At Baselworld 2016, Rolex introduced a few new styles of the recently re-launched Rolex Cellini dress watch collection that we debuted back in 2014 upon its release. My favorite new-for-2016 Rolex Cellini is a new dial style for the time-only “Cellini Time” model as seen here in the reference 50505 which is available in an 18k white gold or 18k Everose gold case.

To refresh your recollection, the modern Rolex Cellini men’s collection replica watches consists of three basic models. These are the Cellini Time, Cellini Date, and Cellini Dual Time. The Cellini Dual Time is the most complicated of the models and is the only dual-time watch from Rolex that indicates both time zones in 12-hour format (versus their GMT watches that indicate the second time zone in 24-hour format). The Rolex Cellini Date is rather straightforward and, as its name implies, offers a date dial versus a date window, as is the case on other Rolex models.

Moreover, the Rolex Cellini stands out as it does not feature an Oyster case, as do most other Rolex watches. The case is similar to an Oyster, but a bit thinner and designed more for elegance versus sheer resistance to the elements. The Cellini case is 39mm wide and water resistant to 50 meters (versus the 100 meters of most Oyster cases – that aren’t diving watches). It’s slim on the wrist, and the light fluting on the dial is reminiscent of both historic Rolex timepieces as well as the ever popular more bold fluted bezels on watches such as the Rolex Datejust.

I covered the original Rolex Cellini Time watch collection in 2014. Offering the time only with a minutes, hours, and seconds hand, the Rolex Cellini Time is, in my opinion, the most elegant of “The Crown’s” dress watch collection. Some people like complexity in their formal timepieces, but not me. I prefer to keep things simple, and extremely elegant. The original Rolex Cellini Time watches had an interesting dial design with a range of elements. A combination of Roman numeral and applied baton-style hour markers were basically bisected with a middle minute marker ring. Curious at first, the design was a very clever way of making a simple dial not appear quite as simple.

Just a year after the debut of the new Cellini collection, Rolex set about producing new versions. In 2015, they debuted the Rolex Cellini Time watch with a diamond bezel, and all three of the Cellini models received new cosmetic versions in 2016. What was new for this year? Well, the Rolex Cellini Date 50519 received a lovely blue dial on the 18k white gold version, and the Cellini Dual Time 50525 had a “brown guilloche” dial option for the 18k Everose gold model. The Rolex Cellini Time 50505 received the most simple dial to date in both a 18k Everose gold as well as 18k white gold case.

We saw dial simplification occur with the Rolex Cellini Time with diamonds fake watches (as linked to above), but for 2016 Rolex took it a bit further, offering what is, in my opinion, the most elegant model today. While there is deep competition among dress watches, I am pretty sure that, for many people, Rolex just sort of nailed it with these cleaner-dialed Rolex Cellini Time models. In modern history, Rolex has never had the strongest elegant dress watch offering, but with these new versions of the 50505, Rolex has an extremely solid offering that, combined with the Rolex name and quality, will make it very tough for others at this price point to compete with. It’s going to be a bit of a battle for even Vacheron Constantin and Blancpain to compete with an offering such as this – not to mention other strong models from Chopard and Patek Philippe. While each brand has its distinct pluses, the Rolex name (and price, actually) is gonna be hard to beat for a large percentage of consumers out there.