Rolex 4113.
Photo: COURTESY OF MONACO LEGEND AUCTION
Auction of the Week: Super-Rare Rolex Fetches Record $3.5 Million
The unique timepiece with a split-second chronograph was created during WWII and is one of only a dozen models in existence
On April 21, a never-before-seen Rolex Split-Seconds Ref. 4113 hammered down for roughly $3.5 million at a Monaco Legend Group auction, setting a new record price for the model. While all Rolexes are rare and coveted, this particular example, Reference 4113, is one of the world’s most exclusive and hardest-to-find Rolex pieces of all time with a history shrouded in mystery.
The watch was created in 1942 and is one of only 12 examples, initially produced for aviation pilots in the World War II. The timepieces soon arrived on the Italian market in the mid-1940s—the large split-second chronographs were thought to have been popular among motor racing enthusiasts thanks to a special scale that can measure acceleration as well as the distance to an approaching object.
Rolex 4113. Photo: Courtesy of Monaco Legend Auction
Measuring 44mm, the timepiece is powered by a Valjoux 55 VBR chronograph movement with split-seconds complication that can measure different time intervals. The watches were never offered for sale commercially but were said to be gifted members of certain racing teams. Despite extensive research, the full history of this model remains unclear, according to a specialist at the house, adding to its allure. It was never featured in any posters, Rolex catalogs, or made available on the public market.
Boasting excellent provenance, it hails from the collection of Auro Montanari, a horological scholar who has been collecting vintage timepieces for more than 40 years. “This watch occupies a special place in horological lore, known mostly through anecdotes,” states the catalogue entry. “Thus enhancing its mystique and solidifying its status as a testament to Rolex’s enduring legacy.”
The previous record was $2.6 million at a Phillips auction in Geneva in 2016, while another example fetched over $2 million at an auction in 2019.
Cover: Rolex 4113.
Photo: COURTESY OF MONACO LEGEND AUCTION
