Perpetual perfection
Did you see the Rolex Perpetual Padellone coming? We didn’t, either. But here’s the big (and good) news: It’s here to stay. For a while. And it features a moon phase.
Moonshot
If you thought Rolex had already pushed traditional watch design to its absolute zenith, think again. Inspired by a legendary model offered from the late 1940s to the early 1950s—reference 8171, affectionately nicknamed 'Padellone' by collectors—this striking new timepiece translates classic elegance into a thoroughly modern vocabulary.
At 39 mm, the case strikes a masterclass in proportion, featuring graceful lines complemented by a bezel whose upper portion is smoothly domed while the lower part is delicately fluted.
Rolex introduces the Padellone in three distinct configurations: crafted in 18 ct Everose gold with a grained-finish intense white dial paired with either the fluid, jewellery-inspired Settimo bracelet or a rich brown alligator leather strap, alongside a second execution in 950 platinum featuring a breathtaking grained-finish ice blue dial and a matt black alligator strap.
Beneath the sapphire crystal beats the high-frequency 5-hertz Calibre 7190, an evolution of 2025’s Land-Dweller movement packing a silicon Syloxi hairspring, ceramic balance staff, and Dynapulse escapement. Yet the true pièce de résistance is the patented *Haplos* system, which automatically differentiates between 30- and 31-day months—demanding manual correction just once a year when February yields to March. Naturally, day, date, and month snap into instantaneous alignment at midnight.
Aesthetics meet pure poetry on the dial’s deep blue enameled moonphase disc. Tracking the lunar cycle across 29.53 days, both the full moon and new moon are meticulously crafted from meteorite—the latter finished with a dark blue PVD coating. In a whimsical nod to the historic 'Padellone' reference, an expressive face is pad-printed onto both lunar phases, surrounded by a canopy of stars. Backed by Rolex’s rigorous Superlative Chronometer certification—strengthened for 2026 with advanced testing for magnetism, reliability, and durability—the Perpetual Padellone isn't just an astronomical triumph; it’s a masterclass in timeless endurance.



