Meet the Rolex Perpetual Padellone: A masterpiece of vintage magic and modern innovations

Bridging past, present, and future, the Rolex Perpetual Padellone is the second model after the 1908 to join the Perpetual collection, which sets a new standard for the wristwatch by uniting horological art with Rolex’s know-how and aesthetic legacy.

Named after an earlier Rolex timepiece, the reference 8171 nicknamed “Padellone” from the late 1940s to the early 1950s, this annual calendar watch brings classic elegance into the present.

Vision of refinement

Presented on a highly legible and well-balanced dial with a grained finish at the centre and a fine satin finish around the edge, the Perpetual Padellone showcases an exquisite moonphase display that links the rhythm of the Moon to that of the Earth.

At midnight daily, the day, date, and month change simultaneously in the blink of an eye, ensuring perfect alignment of the calendar markers. Encasing the dial is a 39mm case defined by graceful lines, with a bezel domed on the upper part and delicately fluted on the lower.

Embodying the height of elegance is the 18ct version in Everose gold with a grained finish, intense white dial, which comes paired with the watchmaker’s signature lightweight Settimo bracelet.

Unveiled on the Perpetual 1908 in 2025, the bracelet is made up of seven very small, slightly contoured link elements, recalling the jewellery-inspired bracelets of some vintage watches.

There are two other versions: one crafted in 950 platinum with a grained-finish, ice blue dial and a matt black alligator leather strap; the other in 18ct Everose gold with a grained-finish, intense white dial and a matt brown alligator leather strap.

Peak performance

While the Perpetual Padellone’s design and functions pay homage to watchmaking tradition, it also offers unparelleled performance thanks to Rolex’s pioneering technical innovations.

On this instantaneous complete annual calendar complication, the day and month are presented in English on two apertures at 12 o’clock, while a blue hand tipped with a crescent moon points to the date indications on the dial circumference.

Presented on a fully visible blue enamelled disc, the moonphase makes one complete rotation every lunar month or 29.53 days. The full moon and new moon are crafted in meteorite, with the latter bearing a dark blue PVD coating, and pad-printed with a face surrounded by stars as a whimsical nod to the historic reference.

Over the course of a lunar cycle, each moon aligns in turn with a triangular indicator above the disc. The continuous movement of these two contrasting elements illustrates the time elapsed between one new moon and the next.

Powering the watch is the proprietary self-winding calibre 7190, an evolution of the groundbreaking calibre 7135. Introduced for the Oyster Perpetual Land-Dweller in 2025, it boasts a yellow gold cut-out oscillating weight, bridges decorated with Rolex Côtes de Genève, and a subtle interplay of exceptional finishings.

Beating at a frequency of 5hz, it holds 30 patent applications, two of which are exclusive to it. Equipped with the Syloxi hairspring in silicon and a ceramic balance staff, calibre 7190 also features the high-performance silicon-based Dynapulse escapement, resulting in excellent magnetic field resistance, precision, and reliability.

Two more innovations complete the Perpetual Padellone’s credentials. The movement inaugurates the patented Haplos system that allows it to differentiate between 30-day and 31-day months.

With the annual calendar programming incorporated into the reverse side of the month disc, the setting of the moonphase and other calendar indications can also be done at any time without affecting the movement’s integrity.