Popularity, or lack of thereof new Cellini

[Bakasana]

How long have the new Cellini pieces been at ADs or retail? Any word on their popularity, selling numbers etc?

I'm hoping in the 2nd hand market, pre-owned, or when guys like DavidSW get their hands on 'em, we'll see a significant drop off in price. I'm thinking these may not sell well, and I'll be able to land one at a significant lowered price point. Any thoughts?

[Matt748]

I haven't seen many of them on here to be honest.
I'm sure they are out there but they just aren't as popular as the Sports models.
No idea why, Just seems to be how it is.

[Mick P]

Chaps

I think the new Cellini is a major mistake.

No one with an ounce of taste is going to buy one as a dress watch because it is just plain loud and it looks cheap.

I cannot understand that how a company that makes a brilliant model like a Submariner or an Explorer actually makes something so tacky as the new Cellini.

I will keep with my 1950s JLC for the formal events.

Regards

Mick

[Bakasana]

Originally Posted by Mick P

Chaps

I think the new Cellini is a major mistake.

No one with an ounce of taste is going to buy one as a dress watch because it is just plain loud and it looks cheap.

I cannot understand that how a company that makes a brilliant model like a Submariner or an Explorer actually makes something so tacky as the new Cellini.

I will keep with my 1950s JLC for the formal events.

Regards

Mick

Tell us how you really feel?

[capote]

The Cellini range has never been really popular. I find the Cellini Prince to be a stunning time piece, with something so rare for a Rolex as a display caseback. There is a lot of history with that watch as well.

[JRolex]

Hmm, it's definitely something I'll be looking at down the road. It's got something about it, I just can't put a finger on it, I'll definitely be looking at one sometime soon.

[thomaspp]

Rolex does sport watches, for dress watches, go elsewhere


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[andrewd]

I agree with Mick, sorry!

[zama]

I think a DJ or DD is enough of a dress watch for anyone. That said I am wearing a Lange dress watch as we speak, they are just different to sports watches. I tend to agree most people are not motivated to the Cellini line.

[Rock]

Whilst I respect the opinions of others here, I am always at a loss to understand the negativity directed at the Cellini line.(It's NOT Cellini OR Sports range - you CAN have both)
If you compare them with what other quality makers are doing (usually for bigger $) they always look good in terms of both quality and styling.
I viewed the new Cellinis in the flesh recently and was frankly knocked out by how good they look.
I think if you mention 'sports watches' in the same sentence, you are confusing the issue as they are two very different ranges.
I love my DJ but see the Cellini range in a different context.
I too am hoping for some great bargains in the future.

[Apalachicola]

I like Rolex, but have never been a fan of their dress watches and the new Cellini don't change that. Rolex, to me, means Oyster. On the rare occasions I wear a dress watch, it's my grandpa's PP. I'm considering a new dress watch, but Cellini isn't in the picture: ALS looks pretty nice.

Just my ignorant two cents. I'm sure many disagree, with good reasons.

[Eric Chan]

Originally Posted by Rock

Whilst I respect the opinions of others here, I am always at a loss to understand the negativity directed at the Cellini line.(It's NOT Cellini OR Sports range - you CAN have both)
If you compare them with what other quality makers are doing (usually for bigger $) they always look good in terms of both quality and styling.
I viewed the new Cellinis in the flesh recently and was frankly knocked out by how good they look.
I think if you mention 'sports watches' in the same sentence, you are confusing the issue as they are two very different ranges.
I love my DJ but see the Cellini range in a different context.
I too am hoping for some great bargains in the future.

I agree wholeheartedly with what has been written here.

The Cellini line, especially the new line, are simply amazing and quite frankly beautiful. Truly underated. The price is fair for this type of watch and holds its own to its direct competition. The Cellini is not trying to compete with Patek or Lange as those are a completely different class of dress watch. Given the opportunuity and need, I would not hesitate for a moment to add a Cellini Time to my collection.

[Samurai]

I really wanted Cellini as my first watch last year. AD didn't have them and didn't plan on ordering one. They had problem selling the line. So I went with what they had in stock at that time (JLC) before getting the brown DD 118138 this year.

[Howe]

The black cellini was a disappointment when i saw it in person. But that silver or white sunburst dial is very nice.

[Mick P]

Originally Posted by Rock

Whilst I respect the opinions of others here, I am always at a loss to understand the negativity directed at the Cellini line.(It's NOT Cellini OR Sports range - you CAN have both)
If you compare them with what other quality makers are doing (usually for bigger $) they always look good in terms of both quality and styling.
I viewed the new Cellinis in the flesh recently and was frankly knocked out by how good they look.
I think if you mention 'sports watches' in the same sentence, you are confusing the issue as they are two very different ranges.
I love my DJ but see the Cellini range in a different context.
I too am hoping for some great bargains in the future.

Rock

You make some good points but the OP was asking if the price of the new Cellini was likely to drop due to lack of demand.

Most people on this forum are enthusiasts who are not typical of the million or so customers who buy Rolex over the year.

The new Cellini is not a good example of a dress watch that is to be used for formal occasions. Male attire for formal events is the civilian equivalent of military wear in the sense that you adhere to a dress code that everyone is expected to comply with.

A watch for formal occasions is expected to be gold, is expected to be relatively discreet, is expected to be thin and certainly no more than say 39mm. Also the face should be plain. My JLC is 60 years old and looks dateless and it will be appropriate for formal wear for many years to come.

The new Cellini looks like a oversized lump and my initial impression that it is just to loud to slip into the background.

