Watch Paparazzi

Writer Giorgia Mondani spotted wearing Rolex

Giorgia Mondani, the Milan-based author behind the definitive Rolex reference books and co-founder of Mondani Web, recently appeared on video unboxing one of the most institutionally significant Rolex dive watches ever produced: the Sea-Dweller 'Polipetto,' a limited-production piece commissioned by the Italian State Police Nautical Division. With only 78 examples known to exist, the sighting is notable even by the standards of someone who has handled thousands of vintage and rare Rolex references professionally.

The watch visible in the green Rolex presentation box displays the hallmark black dial and stainless steel Oyster bracelet consistent with a Sea-Dweller configuration. The 'Polipetto' nickname derives from the small octopus motif — symbol of the Italian State Police's maritime unit — which appears on the dial alongside standard Sea-Dweller typography. Based on the case proportions, bezel style, and dial layout visible in the unboxing footage, this appears to be a reference built on the classic 40mm Sea-Dweller platform, featuring a helium escape valve and sapphire crystal, with the proprietary police-division caseback engraving that distinguishes it from civilian production.

From a collector standpoint, police- and military-issued Rolex references occupy a premium tier precisely because provenance is traceable and production numbers are documented. The 'Polipetto' sits alongside pieces like the British MoD Submariner and the Italian Comsubin Ref. 5513 as an example of Rolex supplying elite diving units with purpose-built timepieces. Seventy-eight examples represent an exceptionally tight production run, smaller than many so-called 'tropical' dial variants that command six-figure sums at auction.

Mondani's connection to this watch is particularly fitting. Her multi-volume Rolex encyclopedia series remains the most comprehensive printed reference for Rolex identification globally, and her expertise in rare and institutional references makes her one of the few individuals whose custody of such a piece carries additional provenance weight.

On the current grey market, authentic examples of the 'Polipetto' — when they surface, which is rarely — attract serious institutional collector interest. The combination of a sub-100 production run, verifiable police commissioning history, and the imprimatur of Rolex's Sea-Dweller lineage places this watch firmly in the five-figure-to-low-six-figure conversation, depending on condition and completeness of documentation.