During the Italian Renaissance, a Florentine artist by the name of Benvenuto Cellini made a name for himself for his colourful autobiography and his work as goldsmith and sculptor to the popes. His sculptures are noted for their artiness, which is a cultivation of elegance and technical facility.

Rolex looks to the idealised past and evokes grandiose proportions of the Italian sculptor’s work, balances it by incorporating contemporary monumental architecture with clean lines and modern reading of space and light for the Cellini collection. This perfect marriage of timeless appeal and superb handiwork is why the Rolex Cellini is one of our favourite things for 2016.

In Baselworld 2016, Rolex introduced new versions of its Cellini collection, which comes in 18 karat white or Everose gold in a 39 mm case. The round shape, classic size, and the cases cast by Rolex in its own foundry are marks of tradition, while the Cellini’s refined lugs, the polished finish, and the double bezel—one domed and the second delicately fluted—add a touch of distinction. An emblematic Rolex feature, this fluting is also present on the case back, screwing it down. The case back is domed as in bygone eras. The flared shape of the screw-down crown highlights the refined aesthetics of the Cellini. The dials also bear witness to skill and tradition. They are either lacquered or embellished with a classic “rayon flame de la gloire” guilloche motif and adorned with gold applique hour markers.

All models in the new Cellini collection feature a high-precision self-winding mechanical movement, certified as a Superlative Chronometer and entirely manufactured by Rolex. The exclusive designation attests that the fully assembled watch has successfully undergone a series of tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria, which exceed watchmaking standards. The tolerance for the average rate of a Rolex Superlative Chronometer after casing is of the order of −2/+2 seconds per day. Its precision is tested by Rolex using an exclusive methodology that simulates the conditions in which a watch is actually worn and is much more representative of real-life experience.

The certification testing is carried out using state-of-the-art equipment specially developed by Rolex. The entirely automated series of tests also checks the waterproofness, the self-winding capacity and the power reserve of 100 per cent of Rolex watches. These tests systematically complement the qualification testing upstream during development and production that ensures the watches’ reliability, robustness, and resistance to magnetic fields and shocks. The Superlative Chronometer status is symbolized by the green seal that comes with every Rolex watch and is coupled with an international five-year guarantee.

The Rolex Cellini comes in three models—Time, Date, and Dual Time—which celebrate the eternal elegance of traditional timepieces with a contemporary touch.

Cellini Date, Dual Time, and Time

The Cellini Time captures the present as if nothing else were of importance. Meanwhile, the Cellini Date adds another function to the indication of hours, minutes, and seconds: a date display suffused with elegance, tradition, and poetry. A small gold-rimmed sub dial located at 3 o’clock shows the full sequence of the dates of the month. Finally, the Cellini Dual Time makes it possible to know the minutes and hours in a faraway part of the world from the gold-rimmed sub-dial at 6 o’clock.