Updated posts 2026
In an impressive display of collecting enthusiasm, a vintage Rolex timepiece, once owned by celebrity collector Auro Montanari, broke records and fetched an extraordinary 3.3 million euros ($3.5 million) at auction in Monaco. This sale marks a brand new high for the Rolex 4113, a premium piece made in 1942, renowned as one of the 12 most skilled synthetics, with only nine currently in existence.
The highly anticipated public sale, organized through the Monaco Legend Group, saw passionate bidding on Saturday, culminating in a blistering pace that eclipsed the previous set of the 2016 version. That time, a buyer at the Phillips auction in Geneva paid 2 Four million Swiss francs ($2.6 million ), underscoring the enduring fascination and cost of financing unusual timepieces.
Despite the current ups and downs in the pre-owned luxury watch market, lenders continue to demonstrate an unwavering desire for exceptional and unique devices. In particular, manufacturers such as Rolex, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet, which have seen peak prices in 2022, continue to generate interest and premium costs among discerning fans.
The Rolex 4113 stands out as a completely unique specimen in the emblem’s illustrious records, considered to be the most effective split-seconds chronograph or rattrapante ever created using the esteemed Geneva watchmaker. Its distinctiveness is further emphasized by the enormous case diameter of 44 millimeters (1.73 inches), making it one of the largest watches ever produced by Rolex.
The central point of interest of this watch is its intricate cut – the 2nd complication that allows for the correct size of several time periods with the help of two start/prevent and reset buttons. This state-of-the-art capability, along with its rarity, elevates the Rolex 4113 to an esteemed reputation in the watch world.
What makes the 4113 genuinely singular is that Rolex never sold it. The twelve examples were produced in 1942 and distributed to racing teams rather than retailed, which is why so few survive and why none has a conventional ownership history. A split-seconds chronograph was a timing instrument for sport, not a luxury object, and the 44mm case that now reads as fashionably oversized was functional — a large dial is easier to read at a trackside glance. The watch commands these prices precisely because it was never intended to be collectible.
Formerly owned by Auro Montanari, a well-known figure in watch collecting and scholarship, this Rolex has a distinguished provenance. Montanari, also known by the pseudonym John Goldberger, is the author of many authoritative works on horology, including the acclaimed “One Hundred Superlative Rolex Watches” and designed the iconic 4113 on the hood.
Adding an exciting layer to its history, the timepiece turned into the one delivered at auction along with the cheese knife Montanari used in a 2013 reveal video, showing the meticulous interest in the element and the fervor that characterized his watchmaking method.
Auro Montanari’s first-class Rolex 4113 sale underlines the long-lasting legacy of high-quality timepieces and the long-lasting charm of horological treasures in the colorful world of lenders. As fans and investors seek these rare and legendary artifacts, the saga of this exceptional Rolex serves as a testament to the long-standing intersection of expertise, records and passion.
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