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Rolex’s 2026 Perpetual Padellone brings a vintage nickname back into the brand’s lineup, pairing a calendar and moonphase display with a design inspired by the historic reference 8171. The “million-dollar” description refers to a 2016 auction result for a vintage 8171—not the price of the new watch.
What is the Rolex Perpetual Padellone?
Rolex announced the Perpetual Padellone as a 2026 launch on September 15, 2026. The brand describes it as a “watch with an instantaneous complete annual calendar.” Its displays cover the date, day, month and moonphase, alongside hours, minutes and seconds. Rolex’s announcement is the primary source for the launch and the functions it identifies.
The name connects this new annual-calendar watch to vintage Rolex reference 8171, a triple-date moonphase model introduced in 1949, according to contemporary specialist coverage. The modern watch is inspired by that predecessor, but it is not simply a strict reissue: the reported dimensions, configurations and watchmaking details are those of a new model. Specialist coverage of the launch reports a 39 mm case for the new watch, versus 38 mm for the vintage reference.
Why is the Rolex Padellone called a frying pan?
“Padellone” is Italian for “large frying pan.” The nickname arose among collectors for vintage Rolex triple-date moonphase watches from the late 1940s and early 1950s, particularly reference 8171. Specialist coverage traces it to the reference’s unusually broad case by the standards of its era and its frying-pan-like shape. Coverage of the vintage Padellone explains the nickname and its connection to the 8171.
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With the 2026 launch, Rolex has adopted Padellone as an official collection name. That gives the old collector nickname a new role, while the historical link remains one of inspiration rather than identity: the 8171 and Perpetual Padellone are different watches from different eras.
What does “million-dollar” mean?
It refers to a specific vintage auction sale, not the new watch’s retail price. In a report published in November 2016, SJX said a stainless-steel Rolex reference 8171 sold at Phillips in Hong Kong for HK$7.88 million—approximately US$1.02 million including fees. SJX’s account of that sale documents one result at one auction, not a current market valuation or a guaranteed price for other examples.
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Rolex’s launch announcement does not establish a current retail price or availability for the Perpetual Padellone. A price should be checked against a current, market-specific Rolex or authorized-retailer source rather than inferred from the vintage auction result.
How the new watch differs from the vintage 8171
The relationship is clearest when the old nickname is separated from the modern watch’s reported specifications. Rolex’s announcement identifies the new model’s calendar and moonphase functions; measurements and configurations below come from contemporary specialist reporting.
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| Detail | Vintage reference 8171 | 2026 Perpetual Padellone |
|---|---|---|
| Case size | 38 mm, as reported by specialist coverage. | 39 mm, as reported by specialist coverage. |
| Calendar and moonphase | Specialist coverage describes the 8171 as a triple-date moonphase watch. | Rolex says it displays date, day, month and moonphase, and calls its calendar instantaneous and complete annual. |
| Configurations | Not stated in the cited launch coverage. | Specialist coverage reports three configurations: two in 18-karat Everose gold with different strap or bracelet choices, and one in platinum. |
| Price evidence | One stainless-steel example sold for HK$7.88 million (approximately US$1.02 million including fees) at Phillips in Hong Kong in 2016, as reported by SJX. | A current retail price was not stated in Rolex’s launch announcement. |
The table does not imply that the 2016 stainless-steel auction result is comparable to every vintage 8171 or to a modern precious-metal model. Condition, originality, provenance and auction venue matter when evaluating an individual vintage watch; one sale is not a market index.
Where the Padellone fits in Rolex’s calendar-watch history
The Perpetual Padellone’s combination of calendar indications and moonphase gives the vintage reference a clear point of connection to the new launch, while Rolex’s own history offers a separate calendar-watch milestone. The brand says the Day-Date launched in 1956 and was the first calendar wristwatch to display the weekday in full alongside the date. Rolex also says the Day-Date is made exclusively in precious metals. Those are Day-Date facts, not specifications to transfer to the Perpetual Padellone. Rolex’s Day-Date history provides that background.
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Where to check availability or arrange service
Rolex states on its Day-Date page: “Only official Rolex jewelers are allowed to sell and maintain a Rolex watch.” For current availability or service, use the brand’s official jeweler locator. A marketplace listing or specialist dealer should not be presented as Rolex-authorized unless that status is verified.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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