From Trump to full calendars to jewelry – Rolex is causing a media frenzy.

Rolex is always newsworthy. And although the brand has successfully remained secretive regarding its strategies, these are currently being discussed extensively in international newspapers.

And yes, there is already newsworthy material about the brand with the crown: The journalistic offering ranges from Rolex x Trump, to large formats, complicated matters to jewelry with the crown logo.

After Trump as a Rolex guest at the US Open final, the appointment of a new Rolex board member with excellent Trump connections, Trump as host of a Swiss business delegation Including Rolex CEO Jean-Frédéric Dufour, the discussion also revolves around watches.

However, there is a connection between Trump and this one new Rolex product. It's a desk clock from the brand that suddenly appeared on the so-called Resolute Desk in the Oval Office after Dufour's visit to the White House – it has since disappeared.

Whatever influence this gift may have amidst the Swiss customs negotiations While it may have been directed at the US president, it is interesting that shortly afterwards a table clock for everyone appeared in the official Rolex portfolio.

A quartz Rolex for your desk

The „Submariner table clock“, in the form of a movable hemisphere on a ring-shaped base, houses a – yes, really – quartz movement in its 80-millimeter stainless steel case.

The quartz movement offers a secular calendar in addition to the time and date. This mechanism automatically adjusts to months with 28, 30, or 31 days, recognizes leap years—in which February has 29 days—and also takes into account exceptions without leap years. The MSRP is a hefty €10,170. Speaking of the calendar function:

Is the "Padellone" coming back?

This is the question posed by Coronet Magazine, which focuses on the Rolex brand. „Padellone” is the Italian word for „large pan“ and the nickname of a rare, for its time large (38 mm) Rolex automatic watch (reference 8171) from the early 1950s.

That alone doesn't make it interesting. What does make it interesting, however, are the complications of this watch: full calendar and moon phase. Currently, only eight "Padellone" models are offered on Chrono24, with prices ranging from €90,000 to €240,000, and even "On request.".

Is Rolex becoming more complicated?

Rolex recently filed a patent describing a triple calendar with day and month display at 12 o'clock and a central date hand – a configuration reminiscent of the „Padellone“ from the 1950s.

The addition of the phrase – „Additionally or alternatively, a moon phase display may be present, for example“ – immediately brings the reference 8171 to mind for Rolex specialists. And as „coincidence“ would have it, Rolex also officially registered the term „Padellone“ as a trademark in September of this year.

The magazine Time & Tide reports in detail on these events and comes to the conclusion:

„"With the '1908' and the 'Land-Dweller,' the brand introduced two completely new lines of classic watches within just two years – an indication of the changing tastes of Rolex buyers. Both models were successful launches, defying the usual trend towards value retention in elegant watches. By comparison, Patek Philippe's elegant collections are trading at a discount of around 40 percent."‚

Rolex also makes jewelry

Whether and when a new Rolex with a full calendar and moon phase will adorn the wrists of watch enthusiasts remains to be seen. Until then, Rolex devotees can console themselves with cufflinks from their favorite brand. Yes, you read that right.