckle

This article was originally published on September 4, 2014, and has been updated.

 

 

 

 

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  1. John McKnight

    Rolex Cellini is THE watch to collect in 2021. This will be the last year and is perfectly made in its current form. The previous versions do not hold the classic style and are a little trendy for their times. Specifically, the date version in the one configuration that you did no mention…the WG with blue dial and blue strap. This blue dial will become the collectible one, just like the blue WG sub, it indicates that it is gold to other Rolex owners and the blue strap is modern without being trendy. As other professional models will lose value when supply comes back, this one I predict will only appreciate…..if you can get your hands on one!

    Reply
  2. David T Wilder

    I have a rectangular faced Celline. Case markings are 6633. K678410. 08. What is it’s present worth and do I get to Rolex for service

    Reply
  3. Kumars Ahadpour

    I bought a new all gold Cellini watch in 1971. I used it only four or five times and then kept it in the safe box of bank. I wonder how much does worth now if i try to sell it.

    Reply
  4. Barry O' Donnell. CHRISTCHURCH. 8014. NEW ZEALAND

    I have a Rolex watch. Which I must have bought somewhere which is probably 20 years ago.I’m sure this must be a copy. only. It has Rolex on he top of the watch. and Cellini near the bottom. Stamped on the back is GEVEVE. AND A NUMBER 59312. It is not working, but the winder still turns the hands. I am amazed at the detail that went into this watch for a copy as I’m sure I could never afforded to buy a copy that many years ago.Would you like me to send it to you for a look..

    Reply
  5. Essam Adel

    I Have a rolex cellini gold cood
    4306981. 18k
    I want to know the price

    Reply
  6. Thomas buehler

    What was the first year the cellini style Rolex came out and how many on first year. Witch is what year.??

    Reply
  7. Hello!

    I have a 18k Gold Swiss Made – Geneve Rolex Watch.

    I’m not sure how to set the time for 48hrs using the wind up function. For some reason the time stops running at 2am everyday.

    Looking forward to you assistance. Thank you.

    Quan.

    Reply
  8. Just bought one, the Cellini Dual Time, black dial, rose gold. Against everyone’s comment.
    Most of the collectors will opt for AL or PP in this price range.
    But, As Kecap said, I buy watch to enjoy it, not to resell it.
    I just love this Cellini!!
    I don’t against AL or PP, but those beautiful one are out of my reach, for now.
    For Cellini, I don’t agree on the comment that hour and minute hands are too short.
    Imagine Rolex put a longer hand on it, the total balance is ruined.
    But I do feel the 3 o’clock Date dial in Cellini Date is a bit off balance.
    One thing need to be mentioned here is how accurate this Cellini Dual Time achieved,
    it is the most accurate mechanical watch I ever own,
    +3 seconds in a week!!
    Wow, impressive!

    Reply
  9. H.S.Cohen

    Cellini watches have little interest to serious collectors and have low resale value.

    Reply
    • I don’t know about other people but I buy watches to enjoy it while I’m alive. I find the sunburst guilloche and full calendar to be very charming.

      Reply
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