The most expensive Rolex ever to be sold at auction

1942 rolex split seconds chronograph reference 411

At its May 16 sale of Important Watches in Geneva, Christie’s offered a wide selection of the world’s finest watches from renowned brands like Patek Philippe, Rolex and Vacheron Constantin. While the star lot, the Patek Philippe white gold single button chronograph wristwatch manufactured in 1928, fetched $3,6 million, a rare Rolex chronograph made in 1942 set a new record by selling for $1.16 million.
The oversized stainless steel split seconds chronograph (reference 4113) has a nickel-finished lever movement, 17 jewels, silver matte dials, applied pink gold Arabic and baton numerals.
Other salient features include outer minute divisions, blue telemeter and black tachymeter scales, two subsidiary dials for constant seconds, 30 minutes register and a split seconds chronograph mechanism. The particular Rolex watch is one of only 12 models created, of which only eight are known to be in existence. Reports say that all the Ref 4113’s were made as gifts to famous race drivers and team owners during the early 1940s.
The 1942 Rolex was earlier estimated to sell for between $681,818 and $1.13 million. The realized price for the chronograph, including the buyer’s premium, sits at $1.17 million, which makes it the most expensive Rolex sold at an auction.