I am convinced that the value of the new Cellini will slump due to lack of demand because men who regularly attend formal events will not touch it with a barge pole. The WISs may well buy it but the customer base for which it is intended will turn its back on it.

Time will tell.

Regards

Mick

[Bakasana]

Originally Posted by Rock

Whilst I respect the opinions of others here, I am always at a loss to understand the negativity directed at the Cellini line.(It's NOT Cellini OR Sports range - you CAN have both)
If you compare them with what other quality makers are doing (usually for bigger $) they always look good in terms of both quality and styling.
I viewed the new Cellinis in the flesh recently and was frankly knocked out by how good they look.
I think if you mention 'sports watches' in the same sentence, you are confusing the issue as they are two very different ranges.
I love my DJ but see the Cellini range in a different context.
I too am hoping for some great bargains in the future.

Agreed.

Hopefully after a year or two, some of these newer released Cellinis can be had pre-owned, through reputable dealers like DavidSW at a nice bargain. I wouldnt mind owning one... I've tried 'em all, and considering the lack of interest in this range, maybe, just maybe, we'll get good bang per buck when purchasing these at later dates.

[Rock]

I understand what you are saying, Mick.
I guess I don't see the new Cellini range as 'traditional Dress Watches', for which I suspect there is a very small demand. I get the feeling that Rolex have designed the new range to acknowledge this.
I think the new range 'blurrs' the definition a bit and maybe aims to appeal to people who would wear them in a 'professional-work-context'.
The old definition of the "thin, elegant, YG, plain face on black leather" will probably die with my generation with the coming generations embracing a broader interpretation of what is suitable for formal evening wear.
If I was making watches, I wouldn't even be making a 'traditional Dress Watch'.
Cheers.

[travisb]

I think the new line is a great improvement to it's predecessor and they look fantastic.
For me, I go to Rolex for their professional series. There's just too many great options when it comes to dress watches. As long as Patek, AP and ALS are out there, I can never see myself considering a Cellini.
That said, I think a considerable discount can be found. A good thing for the OP.

[997.2]

Originally Posted by Mick P

Chaps



I think the new Cellini is a major mistake.



No one with an ounce of taste is going to buy one as a dress watch because it is just plain loud and it looks cheap.



I cannot understand that how a company that makes a brilliant model like a Submariner or an Explorer actually makes something so tacky as the new Cellini.



I will keep with my 1950s JLC for the formal events.



Regards



Mick

Someone had to say it and I fully agree!!!

[Gaijin]

The first time I saw one I had no idea what it was. In fact I could not believe it was a Rolex. It had been at my old AD for years. It is just not what you think when you think Rolex and in fairness the new models are much cooler than the old one I saw.

[KZZN]

Originally Posted by Bakasana

How long have the new Cellini pieces been at ADs or retail? Any word on their popularity, selling numbers etc?

I'm hoping in the 2nd hand market, pre-owned, or when guys like DavidSW get their hands on 'em, we'll see a significant drop off in price. I'm thinking these may not sell well, and I'll be able to land one at a significant lowered price point. Any thoughts?

Hi,

My local AD got one of each model of the new Cellini collection in stock last October. I went to have a look at the end of December and they were still there, and I tried each of them on. I don't know if any of them have sold yet or not, but certainly availablity from ADs in the UK doesn't seem to be a problem.

Pre-owned I've seen a few come up on eBay and at the Web sites of the usual suspects who specialise in pre-owned watches. Currently the simple time-only model (the 50509/50505) tends to be going pre-owned for about £8,000-£9,000 or thereabouts based on the ones I've seen selling, and the MSRP is around £10,900 new from an AD I believe (though that might have gone up a bit since last year). So currently it's not seeing very big discounts compared to typical pre-owned prices for the previous Cellini range (which were and remain rock-bottom in terms of resale value), and other Oysters.

[Bakasana]

Originally Posted by KZZN

Hi,

My local AD got one of each model of the new Cellini collection in stock last October. I went to have a look at the end of December and they were still there, and I tried each of them on. I don't know if any of them have sold yet or not, but certainly availablity from ADs in the UK doesn't seem to be a problem.

Pre-owned I've seen a few come up on eBay and at the Web sites of the usual suspects who specialise in pre-owned watches. Currently the simple time-only model (the 50509/50505) tends to be going pre-owned for about £8,000-£9,000 or thereabouts based on the ones I've seen selling, and the MSRP is around £10,900 new from an AD I believe (though that might have gone up a bit since last year). So currently it's not seeing very big discounts compared to typical pre-owned prices for the previous Cellini range (which were and remain rock-bottom in terms of resale value), and other Oysters.

Thanks a much for the insight. Look, in a year or two time... maybe, just maybe we see a few more discounts and this dissension for the timepieces could land bargain shopping for those that could eventually want 'em... like me.

[JRolex]

Well, if the prices do fall for gray-market, I'll definitely be picking one up!

[beer]

I like the cellini but the fact that for around the same price could pick up a Calatrava would make me avoid it, unless I wanted people to notice the brand of watch I was wearing..

[jjnd08]

I think they look great, but for the money I would go JLC. Or save more and go Patek or Lange.

[1995akcoop]

i see them on AD shelves collecting dust....personally i feel they lack that rolex touch

[aayates]

I love Rolex but the Cellini line doesn't work for me. The GP 1966, JLC ultra-thin and a host of other brands/models have done a better job on the dress watch in my opinion. I guess the Cellini is more of a hybrid watch which may work for some, , but I still think of the older quartz models when I see them - and that's not good.