A Rolex Reference 4113 has sold for $4,717,000 at a FutureGrail auction in Dubai, setting a world record for the model.
The watch auction house held a preview showcase at the Bvlgari Yacht Club, Dubai, before the sale.
“This sale is one of the most significant in auction history, breaking a world-record and underlining the demand from luxury watch collectors across the globe. It is a privilege to bring such a rare item to the market, demonstrating that from Geneva to Dubai to Singapore, watches of this calibre command incredible interest. We may not see a Rolex Reference 4113 of this quality come to market for a long time,” Ali Nael, CEO of FutureGrail said in a statement.
Rolex Reference 4113 sells for $4.7 million at Dubai auction
The timepiece is now the ninth-most-expensive Rolex in history. The sale exceeded the previous record by more than $1.2 million.
Rolex produced the Reference 4113 in the 1940s. Only 12 were made, with nine known to have survived to date. It is the only split-seconds vintage chronograph that the manufacturer produced.
The watch has connections to motor racing, with examples passing through the hands of drivers and team owners.
FutureGrail operates from its headquarters in Singapore and plans to expand its operations to the UAE in 2026 to meet demand in the Middle East.
The auction house has an in-house horology team and offers premiums for buying and selling that are among the lowest in the industry.
“From individual collectors purchasing for pleasure to investors diversifying their portfolios outside of traditional stocks and real estate assets, there is huge demand in the luxury watch market. Shrewd collectors optimise value and potential liquidity of purchases by finding rare items in the best possible condition,” Arnaud Tellier is FutureGrailโs Head of Curation and a former Director of the Patek Philippe museum added.
