Words: Zoe Dickens
The Cellini holds a special place in the Rolex ecosystem. If the Oyster Perpetual is a start-up founder dreaming of hitting the big time, the Cellini is the seasoned CEO with a corner office and holiday homes in Aspen and St Tropez. It is success distilled into a 39mm rose gold case. The proof? This is Barack Obama’s timepiece of choice.
Despite these credentials, the Cellini only re-entered the Rolex family five years ago as a re-edition of the popular 1960s and 1970s collection of the same name. Inspired by Benvenuto Cellini, the Italian Renaissance artist who popularised the idea of owning multiple timepieces, the modern Cellini collection trades on classic lines, luxurious materials and fine mechanical watchmaking.
This is best exemplified in the most recent addition to the collection: 2017’s Cellini Moonphase. Somewhat astonishingly, this was the first time a moon phase complication had appeared on a Rolex timepiece since the 1950s. Bearing in mind said vintage timepieces now go for more than $1 million at auction, it’s not hard to see why collectors were keen to see the complication return.
Of course, Rolex being Rolex, this moon phase is bigger and better than ever. The chronometer-certified calibre 3195 movement promises to display accurate moon cycles for the next 122 years while a discrete date function has been added to the edge of the dial. The latest Cellini is a real looker too, thanks to its well laid out white lacquer dial, rose gold indices and a deep blue enamel moon phase disc featuring a full moon created from a sliver of meteorite. Oh, and did we mention the case is 18ct Everose gold on an alligator strap?
So, while we would never advocate you judge a potential business partner by their watch alone, should a Cellini emerge from beneath a shirt sleeve during that all important initial handshake, we reckon you’re on to a winner.
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