Rolex Cellini

Rolex Cellini Price Trends Market Report

On the pre-owned market today, Cellini references typically range from around $5,500 to $22,500 depending on the model, condition, metal, and whether original box and papers are included. The Cellini Moonphase (ref. 50535) tends to command the highest prices in the current lineup, often trading above $22,000 for well-preserved examples. Vintage references like the King Midas or early cushion-shaped pieces vary widely based on condition and rarity.

5-Year Price Trend

According to internal sales data from Bob's Watches, the average resale price of a Rolex Cellini increased 67% between 2020 and 2025. That's meaningful appreciation for a watch that most mainstream buyers overlook. During the same five-year period, the number of Cellini watches sold through Bob's Watches doubled, pointing to growing demand from buyers who recognize the value these references represent relative to other Rolex models.

Rolex Cellini Collections

The Rolex Cellini collection includes a range of refined dress watches, each with its own case shape, features, and character. Below is a quick look at the standout models and their most notable references.

Rolex Cellini Collections

The Cellini family spans four current references and a long list of discontinued models. Whether you're looking for the clean dial of the Cellini Time or something with more mechanical interest like the Moonphase, there's a version that fits. Here's what each model offers.

Rolex Cellini Moonphase

The Rolex Cellini Moonphase is the most complicated and arguably the most striking piece in the current lineup. The moonphase display is integrated into the dial at 6 o'clock, paired with a date function at 3 o'clock, and the overall presentation carries a layered, classical watch aesthetic. It remains in a 39mm case and follows the same 18k gold material path as the rest of the family.

The movement is the Caliber 3195, which features a moonphase display calibrated to be accurate to one day in 122 years. Rolex doesn't overstate that, but for anyone who appreciates long-cycle accuracy in a complication that's traditionally decorative, it's worth knowing. The Moonphase consistently holds the highest resale values in the current Cellini lineup and tends to attract the most attention from serious collectors.

Rolex Cellini Prince

One of the most distinctive pieces in the line-up, the Rolex Cellini Prince continues to be a standout piece for collectors. It uses a rectangular case, an unusual format for Rolex, with a two-register dial layout featuring a sector-style hour display and a separate small seconds sub-dial. The design draws directly from the pocket watch tradition of the early 20th century, and Rolex executed it with a level of decorative finishing that included guilloché dials and ornate case detailing.

Production on the Prince ran from the early 2000s through the mid-2010s before it was discontinued. On the pre-owned market, it occupies a collector niche. It's not for everyone, but those who appreciate it tend to be enthusiastic. Prices vary widely depending on condition and specific reference, and vintage examples can be particularly compelling if you're looking for real visual differentiation from the broader Rolex catalog.

Rolex Cellini Danaos

The Rolex Cellini Danaos was a dual-time Cellini that predates the current Dual Time reference. It was available in both 18k gold and two-tone versions and featured a GMT-style additional hour hand for practical second time zone tracking. For buyers looking for a used Rolex Cellini with dual-time functionality at a lower price point than current production models, the Danaos represents solid value.

Named after a figure from Greek mythology, the Danaos was produced through the early 2000s. It's a collector-friendly piece that combines the dress watch aesthetic of the Cellini family with real travel utility. Pre-owned examples vary in condition, and finding one with original box and papers adds meaningful value to any transaction.

Rolex Geneve Cellini (Vintage References)

Many Rolex Cellini vintage models were marked "Rolex Geneve" on the dial rather than simply "Rolex," a designation that linked them to the brand's more jewelry-oriented production arm. These older references, which include early round cases, cushion shapes, and various dial treatments, make up a large portion of what's available on the vintage market today.

Rolex Geneve Cellini watches often trade at lower prices than current references, which can be an opportunity for buyers who appreciate vintage aesthetics and aren't attached to in-house modern calibers. Movement origins and service history matter more here than with current production pieces, so due diligence is important before buying.

Rolex Cellini Time

One of the purest versions of the collection is the Rolex Cellini Time. It's a two-hand watch with no date, no complications, and a domed white or black dial in a polished 39mm white gold or Everose gold case. That focus on simplicity is deliberate. The dial is clean to the point of being meditative, with applied hour markers and Rolex's signature Mercedes hands reading the time with no distractions.

