Founded in 1905, the Rolex company is early specializing in wristwatches. The developments include miniaturization and sealing. Rolex will be a brand of sport watches and the company will sponsor the events. Thus in 1927 there is a Rolex on the wrist of a young woman who swims across the Channel. In 1935, another unit accompanies Malcolm Campbell in his automobile speed record at 482 km/h in Daytona.
The 4113 model 'antimagnétique' in stainless steel, made in twelve units in 1942, is far ahead of all other models of the brand with its split seconds chronograph and the superb readability of its oversized dial in a very narrow bezel 44 mm in diameter.
This watch is also the most mysterious : it was never published by Rolex and was not available for sale. The informations about the provenance rely on their appearances on the second market : they converge to the assumption of a gift to racing car champions and officials in the Giro Automobilistico di Sicilia.
One of the twelve was sold for CHF 1,03M including premium by Christie's on May 16, 2011. To understand the enigma, I had then assumed that they had been presented to test in competition this highly efficient model that will finally not enter into a phase of commercial production. This hypothesis seems indeed plausible : the discretion surrounding that operation was probably necessary for blocking the information to the competing watch brands.
Another 4113 was sold for CHF 1.1 million including premium by Christie's on May 13, 2013. It returns to Geneva to be sold by Phillips on May 14, lot 56 estimated CHF 800K.
SOLD for CHF 2.4M including premium
The 4113 model 'antimagnétique' in stainless steel, made in twelve units in 1942, is far ahead of all other models of the brand with its split seconds chronograph and the superb readability of its oversized dial in a very narrow bezel 44 mm in diameter.
This watch is also the most mysterious : it was never published by Rolex and was not available for sale. The informations about the provenance rely on their appearances on the second market : they converge to the assumption of a gift to racing car champions and officials in the Giro Automobilistico di Sicilia.
One of the twelve was sold for CHF 1,03M including premium by Christie's on May 16, 2011. To understand the enigma, I had then assumed that they had been presented to test in competition this highly efficient model that will finally not enter into a phase of commercial production. This hypothesis seems indeed plausible : the discretion surrounding that operation was probably necessary for blocking the information to the competing watch brands.
Another 4113 was sold for CHF 1.1 million including premium by Christie's on May 13, 2013. It returns to Geneva to be sold by Phillips on May 14, lot 56 estimated CHF 800K.
SOLD for CHF 2.4M including premium
LDN - GVA & HK #Watches come to LDN! Highlights incl. this very rare ref4113 #Rolex are #Onview 23-26 Apr. Stop by. pic.twitter.com/RuKQFrHNY6
— P H I L L I P S (@phillipsauction) April 20, 2016
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