As I’m allergic to date windows that break up the symmetry of the dial, are too small to be practical, or that are included just because a third-party movement includes the date function, this watch can only make me happy. With Cellini, Rolex lets you choose whether to have a date indication on your watch or not. What’s more, in the case of the Cellini Date it’s not the usual date window, but a subdial, so that even though the numbers are small, you can glance at the watch and you have a rough idea of where you are in the month. So I look at it and think, “Oh no, I must be pretty close to the anniversary, I’d better start looking for a gift.”
Apart from the date, the watch is similar to the Cellini Time, with 39 mm case in white gold, approximately 11 mm thick, slightly domed caseback, and a water resistance of 50 metres. Inside the case is a self-winding mechanical movement designed and built by Rolex, with a Parachrom antimagnetic hairspring, a balance running at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hertz), and 48 hours power reserve. The watch is provided with Rolex’s Superlative Chronometer certification, which offers a precision of +2/-2 seconds deviation per day, as well as other tests on power reserve, precision in different positions, and water resistance. Each movement is also tested for precision by COSC.
The dial has sunray guilloché that matches the fluting on the bezel and crown. The guilloché is interrupted for the minutes indications ring and for the ring of numbers on the date subdial. The shade of blue for the dial is enhanced by the blue of the alligator strap. The previous silver and black dial versions of the Cellini Date are still available.
Price and reference
The Rolex Cellini Date is reference 50519, and its price is €16,550.
