Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Reece James spotted wearing Rolex

Reece James, Chelsea FC's first-choice right-back and one of English football's most technically accomplished defenders, was recently spotted wearing an 18K Everose Gold Rolex Cellini Moonphase on a leather strap — a watch that signals genuine horological curiosity rather than a reflexive reach for the Daytona or GMT-Master.

The Rolex Cellini Moonphase reference 50535 was introduced at Baselworld 2017 as part of Rolex's refined Cellini dress collection, a line the brand uses to demonstrate its capabilities beyond tool watches. The 39mm Everose gold case houses the calibre 3195, a self-winding movement featuring a moonphase complication corrected by a patented mechanism that requires adjustment by only one day every 122 years — Rolex claims this figure is derived from an ingenious 70-toothed lunar wheel. The champagne-coloured dial features a domed lacquer finish, applied hour markers, and a subsidiary moonphase aperture at 6 o'clock framed by a star-set diamond-encrusted surround on certain variants. The ref. 50535 specifically denotes the Everose gold case paired with a dark leather strap — a combination that balances warmth and formality.

Among collectors, the Cellini range occupies an interesting position. Long overlooked in favour of Rolex's sports references, pieces like the Moonphase ref. 50535 have attracted renewed attention from those who appreciate in-house complications delivered with Rolex's characteristic reliability and finishing discipline. It is not a watch that trades on hype — it trades on substance.

For James, 24, whose on-pitch precision and tactical intelligence have drawn comparisons to the greats of his position, the Cellini Moonphase is a fitting choice. The footballer has cultivated a quietly considered personal style, and this selection reinforces a preference for craft over clout.

At a UK list price of £21,450 (approximately $28,270 USD), the Rolex Cellini Moonphase ref. 50535 sits at a more accessible point within the 18K gold Rolex family. On the secondary market, prices have remained close to retail — grey market premiums are modest — making it one of the few Rolex references in precious metal that doesn't carry a significant markup, representing genuine value for collectors seeking an in-house complication in gold.