Under the case, the ref. 50509 runs on the Caliber 3132, a self-winding movement with a paramagnetic Parachrom hairspring and a 48-hour power reserve. For collectors, the appeal here is the tension between restraint on the dial and engineering depth underneath. It wears beautifully with a slim leather strap and its 39mm diameter keeps it wearable without looking oversized in formal settings.

Rolex Cellini Date

Add a date window and you get the Cellini Date, which shares the same 39mm diameter and case design as the Time. The date display sits at the 3 o'clock position, a classic location, and the dial comes in white or black with a slightly more formal presentation. Like the other current Cellini references, it's available in 18k white gold or Everose gold.

The movement here is the Caliber 3165, a self-winding caliber with a date function and the same Parachrom hairspring. For buyers who want the Cellini's clean aesthetic but prefer having the date on the wrist, this is the natural choice. It's a well-balanced watch that handles dress occasions without trying too hard.

Rolex Cellini Dual Time

The Dual Time adds a second time zone display via an additional hour hand and a day/night indicator on the dial. The layout reads clearly without cluttering the dial, which is part of what makes this reference appealing to frequent travelers who want a dress watch that's actually practical. The case remains 39mm in 18k gold, keeping the proportions in line with the rest of the Cellini family.

The Caliber 3187 inside the Dual Time includes a bidirectional mechanism to set the local hour hand independently, which means adjusting for a new time zone doesn't require stopping the movement. For a watch that looks this dress-oriented, the functionality underneath is quietly impressive.

Rolex Cellini Cestello

The Cestello was a ladies' Cellini model with a distinctive oval case and bezels set with diamonds or other gemstones. It offered the Cellini's formal orientation in a more jewelry-forward execution, bridging the gap between a dress watch and a fine bracelet piece. Several references were produced across yellow gold, white gold, and two-tone combinations.

Today, the Cestello trades as a vintage and collector piece. It doesn't appear at retail, so the pre-owned market is essentially the only way to find one. Condition and completeness of the original set are the primary value drivers, as is the type and quality of any gemstone work on the case and bezel.

Rolex Cellini King Midas

The King Midas is one of the most famous early Cellini references and one of the most eye-catching pieces in the Rolex archive. Designed by Gerald Genta in the 1960s, it features an unusual trapezoidal case with an all-gold integrated bracelet, making it look like a single continuous sculptural object rather than a traditional watch. The name references the mythological king whose touch turned everything to gold, and it fits.

Vintage King Midas examples are true collector pieces, commanding significant premiums based on historical significance, the Gerald Genta pedigree, and rarity in the current market. If you come across one in good condition with traceable provenance, it's worth taking seriously.

Rolex Cellini Specifications

The Cellini's specification sheet tells part of the story. Here's what buyers need to know about how these watches are built, and why those choices matter.

Materials

Current Cellini references are available exclusively in 18k Everose gold or 18k white gold, Rolex's proprietary alloys. Rolex developed Everose gold specifically to resist fading over time, a known weakness in conventional rose gold, by adding a small percentage of platinum to the 18k blend for long-term color stability. The case, crown, and buckle hardware all use the same gold type, giving each reference a visually consistent finish throughout.

Movement

All current Cellini references run on Rolex in-house calibers: the 3132 in the Time, the 3165 in the Date, the 3187 in the Dual Time, and the 3195 in the Moonphase. These are self-winding movements with bidirectional rotors, paramagnetic Parachrom hairsprings, and power reserves in the 48-hour range. Every caliber in the current lineup carries Rolex's Superlative Chronometer certification, meaning each movement has been tested and certified to perform within -2/+2 seconds per day after casing, a tighter standard than official COSC certification.

Bezel

The current Cellini references all use a smooth, polished bezel without any functional markings. No tachymeter, no dive scale, no chapter ring. The bezel is purely aesthetic, acting as a frame for the dial. Some models feature a fluted edge as a design accent, echoing the fluted bezel treatment found on other Rolex references like the Datejust and Day-Date.

