page transition image
Skip to content

Cart

Your cart is empty

1981 Rolex Cellini 5112 - White Roman Dial

Details

A High Presence Integrated Design

The 5112 is a departure from the typical leather-strap Cellini. By using an integrated 18k yellow and white gold bracelet with a fun woven design. The lack of standard lugs means the metal flows continuously around the wrist, giving it a much larger physical presence than the on paper specifications suggest. It is a bracelet-first design that happens to house a world-class Rolex movement.

Multi Tone Metalwork And Narrative

The primary appeal of this piece lies in the complexity of the bracelet construction. Rolex used a mix of 18k white and yellow gold to create a textured, multi-tone effect that wraps seamlessly around the wrist. The white Roman dial provides a clean and legible anchor that does not compete with the intricate gold work. It is a sophisticated alternative for a collector who wants the prestige of a precious metal Rolex with a design language that feels more curated than mainstream models.

Excellent Condition With Minor Notes

This example is in very good overall condition, particularly the integrated bracelet which remains tight and structurally sound. After passing our test bench, the manual movement is running very well after passing by our test bench. 

Sophistication On A Substantial Scale

This is a watch for someone who appreciates the finer details of 1980s Rolex design. The integrated bracelet adds a level of class and substance that a leather strap cannot provide, making it feel like a much more significant object on the wrist than its dimensions suggest. It is a discreet, high-quality dress watch that works well for formal occasions or for the wearer who prefers a jewelry-leaning timepiece. It remains a prime example of the ability of Rolex to execute jewelry-focused watchmaking with mechanical precision.

Key Specs

Reference: 5112

Model: Cellini

Year: 1981

Movement: Manual

Case Size: 32mm

Bezel: 18K YG Integrated

Bracelet: Two Tone 18K

Dial: White Roman

Wrist Size: 6-6.25in

Metal: 18K YG

Weight: 79.8

SKU: 303

History

The Cellini line — named after Renaissance goldsmith and sculptor Benvenuto Cellini — is Rolex's dress watch offering, and it operates on entirely different logic than the sport and tool watches the brand is famous for. No date window, no rotating bezel, no crown guards. Just case, dial, and movement.

Introduced in the late 1960s, Cellini watches are exclusively 18-karat gold and are powered by manual-wind movements. The collection covers an extraordinary range of case shapes across its history: round, oval, rectangular, cushion, asymmetric, and the distinctive Cestello oval — all sharing a commitment to slim proportions and refined finishing that stands apart from anything else in the Rolex catalog.

References span from the early 3800-series oval cases of the late 1960s and early 1970s through the square 4233 Danaos of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Dials range from brushed champagne and silver sunburst to red and blue vignette, white Arabic, and foil patterns that no longer exist in current production. For collectors who want Rolex craftsmanship without the sport-watch aesthetic, Cellini is the answer — and it remains one of the most underappreciated categories in the entire vintage Rolex universe.