Reference:5442/5

Prince → 5442/5

Antiquorum, Monaco, 2022, lot 198; case D797975.

The 5442/5 is the Everose-gold version of Rolex's modern Cellini Prince, introduced in 2005. Its rectangular case, black-and-pink guilloché dial and manually wound Cal. 7040-2 distinguish it from the other three references in the line.

Core facts

Reference	Family	Documented date range	Case	Movement	Dial
5442/5	Cellini Rolex Prince	Listed in 2008 and 2015; individual examples dated from circa 2005	Rectangular, 18 ct Everose gold	Manual-wind Cal. 7040-2; 21 jewels; chronometer-certified	Black “Rayon Flammé de la Gloire” guilloché, with pink-gold accents

Where it sits in the line

Rolex revived the Prince name with four Cellini references in 2005. The 5440/8 uses yellow gold, 5441/9 and 5443/9 use white gold, and the 5442/5 uses Everose gold. Each has a different guilloché treatment; the 5442/5's movement bridges repeat its dial pattern. The modern Cellini Prince is a separate line from the rectangular Princes made in the 1920s–1940s.

Production outline

Watch LIFE NEWS dates the modern line to 2005. Rolex's Italian list includes the 5442/5 in 2008, its archived model page describes it in 2014, and the Netherlands price list still lists it in 2015. Auction records date individual watches to circa 2005, 2007 and the 2010s. Together, these records document the reference from its 2005 introduction through at least 2015; the last factory production year remains outside the sources reviewed.

Movement notes

Rolex's archived model page specifies a manually wound Cal. 7040-2, certified as a chronometer, with Paraflex shock absorbers and an approximately 72-hour power reserve. The bridges carry the same “Rayon Flammé de la Gloire” pattern as the dial. Rolex's 2015 list gives 21 jewels. The movement register lists the suffixes across the Prince line.

Rolex's reference-specific page and Christie's description of case D787694, Kaplans (2013), Sotheby's (2021), Fauve Paris (2024) and Finarte (2025) identify Cal. 7040-2; the two Antiquorum catalogues label their examples 7040-1, a suffix discrepancy confined to those entries.

Antiquorum, Monaco, 2022, lot 198; the catalogue calls the movement 7040-1.

Dial map

Rolex describes a black “Rayon Flammé de la Gloire” dial. Its archived product page shows the upper hours-and-minutes register and lower seconds register, pink-gold rims and Arabic numerals; Christie's describes black sunburst decoration, black baton markers and Arabic numerals on a pink chapter ring. The pattern continues across the movement bridges.

Catalogue color descriptions vary. Christie's calls case D787694's dial black, while Finarte describes case D788096 as brown and salmon. The wording may reflect lighting or terminology; the available records leave factory dial-variant status unresolved.

Case, bezel, crystal, and crown notes

Rolex describes a rectangular 18 ct Everose-gold case with gently curved sides, lateral buttresses, a transparent back, sapphire crystal and 50-metre water resistance. It gives a nominal size of 45 × 29 mm; Sotheby's uses the same dimensions. Auction houses also publish smaller measurements for individual examples, sometimes specifying overall length including the lugs. The catalogues appear to use different measurement points.

Strap, clasp, and packaging

Rolex lists a black alligator strap and an 18 ct Everose-gold butterfly clasp. Auction catalogues describe individual clasps as hidden, double-folding or deployant; the available records leave the timing and factory status of these clasp variations unresolved. Antiquorum's 2022 lot includes a green Rolex box, warranty card, booklets and hang tag. This is one documented set.

Antiquorum also lists clasp ref. 16/514 with the mark E03 on case D797975. The E03 mark dates the clasp; the case-head date must be established independently.

Antiquorum, Monaco, 2022, lot 198.

Auction record

Sale	Example	Catalogue record
Antiquorum, Geneva, 2008, lot 231	Case D783612; described as made in 2005; catalogue notes a prior sale on 17 May 2007	Offered in Geneva on 11 May 2008. Two-tone black-and-pink dial; 18K pink gold. Catalogue says Cal. 7040-1, contrary to Rolex's 5442/5 mapping.
Christie's, Geneva, 2009, lot 315	Case D787694; manufactured in 2007	Black sunburst dial; Cal. 7040-2; 44 mm overall length × 27 mm wide.
Kaplans, Stockholm, 2013, lot 469	Case D755141; certificate dated December 2007	Cal. 7040-2; 18K pink gold; 26.5 × 36 (44) mm as catalogued.
Sotheby's, 2021, lot 6	Case D760245; circa 2005	Black dial; Cal. 7040-2; 45 × 29 mm.
Antiquorum, Monaco, 2022, lot 198	Case D797975; circa 2005	Three photographs show the dial, movement and a boxed set. Catalogue labels the caliber 7040-1.
Fauve Paris, 2024, lot 42	Ref. 5442/5	Black-and-gold dial; manual-wind Cal. 7040-2; 43 × 27 mm.
Finarte, Milan, 2025, lot 171	Case D788096; described as 2010s	Brown-and-salmon guilloché dial; Cal. 7040-2; 44 × 26 mm.

The measurements above belong to the individual catalogued watches. Antiquorum's 2008 dimensions, 35 × 28 mm, differ markedly from later listings and Rolex's 45 × 29 mm specification. Keep this outlier attached to its lot; the Rolex figure is the nominal size.

Gallery

• 
  Front view of case D797975. Antiquorum, Monaco, 2022, lot 198.
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  Display back and decorated Cal. 7040 movement, case D797975. Antiquorum, 2022, lot 198.
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  Case D797975 with its pictured box, warranty card and accessories. Antiquorum, 2022, lot 198.

Sources

• "Rolex.com: Cellini Rolex Prince, calibre 7040", Rolex, 2014
• Rolex, "Rolex Italian price list, March 2008 — Cellini Rolex Prince", Rolex (archived price list), 2008-03
• Rolex, "Rolex Netherlands price list, 2015 — Cellini Rolex Prince references", Rolex (archived price list), 2015
• Yoshimasa Kikuchi, "Watch LIFE NEWS — Cellini Prince variants, ref. 5440/8", Watch LIFE NEWS, 2021-01-31
• Grail Watch, "Grail Watch — In Praise of the Rolex Cellini Prince", Grail Watch, 2021-02-25
• "Antiquorum Geneva 2008, lot 231 — Rolex Prince ref. 5442/5, case D783612", Antiquorum, 2008-05-11
• "Christie's Geneva 2009, lot 315 — Rolex Prince ref. 5442/5, case D787694", Christie's, 2009-05-11
• "Kaplans Stockholm 2013, lot 469 — Rolex Cellini Prince 5442/5, case D755141", Kaplans Auktioner, 2013-12-07
• "Sotheby's 2021, Fine Watches 6, lot 6 — Cellini ref. 5442, case D760245", Sotheby's, 2021-09-27
• "Antiquorum Monaco 2022, lot 198 — Rolex Prince Cellini 5442/5, case D797975", Antiquorum, 2022-07-19
• "Fauve Paris 2024, lot 42 — Rolex Cellini Prince ref. 5442/5", Fauve Paris, 2024-11-16
• "Finarte Milan 2025, lot 171 — Rolex Cellini Prince ref. 5442/5, case D788096", Finarte, 2025-12-15