Shop Pre-Owned Rolex Cellini Watches With Bezel
Are you thinking of buying a Rolex Cellini timepiece? You'll find all the information about this timepiece here on Bezel. One of the most underrated timepieces in the Rolex catalog, the Cellini is a formal-styled luxury dress watch with a classic and clean aesthetic. Although it has now been discontinued, you’ll find both vintage and contemporary Rolex Cellini watches in the pre-owned market.
The Legacy of Rolex Cellini Watches
The Rolex Cellini has had a long and fascinating history intertwined with that of the watchmaker itself. The first Cellini timepiece was introduced in 1928, about two decades after the Swiss watchmaking company was established, making it one of the earliest Rolex models.
Rolex continued to produce the Cellini as individual models released over the next few decades. This changed in 1968 when the Cellini was officially designated as a distinct Rolex collection. The collection’s name pays homage to Benvenuto Cellini, an Italian Sculptor and Painter who was one of the most famous artists of the Renaissance era.
The Cellini was the first Rolex timepiece to focus on form over function, deviating from the design ethos of the watchmaker’s more popular tool and sports watches. A quintessential dress watch, the Cellini has always been about classic elegance. Many of the earliest watches in the collection had a traditional aesthetic, with round casings crafted exclusively from precious metals like platinum and gold.
By the 1970s, Rolex began to experiment with less conventional designs, creating models with more angular cases like the Cellini King Midas (designed by the legendary Gérald Genta) instead of the conventional round watch. Rolex returned to more conventional designs after a few years of bold experimentation.
In 2023, after close to a century of active production, Rolex eventually discontinued the Cellini collection. It was replaced by the new Rolex 1908 collection, which continues the legacy of classic and sophisticated dress watches.
How Much Does a Rolex Cellini Cost
Rolex Cellini watches have always been made with luxurious case materials, including precious metals like 18K Gold and platinum, which adds to their value quite significantly. Also, many models come with complications like date, moon phases, and dual time zones, which add to their value. They cater to users with diverse preferences, but the variations within the collection make it easier to find specific models within your budget. Retail Cost
The Rolex Cellini collection was discontinued in 2023. This means you can no longer buy brand-new Cellini models from an authorized dealer since the watchmaker doesn’t make them anymore. Your only option is to shop for the watch in the pre-owned market.
How Much Does a Pre-Owned Rolex Cellini Watch Cost
The Rolex Cellini has a reputation as one of Rolex’s most elegant collections of watches, which makes them very valuable in the pre-owned market. The cheapest modern Cellini watches are the time-only versions like the Cellini Time, which costs between $12,000 to $15,000.
The more complicated options, like the Cellini Date and Cellini Dual Time range from about $15,000 to $18,000. Generally, rose gold Cellini models tend to be more expensive than the White Gold variants. The most expensive variant of this watch is the one with a moon phase complication, with a markup of up to $29,000 for some models.
Key Features of Rolex Cellini Watches
Refined Aesthetics
The Rolex Cellini collection is known for its refined aesthetics. This timepiece's streamlined, delicate design is impressive for a brand known for its extremely durable watches engineered for rugged use. The refined aesthetics of this watch give it an elegant appearance, with polished versatility that allows it to be worn in different formal settings. It features download sloping lugs with bent spring bars, eliminating the gap between the case and the strap. This watch also has an unusual bezel design featuring two individual rings (domed and fluted bezel rings).
Precious Metal Casing
Rolex Cellini watches are produced exclusively from precious metal. Many vintage models are made with platinum material and come in various case designs. Modern Cellini watches are round, with a 39mm case made from either 18-karat white gold or Everose gold with matching bracelets made with the same material or leather straps.
Simple Elegant Dial
As expected of a dress watch, the Rolex Cellini has a simple but elegant dial. They mostly come in neutral colors like silver, white, black, or brown, but there are a few models with bright rose-colored dials as well. The dials are either lacquered or engraved with a guilloche pattern to give it some character. Most models have elongated Roman numerals only at the 3, 6, 9, and 12 positions, which is consistent with their traditional classic aesthetics. However, you’ll also find a few models with index-only without numerals. Unlike the Rolex sports and tool watches, the Cellini timepieces do not have luminous materials on their dial.
Water Resistant
As a dress watch, the Rolex Cellini doesn’t have the rugged construction of the Rolex tool watches. It is one of the few collections that does not use Rolex’s waterproof Oyster Casing. Despite this, this timepiece is still water-resistant, with a depth rating of up to 50 meters (164 feet) thanks to its screw-down crown and case back. This is impressive since other dress watches are either not water-resistant or rated to just 30 meters in most cases.
Complications
The standard version of the Rolex Cellini has no extra complications. It is just a simple, three-hand time-only watch with no extra functions. However, Rolex has also produced a number of Cellini models with complications. The Cellini Date, for instance, shows the date with a small subdial at the 3 o'clock position.
There’s also a Dual Time Cellini with two hands and a sundial at 6 o’clock, which allows you to track the time in a second time zone. Watches with this function also have a day/night indicator. Rolex introduced a version of this watch with a moon phase complication in 2017. It was an unusual release for the watchmaker since its last timepiece with this complication was produced in the 1950s. In addition to the moon phase, this Cellini watch also has a pointer date display.
Popular Rolex Cellini Watches
The Cellini collection is quite diverse, offering a wide range of case designs for every taste. You’ll find pre-owned Rolex Cellini watches in all kinds of case silhouettes, including round, rectangular, oval, tonneau, asymmetrical, and cushion-shaped. Even the movement options include both mechanical and quartz-powered options. Some of the most popular models of this timepiece released over the years include:
Selling Your Rolex Cellini is Easy with Bezel
Do you have a Rolex Cellini watch for sale? You can get it listed on Bezel to reach an audience of active watch lovers looking to buy Rolex watches like yours. While it is not as popular as other Rolex models, the Cellini is a solid investment that retains its value and will fetch a good price in the secondary market. Sell your Rolex Cellini with Bezel and get a good value for your watch, with our experts handling the seamless sales process from start to finish.
Choose Bezel for All of Your Luxury Watch Needs
Bezel offers a modern and intuitive online marketplace where you can find good-quality pre-owned luxury watches in perfect condition. Our site has a highly curated selection of collectible and rare-to-find watches from some of the biggest brands in the luxury watch industry, including Rolex, Cartier, Patek Philippe, Richard Mille, etc. We also offer a concierge service to help you find specific watch models from our network of trusted sellers, even if they’re not listed on our site.
On Bezel, you’ll find modern vintage and contemporary watches verified through a robust in-house authentication process to guarantee their condition and quality. All watches obtained from Bezel are also covered by a comprehensive buyer protection policy, so you can shop with peace of mind. Visit the marketplace on your mobile browser or download the Bezel app to start shopping for quality pre-owned watches.
