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Rolex Cellini Moonphase
Ref. 50535
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Stepping up in Rolex's range
Introduced at Baselworld in 2017, the Cellini Moonphase was a deliberate pivot for a manufacture better known for tool watches — an in-house astronomical complication built to dress-watch proportions and finished accordingly. The Cellini line has since been retired, absorbed into the Perpetual 1908 collection, which makes this reference a closed chapter rather than a current catalogue entry. The moonphase display at six o'clock forgoes the usual aperture entirely: a blue enamel disc sits fully exposed, its full moon rendered from a rhodium-plated meteorite disc. The date is read from a central hand tipped with a crescent in blued steel, sweeping against the outermost track of the white lacquer dial — an arrangement that keeps the face uncluttered despite carrying two complications. At 39mm across and 13.3mm deep, this is a substantial piece for a formal watch, and 120.8 grams of solid Everose gold will make itself known on the wrist by mid-afternoon. The moonphase module itself is engineered to stay astronomically correct for 122 years without adjustment, which rather settles any question about the quality of what is underneath. The folding clasp is concealed beneath the alligator leather so that the underside presents as a clean strap — a detail that matters in a formal context. Moonphase correction is handled through a recessed pusher at eight o'clock, set with an included tool, which keeps the case profile unbroken at the crown.
- Reference
- 50535
- Brand
- Rolex
- Collection
- Cellini
- Case size
- 39mm
- Case thickness
- 13.3mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Rose gold
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- White
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- 3195
- Functions
- Date, Moonphase
- Water resistance
- 50m
- Bracelet / strap
- Leather strap
- Strap colour
- Brown
- Clasp
- Deployant clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 46.2mm
- Power reserve
- 48 hours
- Gem set
- Yes
Learn more about Rolex
Hans Wilsdorf founded Wilsdorf & Davis in London in 1905 with his brother-in-law Alfred Davis, importing Swiss movements and casing them in England. He registered the name Rolex in 1908 — short, pronounceable in any language, and easy to fit on a dial.
Wilsdorf's conviction was that the wristwatch, then regarded as a woman's ornament and hopelessly fragile, could be made accurate and durable. He proved the first half in 1910 by obtaining the first chronometer certification for a wristwatch, and the second in 1926 with the Oyster case, sealed by a screw-down crown and caseback. Mercedes Gleitze swam the Channel wearing one in 1927, and Wilsdorf bought the front page of the Daily Mail to say so — arguably the first modern watch marketing campaign.
The Perpetual rotor followed in 1931, giving automatic winding in a form the whole industry eventually copied. The company relocated to Geneva during the First World War to escape British wartime duties.
The professional models arrived in a compressed burst in the 1950s: Submariner, Explorer, GMT-Master, Milgauss, and later the Daytona. Each was built for a specific job — diving, exploration, aviation, laboratory work, racing — and each became a design template.
Wilsdorf left his shares to a private foundation on his death, so Rolex answers to no shareholders. It remains the largest producer of certified chronometers in Switzerland by a wide margin.
- 1905
- Hans Wilsdorf founds Wilsdorf & Davis in London.
- 1908
- The Rolex name is registered.
- 1926
- The Oyster case introduces genuine water resistance.
- 1931
- The Perpetual rotor brings modern automatic winding.
- 1953
- The Submariner and Explorer launch.
- 1963
- The Cosmograph Daytona arrives.
Also in 4 collections
This watch appears in Automatic Watches (1,699), Leather Strap Watches (1,083), Dress Watches (548) and Solid Gold Watches (138).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 39mm suits most wrists
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Sits in the lower half of Rolex's range as we list it
Worth knowing
- 50m suits rain and handwashing, not swimming
Rolex Cellini Moonphase alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 50535 | pfc904-1020001-100182 | 1201-1200 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £29,950 | £29,800 | £29,700 |
| Case size | 39mm | 40mm | 40mm |
| Water resistance | 50m | 60m | 30m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Leather strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Leather strap |
| Power reserve | 48 hours | 48 hours | 72 hours |
| This watch | Closely matched |
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Showering yes, swimming no. 50m covers splashes and brief immersion, but a swimming stroke generates well above the pressure that figure describes.
Will the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Does it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
How long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 48 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
What size strap does it take?
20mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 46.2mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16cm (6¼ inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's, though at 39mm it sits in the range that suits anyone.
Cheapest place to buy
Both Goldsmiths and Goldsmiths list it at £29,950, so choose on delivery and warranty rather than price.
Who are Goldsmiths?
Goldsmiths has been selling watches in Britain since 1778 and is part of the Watches of Switzerland Group, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. They are an authorised dealer, so a watch comes with the manufacturer’s own warranty.
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