Rolex Cellini

The Rolex Cellini is the dress watch Rolex made outside the Oyster line from the 1960s until the collection was retired in 2023: precious metal only, no screw-down crown, no waterproof case, a watch for a cuff rather than a wetsuit. BeepWear lists two pre-owned Cellinis, both in yellow gold: a 23mm 3811 at $10,500 and a 24mm 66318 at $11,500. Each was inspected before listing and is photographed as the actual watch.

Which Cellini references are in stock? The 3811 is a small manual-wind Cellini from the 1970s, 23mm across, in 18k yellow gold; it also appears on the vintage Rolex page because its four-digit reference places it before 1980. The 66318 is a later yellow gold Cellini at 24mm. Both are small by current standards, which is true of the whole Cellini line until its 39mm final generation.

What does a pre-owned Rolex Cellini cost? $10,500 for the 3811 and $11,500 for the 66318 here. Cellinis are the least expensive way to own a solid gold Rolex, because the market prices the Oyster sports models far above the dress line; a gold Day-Date on this site starts at several times the price. The gold content itself sets a floor under Cellini values.

Why is the Cellini different from other Rolex watches? Every other modern Rolex is an Oyster: a screw-down case back and crown, a waterproof rating and, usually, a self-winding movement. The Cellini, named after the Renaissance goldsmith Benvenuto Cellini, was Rolex’s answer to the thin gold dress watches of the 1960s and 1970s. Cases were pressed rather than screwed, movements were often hand-wound, and designs changed freely, so two Cellinis can look nothing alike. That variety is why collectors buy them on the individual watch rather than the reference.

Is a small gold Cellini wearable today? At 23 and 24mm these two are sized as ladies’ or unisex watches by current habits, though many were sold to men when new. On a leather strap they wear as a dress watch and sit well under a shirt cuff. If you want a Rolex dress watch at a larger size, the 36mm Datejust is the usual answer.

What should you check before buying a used Cellini? Because the case is not waterproof, look for moisture marks on the dial and corrosion around the crown; a Cellini that has been swum in will show it. Confirm the movement winds smoothly and runs to time; many are hand-wound and may not have been serviced for years. Check the gold hallmarks inside the case back. Every piece here was inspected before it was listed.

How does BeepWear list and ship these? One listing per watch, with the reference in the title and the current price. Orders ship insured within the United States; the authenticity guarantee, the returns policy and the warranty terms each have their own page. All pre-owned Rolex on the site are on the Rolex page.