Rolex Unveils the Perpetual Padellone, an Instantaneous Annual Calendar Watch
Rolex has expanded the Perpetual collection with a watch boasting an instantaneous complete annual calendar: the just-launched Perpetual Padellone, seamlessly blending precision with poetry. This refined creation, which displays the date, day, month and moonphase as well as the hours, minutes and seconds, is equipped with pioneering technical innovations. Its harmonious design strikes a perfect balance between traditional and contemporary styles. Named after an archival Rolex timepiece with a complete calendar – reference 8171, known to collectors as the Padellone – this new model represents a natural continuation of the brand’s heritage. Nicknamed "Padellone" (Italian for "frying pan"), this reference earned its moniker from its broad 38mm case diameter and prominent dial symmetry. With its moonphase disc that links the rhythm of the moon with that of the earth, it offers a window onto the night sky.
The dial of the Padellone is decorated with a grained finish across most of its surface and a fine satin finish around the edge. A blue centre hand, with a crescent moon at its tip, points to the current date on this periphery, where the date scale is inscribed in black. Two apertures positioned at 12 o’clock indicate the day and month respectively; these are shown in English. A blue enamelled disc at 6 o’clock makes one complete rotation every lunar month or 29.53 days. The full moon and new moon on this disc are made from meteorite – the second of the two treated with a dark blue PVD coating – and the silver stars are pad printed. The case, 39 mm in diameter, is mounted with a bezel that is both domed and subtly fluted. The transparent caseback allows the technical sophistication and decorations of the movement to be admired, including bridges embellished with Rolex Côtes de Genève and a cut-out oscillating weight in yellow gold.
Crafted in 18ct Everose gold, the new model pairs a finely grained, intense white dial with a Settimo bracelet, complete with an elegant concealed Crownclasp. It is also available in a 950 platinum version, featuring a grained-finish, ice blue dial and a matte black alligator leather strap with a Dualclasp. A third version, crafted in the same gold as the first and also adopting a grained-finish, intense white dial, is mounted on a matte brown alligator leather strap equipped with a Dualclasp.
At the heart of the Padellone beats calibre 7190, protected by 30 patent applications, two of which are exclusive to it. This movement at the cutting edge of horological research stands out for its frequency of 5 hertz. Thinner than the majority of Rolex movements – a feature it shares with the two other calibres in the 71XX family – it nonetheless offers exceptional performance. The Padellone’s movement is based on the design of calibre 7135, unveiled on the Land-Dweller at the watch’s launch in 2025, and benefits from the same pioneering regulating system, composed of the high-performance Dynapulse escapement and a state-of-the-art oscillator.
The mechanism of the annual calendar integrated within calibre 7190 is particularly innovative and reliable. It is based on an entirely new system named Haplos. A patent application has been filed for this system, which consists of only two components coupled to the date mechanism: an additional carrier finger and an annual lever. Another technical innovation, the annual calendar programming, is incorporated into the reverse side of the month disc, informing the annual lever of the current month. The changes of date, day and month take place instantaneously at midnight, a feature for which a patent application has also been filed.
Like all Rolex watches, the Perpetual Padellone carries the Superlative Chronometer certification, with strengthened criteria since 2026, which ensures excellent performance on the wrist.
Needless to say, the Perpetual Padellone stands at the crossroads of classic watchmaking and the pursuit of performance. It celebrates an esteemed complication – a complete calendar, enabling display of the date, day, month and moonphase – while incorporating the most recent cutting-edge Rolex technical developments. Its movement, beating at a frequency of 5 hertz, includes both the high-performance Dynapulse escapement and the Haplos system, which allows it to differentiate between 30-day and 31-day months. With its instantaneous change of date, day and month at midnight, the Padellone illustrates Rolex’s mastery of calendar jump mechanisms.
Image credits: Rolex
