Between 1948 and 1952, Rolex produced a rare model known worldwide as the ”Padellone”, the ref.8171. It is a large antimagnetic watch, with a case 38 mm in diameter, 14 mm thick and a pressure case back.
It is the maison’s first ”complicated” watch: the two windows at twelve o’clock show the day of the week and the name of the month, an arrow hand indicates the day of the month, and at six o’clock are the moon phases and the seconds sphere.
About a thousand examples were produced, most of them in steel and yellow gold and very few in 18 or 14 carat pink gold. In these four years of production, it is estimated that no more than 350 examples were made in pink gold. The circa 1950 example that was auctioned in Monaco on 14 July 2022 has a beautiful original two-tone dial in perfect condition, characterised by patinated shades tending towards cream, which harmonise perfectly with the blue numerals of the external calendar, perfectly preserved and with no signs of discolouration. The chromatic interplay fits like a glove in the thick, solid case embellished with satin-finish.
These details undoubtedly make it one of the most beautiful models presented by Wannenes, rewarded with an absolute value outcome of 228,600 euros, the third all-time in the Watches department.
