On 15 September 2026, Rolex announced the Perpetual Padellone, a 39 mm dress watch with an annual calendar and a moon phase. Its name comes from the ref. 8171, a rare triple-calendar moon phase Rolex introduced in 1949 that Italian collectors nicknamed “Padellone”. This guide sets out the confirmed specifications and launch prices of the Rolex Perpetual Padellone, the history behind the name, what is genuinely new inside the watch and what buyers in Dubai should know, from the team at Omar’s Timepieces.
What is the Rolex Perpetual Padellone?
The Rolex Perpetual Padellone is a new regular-production Rolex, not a limited edition, that shows the day, date and month together with the phase of the moon. At launch it comes in three versions: two in 18 ct Everose gold with an intense white dial, one on a leather strap and one on a gold Settimo bracelet, and one in 950 platinum with an ice-blue dial on a leather strap. There is no steel version.
Rolex usually presents its new models at Watches and Wonders Geneva in the spring, so a September launch came as a surprise. You can read the brand’s own presentation on Rolex’s official Perpetual Padellone page, and if you are weighing it against the Rolex models already available pre-owned in Dubai, we are happy to talk you through the options.
Rolex Perpetual Padellone specifications
These are the specifications Rolex announced at launch:
References: 53505 in 18 ct Everose gold and 53506 in 950 platinum.
Case: 39 mm in diameter and 12.2 mm thick, with a sapphire case back.
Bezel: two-part, domed on top and fluted below.
Dial: intense white on the Everose gold models and ice blue on the platinum model.
Calendar display: the day and month in two windows at 12 o’clock, and the date shown by a central hand tipped with a crescent moon that points to a scale around the edge of the dial.
Moon phase: at 6 o’clock, with the full and new moons made of meteorite.
Movement: Rolex calibre 7190, self-winding, with the Dynapulse escapement, a frequency of 5 Hz and a power reserve of 66 hours.
Precision: certified as a Superlative Chronometer, Rolex’s standard of −2/+2 seconds a day after casing.
Water resistance: 50 metres.
Strap or bracelet: a leather strap, or a Settimo bracelet in Everose gold.
Details like these are exactly what we check on every Rolex we buy and sell at Omar’s Timepieces: the case, dial, movement and serial numbers are verified against the reference before a watch is listed.
Rolex Perpetual Padellone price
At launch, the retail prices of the three versions were:
Everose gold, intense white dial, leather strap (ref. 53505): US$59,000 or CHF 52,500.
Platinum, ice-blue dial, leather strap (ref. 53506): US$66,200 or CHF 59,000.
Everose gold, intense white dial, Settimo bracelet (ref. 53505): US$72,800 or CHF 64,800.
Rolex sets its prices country by country, so the price in the UAE can differ from these figures, and an official Rolex retailer can confirm the current price in dirhams. Because the watch was only released in September 2026, pre-owned examples are likely to be scarce at first, and early pre-owned prices will be set by supply and demand rather than by the retail list. For context on how Rolex prices behave in Dubai, see our Rolex watch price guide for Dubai.
What “Padellone” means: the Rolex ref. 8171
The name is borrowed from one of the most sought-after vintage Rolex watches. The ref. 8171 was introduced in 1949 and made in small numbers into the early 1950s. It showed the day, date and month together with the moon phase, and its 38 mm case was unusually large for a dress watch of its time. Italian collectors nicknamed it “Padellone”, meaning “big frying pan”, because of that wide, flat case.
Rolex rarely adopts a name that collectors, rather than the brand, gave to a watch, which is one reason this launch has drawn so much attention. Like the 8171, the new model shows the day and month in two windows, the date with a hand around the edge of the dial and the phase of the moon. Vintage references such as the 8171 are also a reminder of why originality matters so much on the pre-owned market, and it is something we assess on every watch that comes through our hands in Dubai.
What is new in the Perpetual Padellone
The Haplos annual calendar
An annual calendar knows which months have 30 days and which have 31, so it only needs to be corrected once a year, at the end of February. Rolex’s new Haplos system does this with just two parts, an annual lever and a carrier finger. At midnight, the day, date and month all change together, instantly.
Calibre 7190 and the Dynapulse escapement
The calibre 7190 is based on the calibre 7135 that Rolex introduced in the Land-Dweller in 2025. It uses the same Dynapulse escapement and beats at 5 Hz, faster than the 4 Hz of most Rolex movements, with a power reserve of 66 hours. Like every current Rolex, it is certified as a Superlative Chronometer.
How it compares with other Rolex calendar watches
The Perpetual Padellone is not Rolex’s first annual calendar or its first modern moon phase. The Sky-Dweller has used Rolex’s Saros annual calendar since 2012, and the Cellini Moonphase brought a moon phase back to the range in 2017. The Day-Date, launched in 1956, shows the day of the week spelled out in full. What the Padellone brings is the combination: day, date, month and moon phase on one dial, driven by the Dynapulse escapement.