Sizes

The more recent Cellini lineup, which is currently discontinued, is built around a 39mm round case across all models. That puts it in a comfortable middle ground, large enough to read well and carry presence on the wrist, but not so large that it looks out of proportion in formal settings. Case thickness is kept slim relative to many contemporary watches, a deliberate design choice to maintain the dress watch profile that works under a shirt cuff.

Earlier Cellini references ranged considerably in size and shape. The rectangular Prince cases measured approximately 29mm x 47mm. The King Midas used a trapezoidal form. Ladies' models like the Cestello used smaller oval cases. The variety in the vintage and pre-owned market reflects decades of design evolution, so if you're shopping outside the current collection, it helps to look at physical dimensions alongside reference numbers.

Water Resistance

The Cellini is rated to 50 meters water resistance, which is lower than Rolex's sport references but appropriate for a dress watch. That rating handles splashes and rain without issue, but it's not built for swimming or submersion. This is a deliberate positioning decision. A dress watch built to the same water resistance as an Oyster Professional would require thicker case walls that would compromise the slim, elegant profile the Cellini is designed around.

Watch Bands

Cellini models ship on a hand-stitched leather strap in a range of colors, including black, dark brown, and tan, with an 18k gold pin buckle that matches the case material. The combination keeps the watch's weight down relative to a bracelet configuration and reinforces the dress watch aesthetic. Lug ends are slightly curved to complement the strap contour.

Earlier vintage models were sometimes delivered on integrated gold bracelets, particularly the King Midas, which was essentially inseparable from its bracelet by design. Some references included deployment clasps rather than pin buckles, and others allowed strap swaps based on buyer preference..

Who the Rolex Cellini Is For

The Cellini is the right watch if you already own a sport Rolex or two and want something that works in a suit. It's also the right choice if you're a dress watch buyer who wants the Rolex quality infrastructure without paying Day-Date prices. Collectors who appreciate round gold watches, classical dials, and in-house movements tend to gravitate toward it for good reason.

It's not the right watch if you need something that handles outdoor activities or water sports. And it's not the right watch if secondary market liquidity is a top priority, the Datejust and Submariner turn over faster. The Cellini rewards buyers who are buying to wear and hold, not flip.

Expert Opinion

“The Cellini is chronically undervalued in the secondary market, and experienced buyers know it. You're getting Rolex's full quality infrastructure, including in-house movements with Superlative Chronometer certification, 18k gold case construction, and the same after-sales service network, in a watch that regularly trades at half the price of comparable Rolex references.

The 67% increase in average Cellini resale values between 2020 and 2025, tracked through Bob's Watches internal sales data, is not an accident. It reflects growing recognition among buyers who look past the sport watch noise and value what the Cellini actually delivers. The buyers getting in at today's prices are well-positioned.”

- Paul Altieri, Founder & CEO

Why Buy a Pre-Owned Rolex Cellini from Bob's Watches

Bob's Watches has been buying and selling pre-owned Rolex watches for over a decade, and the Cellini has been a consistent part of that inventory throughout. Every watch goes through a detailed authentication process, and pricing is based on live market data rather than arbitrary markups. You're not guessing at fair value when you shop here. You're seeing it.

We also offer a sell-back program, which gives buyers confidence that the watch they purchase has a clear path to resale when the time comes. For a watch like the Cellini, where secondary market liquidity is thinner than with the Submariner or Datejust, having a trusted buyer ready makes a real difference.

• Authenticated pre-owned inventory
• Transparent, market-based pricing
• Free insured overnight shipping

Sell Your Rolex Cellini

If you want to sell your Rolex watch, Bob's Watches offers a straightforward process with a fair offer based on current market data. We purchase pre-owned Rolex Cellini watches across all references, from models like the Time and Moonphase to other discontinued pieces like the Prince, Danaos, and King Midas. Condition, completeness, and provenance all factor into the offer, and we'll walk you through each step clearly.

Our team has been active in the market long enough to know exactly what these watches are worth. When you decide to sell Rolex watches to Bob's, we're not going to waste your time with offers that don't reflect reality. Get an instant quote online or reach out directly to start the process. Most transactions close within days.

Shop Model by Feature

Over the years, Rolex has released numerous versions of this iconic timepiece, showcasing various bezel color combinations and material enhancements. Discover the standout features of the Rolex Cellini through the helpful links below.