Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso of Tibet – Rolex “Padellone”


The current and 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso of Tibet, wears a rare vintage 38mm Rolex “Padellone” (large frying pan in Italian) Triple Calendar Moonphase in 18k yellow gold with a two-tone dial, featuring day, date, month and moonphase complications. The bracelet is usually the one Dalai Lama uses for his different watches.

Reference 8171 was produced in the early 1950’s for only a few years and is one of the most complicated Rolex ever made. It is also only one of three Rolex models created with moon-phases. Around 350 pieces were made in yellow gold.

The price varies a lot but the same reference was sold at auction in 2019 for $1,000,000.00 USD

Photo: Getty Images / @theindianhorology

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