For fine jeweler Jade Trau, the rework of a timepiece begins with respect. Her latest design project, where she breathes new life into six vintage perfect replica Rolex Cellini watches from the 1970s that sport caliber 1600 movements, sees her retaining their classic character, while elevating them with her signature diamond settings and dressing them in exotic leather straps.
“I’ve always loved the simplicity of these old best copy watches,” says Jade. “I felt that adding just a small, thoughtful touch could make a meaningful difference to the overall look and feel.” The result is a tightly edited capsule that feels both considered and elegant. Rather than overhauling the iconic silhouette, she chose to reimagine it mindfully. “For this round, I only altered the bezel; so, most of the original watch remains untouched,” she explains. “It was important to preserve the OG look and feel while adding just enough to make it my own.”
The New York City native’s approach to design is intuitive, similar to the way she works with diamonds. Jade, who started her career as a diamond buyer, has a “holistic understanding” of the diamond sourcing process and draws on it to embellish the high quality fake Rolex Cellini watches. “Like a stone, the watch kind of ‘speaks’ to you and naturally guides your design direction. From there, I just follow my instincts and create what I love — what I would want to wear myself.”
The connection Jade feels to vintage timepieces, especially online replica Rolex watches, runs deep. She loves the feel of a vintage “honest” watch. “They’re delicate, unassuming. And they carry so much personality,” she says. “That character is what I try to highlight, not overshadow.”
Craftsmanship is at the core of her design ethos. Therefore, preserving the integrity of the original cheap super clone Rolex Cellini watches was non-negotiable, Jade points out. These are incredible watches that can keep ticking forever. I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize that,” she emphasizes. “My goal is to add a little something special; enough to make each one unique, but not so much that it becomes hard to wear or style.”
Outfitted with alligator leather straps in hunter green, navy blue, teal, red, and pink, the dials feature diamonds in cobblestone fancy pavé or styled into four vanguard baguettes. With only six pieces in the drop, this limited run of “restored and reworked” timepieces is as much about story as it is about style. These top replica watches transition quite easily from day to night. “It’s definitely not your ‘go-to-the-gym’ watch,” she says. “But if you’re lucky enough to snag one with a poppy red or sky-blue strap, it’s just the right amount of color to elevate your entire look.”
As with all her designs, the mission is clear: “It’s made to be worn.”
