It seems the record-shattering Rolex sales of two of the most incredible vintage Rolex watches ever to cross the auction block – a c.1953 Ref. 6062 “Triple Calendar Moon-Phase” for $6.2 million and a diamond-set c.1985 Ref. 6270 Daytona for around $5.2 million – just last month was only the beginning. The 6062 in particular made headlines as the third most expensive Rolex ever sold at auction.
Earlier this month, just ahead of Dubai Watch Week, an almost equally valuable Rolex 4113 from 1942 sold at auction for $4.7 million, setting a new world record for the model. One of only about 10 examples known to be extant, the piece sold in Dubai is thought to be one of the best-preserved among them and generated both significant interest and competition from bidders.
The Significance of the Models
Just as the 6062, known as the “Stelline” dial, is one of only two models in Rolex’s history to combine an automatic movement with a triple calendar and moon-phase display, the gorgeous manual-wind 4113 is to this day the only split-second chronograph ever produced by Rolex, before it decided in favor of “tool” watches versus complications. This 44mm Rolex is also one of the largest Rolexes ever made; only the modern Sea-Dweller Deepsea and Yacht-Master II are equal to its impressive size.
A New Benchmark for the Rolex 4113
The $4.7 million result makes the Dubai 4113 one of the 10 most expensive Rolex watches ever sold at auction, and marks an important milestone for the reference, whose previous auction record clocked more than $1 million less. “This margin indicates both scarcity and the market’s appetite for blue-chip vintage pieces in pristine condition,” as UAE newspaper The National reported.
What The Experts Say
“The split-seconds or ‘Rattrapante’ as the 4113 is known in the industry would be the crown jewel of any Rolex collection,” says Paul Altieri, Bob’s Watches Founder and CEO and one of the world’s top Rolex collectors in his own right. “Originally produced for Italian motor racing teams who required split-second precision, it could even form the cornerstone of a major museum exhibition, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the 4113 from Dubai surface in that manner.”
Altieri notes that the recent surge in prices amongst historically-important Rolex references reflects a broader shift in collector demand, “a return to true rarity, documented provenance, and complication-driven significance. These watches represent pivotal moments in Rolex’s evolution, and it’s no surprise that records are being broken left and right, as these kind of pieces will hold their value forever.”
What This Means for the Rolex Market
As we’ve seen in Bob’s Rolex watch market report, the recent run of record-setting auction results isn’t just a streak of isolated wins. It signals a renewed focus on the rarest, most historically meaningful Rolex watch references, the watches that shaped the brand’s legacy. As collectors continue gravitating toward pieces with true provenance and mechanical importance, it’s likely that models such as the 6062, 6270, and 4113 will remain in a class of their own, with demand that only intensifies as supply gets scarcer.
