Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1950 Reference No: 8171 Movement No: 56'731 Case No: 820'683 Model Name: "Padellone" Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. 10'''1/2, 18 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel pin buckle Dimensions: 38mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
Catalogue Essay
Reference 8171 is lovingly dubbed "Padellone", which translates to "large frying pan" in Italian. Boasting a generous 38 mm case, it is slightly larger than its waterproof Oyster sibling, reference 6062. Both references 8171 and 6062 were the only two vintage Rolex models with moonphases, giving them a mythical reputation and cult-like following. Produced for a very short period of time in the early 1950s, reference 8171 and 6062 were available in yellow gold, pink gold, and stainless steel.
The present watch is an exceedingly well-preserved example, and is incredibly impressive.
Reference 8171 has been made in three case metals, and a remarkable - given its short production run - number of dial variants are known. The present watch is fitted with the beloved grené dial. The dial is preserved in charming and unrestored condition, with sharp and crisp apertures at 12 o'clock attesting to its originality. Most reference 8171s have undergone some restoration during their lifetime, yet this example remains untouched to this day, further enhancing its desirability and rarity. The dial construction - which itself resembles an upside down frying pan - grants the dial a subtle two-tone effect: while the finish is the same on the entirety of the dial, the sloped outer track reflects light differently than the flat center, thus creating the illusion of two-tone finishing; this small and charming detail highlights the care which Rolex imbues their designs with.
This example furthermore boasts a strong and crisp case, clearly displaying the Rolex coronet and case numbers on the case back, details lacking from many worn or overpolished examples.
Such an unrestored and superlative piece hardly ever comes to the market, a true trophy example for the most discerning among collectors.
Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.
One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.