If you want a Rolex with a calendar today, look at the Rolex Day-Date and the Rolex Sky-Dweller. If it is the new escapement that interests you, the Rolex Land-Dweller introduced it in 2025. Our pages for each model show the pieces we currently hold in Dubai.
Annual calendar or perpetual calendar?
Despite its name, the Perpetual Padellone is not a perpetual calendar. A perpetual calendar also accounts for the length of February, including leap years, so it does not need the end-of-February correction. In Rolex’s naming, “Perpetual” refers to the self-winding Perpetual rotor the brand introduced in 1931, which is why the word appears across the range, from the Oyster Perpetual to the Perpetual 1908. It is a distinction worth understanding before you compare the Padellone with calendar watches from other brands, and it is the kind of detail we are always glad to explain.
Who is the Perpetual Padellone for?
With a 39 mm case, a precious-metal build and 50 metres of water resistance, the Perpetual Padellone is a dress watch rather than a sports watch. It will appeal to collectors who value vintage Rolex history and want a complication that is useful every day. Buyers who want steel, a sports model or serious water resistance will be better served elsewhere in the Rolex range, by watches such as the Submariner or the GMT-Master II. For a wider view of how Rolex compares with the other great houses, read our guide to the top watch brands for men.
Can you buy a Rolex Perpetual Padellone in Dubai?
New Rolex watches are sold through official Rolex retailers, including in the UAE, and they are the place to ask about buying a new Perpetual Padellone. Omar’s Timepieces is an independent dealer of authentic pre-owned luxury watches in Nadd Al Hamar, by Dubai Festival City. We are not an official Rolex retailer and we are not affiliated with Rolex SA.
What we do is buy, sell and source authenticated pre-owned watches. If you want a Perpetual Padellone once examples appear on the pre-owned market, send us the reference you are after and we will check availability through our network. Our article on why many buyers choose a used Rolex in Dubai explains the advantages of buying pre-owned.
How Omar’s Timepieces can help
Sourcing: tell us the reference, dial and configuration you want, and we will look for it through our network of collectors and dealers across Dubai, Europe and Asia.
Authentication: every watch we sell is checked against its reference, including the movement, case, dial, bracelet and serial numbers, before it is listed.
Trade-ins and sales: you can trade your current watch towards your next one, or sell your Rolex with a market-based valuation, usually on the same day.
A Rolex you can wear today: our Rolex watches in Dubai page shows the pieces we currently hold, with viewings by appointment.
Whoever you buy from, our guide to spotting a fake Rolex explains the checks every pre-owned Rolex should pass.
Final thoughts on the Rolex Perpetual Padellone
The Perpetual Padellone brings back a celebrated name from 1949 with genuinely new engineering: an annual calendar that needs one correction a year, a calendar that changes instantly at midnight and the Dynapulse escapement. It is made in Everose gold and platinum only, with launch prices from US$59,000, and it belongs to Rolex’s regular collection rather than a limited series. If you would like help finding one, or a Rolex you can wear today, get in touch with our team.
When was the Rolex Perpetual Padellone released?
Rolex announced the Perpetual Padellone on 15 September 2026, outside its usual spring launch at Watches and Wonders Geneva.
How much is the Rolex Perpetual Padellone?
At launch, the retail prices were US$59,000 for Everose gold on a leather strap, US$66,200 for platinum and US$72,800 for Everose gold on the Settimo bracelet. In Switzerland the prices were CHF 52,500, CHF 59,000 and CHF 64,800. UAE prices are set locally, so confirm them with an official Rolex retailer.
What does Padellone mean?
Padellone is Italian for “big frying pan”. It is the nickname collectors gave the Rolex ref. 8171 from 1949 because of its large, flat 38 mm case.
Is the Perpetual Padellone a perpetual calendar?
No. It is an annual calendar, which needs one correction a year at the end of February. In Rolex’s naming, “Perpetual” refers to the self-winding Perpetual rotor the brand introduced in 1931.
Is the Rolex Perpetual Padellone a limited edition?
No. It is part of Rolex’s regular production.
Is there a steel Rolex Perpetual Padellone?
No. At launch it is available in 18 ct Everose gold, ref. 53505, and 950 platinum, ref. 53506.
What movement is inside the Perpetual Padellone?
The Rolex calibre 7190, a self-winding movement based on the Land-Dweller’s calibre 7135, with the Dynapulse escapement, a frequency of 5 Hz and a 66-hour power reserve.
Can I buy a Rolex Perpetual Padellone in Dubai?
New examples are sold through official Rolex retailers. Omar’s Timepieces is an independent pre-owned dealer, not affiliated with Rolex, and we can check availability through our network once pre-owned examples appear.
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