Rolex Cellini Moonphase Watch
The 2022’s Rolex Cellini Moonphase ref. 50535 in polished 18 ct Everose gold retailing for 37’750 AUD. The blue enamel sky is a sight to behold, and the actual meteorite moon is enchanting.
It pays homage to the Rolex’s own 1950s dress watches, acts as a continuation of the 2014’s reintroduced Cellini range, and introduces in the mostly sports watch lineup of the brand a welcome classical note inspired by the world of art and sculpture courtesy Benvenuto Cellini.
Rolex watches are universally known — and at this point if alien life beyond our universe was fully confirmed then one can assume with full conviction that Rolex watches would have inter-stellar fame — for being one of the most reliable and sought-after timepieces. People throng to boutiques and ADs to catch a glimpse of these mythical horological beasts, with only a few lucky ones touching one of the steel sports watches.
So while most watch enthusiasts and collectors might be content with this, the Rolex Cellini Moonphase in my honest opinion is for those connoisseurs who appreciate that the brand is much more than a watch called Submariner. It’s like saying Patek Philippe only makes Nautilus. Or Audemars Piguet Royal Oak (though sadly the latter is perhaps true if you ask any of the latest Instagram famous flashy folks).
It is also for those of us who would like to own a piece radiating with the glow of watches from the likes of Breguet and the ‘Holy Trinity’ — though I seriously wish that the Rolex Cellini Moonphase had a display case-back — but also has the time-assured guarantee of being a sturdy Rolex timepiece.
And I don’t know about you but funds permitting I would personally indulge in a Rolex Cellini Moonphase (or time-only) rather than be on life-sucking waiting lists for sports models. Herd mentality is not always cool, though ironically, a Submariner definitely is.
The Rolex Cellini Moonphase features Rolex’s in-house calibre 3195 with an accuracy -2/+2 sec/day (after casing).
It is an automatic winding 28.5mm diameter movement comprising 31 jewels, beating at the frequency of 4Hz, providing ~48-power reserve, adjusted in six positions, and featuring a paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring, a Rolex overcoil and high-performance Paraflex shock absorbers.
The Rolex Cellini Moonphase is also a Superlative Chronometer which means that it is both COSC-certified and comes with a Rolex certification after casing. The watch come with an international five-year guarantee.
The calibre 3195 is entirely manufactured by Rolex, and the patented moonphase module is astronomically accurate for 122 years.
The watch face shows the functions of central hours, minutes, and small seconds, moonphase at 6’o clock and a peripheral date display on a gorgeous white lacquer base with a blue enamelled moonphase disc.
The full moon is impressively in rhodium plated meteorite, and the new moon and stars are pad printed silver. Both the hour markers and hands are in 18 ct pink gold.
The dial and movement of the Rolex Cellini Moonphase are encased inside a very wearable 39mm diameter case, with a 13.4mm thickness and a 46.3mm lug-to-lug spacing. The standard 20mm interhorn lug spacing is welcome, as aftermarket strap options become a viable possibility.
