For 2014, a principle new release from Rolex is the completely revamped Rolex Cellini collection of dress watches. This includes three models that we have decided to cover each in separate posts. Right here we will cover the most complicated of the Rolex dress watches, the Rolex Cellini models, known as the reference 50529 and 50525 Rolex Cellini Dual Time. It sits next to the Rolex Cellini Date and Rolex Cellini Time models that are also new this year.
Different Rolex models are more, or less popular, in different parts of the world. In the United States, the Rolex Cellini has certainly been among the least popular Rolex pieces because the US is primarily a sport watch or at least casual watch market. The Rolex Cellini is very distinctly a formal dress watch, that in the US has been mostly over-looked because our dress watch market is dominated by Rolex Datejust and Rolex Day/Date watches. Not to mention the fact that in the US it is completely acceptable to wear a Rolex Submariner with a suit. So where has Rolex taken this new Cellini family?
In a 39mm-wide precious metal case, the new Rolex Cellini is the tuxedo-to-the-office suite of Rolex watches. More formal that the Datejust, the Cellini has a thinner case and more traditional design that, for the first time, has style cues to the Oyster case. In fact, the Cellini has been an odd man out in the Rolex world for not having an Oyster case. That means it has 50 meters of water resistance, but in many ways is just as dedicated to long-term durability. Of course, the most notable “Oyster-like” style feature is the diminutive fluted bezel and caseback.
In other respects, this is very much the mainstream, slim, classic timepiece that Rolex has been missing. The most basic version is the Cellini Time, with just the time, but for me the most interesting versions are the Rolex Cellini Date and this Rolex Cellini Dual Time because they add elements that Rolex does not offer in other models. As is common on many Rolex watches the caseback of the Cellini is devoid of any text and in this case is rounded and polished in a classic form.
Those familiar with Rolex know that anything actually new, versus updated, with Rolex is a big deal. Not only does the Rolex Cellini have a new case, but it also offers the only dual time complication in the Rolex watch family. Arguably, this is similar to a GMT complication, but they are a little bit different as for many people a Dual Time watch is more convenient to read if you are merely interested in the time where you are and at home.
The way it works is simple, and according to Rolex the dual time complication is based on a module over a base in-house made Rolex movement. The main dial has an hour, minute, and seconds hand for the local time. A subdial has a second pair of hour and minute hands for a “home” or secondary time zone. There is also a small window at the 9 o’clock position of the subsidiary dial that acts as an AM/PM indicator for the home time, as it is presented in a 12-hour format, versus the 24-hour format of Rolex GMT watches such as the Explorer II or GMT-Master II. The small window has a sun for AM and a moon for PM.
