Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1990s Reference No: 3767 Case No: 466’978; inside caseback stamped “71 01” Model Name: Cellini Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Manual, cal. 750, 20 jewels Dimensions: 44mm diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex pouch.
Catalogue Essay
The Cellini celebrates the eternal elegance of traditional timepieces with a contemporary touch since 1960s. Named after Benvenuto Cellini, an Italian Renaissance goldsmith and sculptor. The lines of the Cellini model are sober and refined, the materials noble, the finishing luxurious with every detail respecting the codes of the art of watchmaking. Exploring a diverse assortment of playful designs and bold aesthetics, the Cellini started to bloom during the 1970s amongst wristwatches and pocket watches. The present Cellini pocket watch is no exception. Stunning in preservation, the condition of the present ref. 3767 can be admired from its crisp and pristine engravings of its reference on the case. Seemingly a black dial but in reality upon close inspection, the dial radiating hints of deep blue sunburst charm is equally gorgeous pairing with the yellow gold engine-turned bezel, making this much more eye-catching from the commonly seen white dial pocket watches. Surrounded by the elegance of the matching gold Roman markers is a playful detail of an inner ribbon that is formed by ROLEX text all around. Furthermore, Rolex added a finishing touch on the arrow shaped bow with two blue cabochon that lifts the watch with a matching hint of color.
Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.
One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.