Watch auctioneers are in need of a hero to entice collectors to spend now instead of waiting for a future sale when prices might be lower.
This is the danger of deflation, and it has taken the froth off the top of the auction market for the past year.
Enter Sylvester Stallone, the ultimate Hollywood hero, who is auctioning 11 pieces from his almost mythical watch collection, and headlining the sale with a factory-sealed Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime that could achieve over $5 million.
The watch will be sold at the Sotheby’s New York Important Watches Auction on June 5 alongside rare timepieces with Rambo-provenance from the likes of Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Piaget and Cartier.
There are also three watches from Panerai, a brand for which Mr Stallone is credited with almost singlehandedly reviving in the 1990s.
He has been rewarded by the brand with access to unique pieces and his own collaboration watch, the Slytech.
“I’ve had the privilege of owning some truly remarkable watches over the years, each with its own unique character and history. I enjoy the collecting process like so many others in this passionate community, who don’t just see watches as an accessory, but admire them for their history, craftsmanship, artistry – but most importantly – how they make them feel. Looking at these watches, I feel truly lucky to have owned them; they serve as a reminder that hard work pays off. While parting ways with this collection is bittersweet, I cherish that I’ve owned them with pride, and hope they will be appreciated and admired in their next homes,” Mr Stallone says.
Sly’s Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime
Patek Philippe first unveiled its Grandmaster Chime in 2014 as a commemorative piece for the brand’s 175th anniversary, the watch entered the core collection in 2016 as the reference 6300.
Core collection does not mean commonplace because each watch requires around 100,000 hours to produce.
It has a total of twenty complications including five chiming modes and a reversible case with two independent dials.
In 2019, Patek Philippe made its first and only Grandmaster Chime in steel for the Only Watch charity auction, and it set a new world record price of CHF 31 million.
Sotherby’s is selling My Stallone’s white gold piece in its original single sealed casing in a grand presentation box engraved with the actor’s name and a Grandmaster Chime book bearing his name on the cover and inside cover.
The lot also includes a Certificate of Origin confirming Mr Stallone as the original purchaser.
Sylvester Stallone’s watches for sale
(descriptions and estimates from Sotheby’s)
Audemars Piguet Reference 26730OR.OO.1320OR.01 Royal Oak Tourbillon 50th Anniversary
Estimate $100,000 to $200,000
Since its debut in 1972, the Royal Oak revolutionized the world of horology as the premier stainless steel luxury sports watch, and is rightfully hailed as a design icon.
Mr Stallone has is selling the 50th Anniversary Tourbillon edition created in 2022, which comes in a pink gold case with a smoked blue grande tapisserie dial.
Cartier Pasha Seatimer
Estimate $15,000 to $30,000
Reference W301970M Pasha Seatimer engraved on the back, a yellow gold and ceramic chronograph wristwatch with date, owned and worn by Sylvester Stallone, Circa 2010.
Panerai reference PAM00202 Luminor Submersible
Estimate $6,000 to $12,000
1950 Chrono ‘Slytech’ limited edition titanium chronograph wristwatch.
Panerai Luminor Submersible Slytech
Estimate $30,000 to $60,000
Sylvester Stallone is widely credited with Panerai’s popularity today. The journey began in 1995 when Monty Shadow, a prominent figure in both entertainment and fashion circles, proposed a marketing strategy aimed at leveraging celebrity endorsements to boost Panerai’s visibility.
His close connection with Mr Stallone made him the ideal candidate for this plan. Although initially hesitant about the idea of celebrity endorsements, Panerai, facing financial difficulties, saw this as a potential lifeline.
Stallone, already a fan of Panerai, embraced the partnership and collaborated on two new watch models with Slytech on the dial.
The reference PAM00269 in the Sotheby’s sale a unique piece made exclusively for him in 2006.
The Luminor Submersible Chronograph has a 47mm yellow gold case and black dial.
Panerai Luminor 1950 Regatta
Estimate $20,000 to $40,000
Reference PAM00332 Luminor 1950 Regatta ‘Classic Yachts Challenge’. A limited edition PVD-coated stainless steel automatic split-seconds chronograph wristwatch from around 2009.
Panerai Reference PAM00382 Luminor Submersible
Estimate $30,000 to $60,000
Launched in 2011, the PAM 382 model, affectionately dubbed “Bronzo” by Panerai, swiftly ascended to legendary status among collectors.
Limited to 1000 pieces, it featured a commanding 47mm case and a distinctive green dial. Its unveiling caused a stir, marking the first instance of a Panerai sports watch crafted entirely from bronze and a bronze case purposely built with a time-weathered effect, ensuring each timepiece possessed a unique hue and character over time.
The entire edition sold out rapidly, cementing its status as one of the most coveted PAMs of the early 2010s.
This example, numbered N0000/1000, suggests it could be the first piece made in this limited edition series.
It was worn by Mr Stallone throughout “The Expendables 2”, filmed in 2011, the year this model was released. The same model was worn by several actors in the film, including Dolph Lundgren, Jason Statham, Terry Crews and Randy Couture.
Patek Philippe Nautilus Reference 5711
Estimate $50,000 to $100,000
We will see whether there is a strong Stallone effect on prices at the Sotheby’s New York auction with this Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A-010.
Discontinued in 2021, the steel Nautilus became totemic of the insanity that gripped the secondary market in the post-pandemic boom, but saw prices fall as quickly as they had risen.
Today, examples are changing hands for around $60,000, but the Stallone connection is certain to make this piece more desirable.
Patek Philippe Reference 5711/1300A-001 Nautilus
Estimate $200,000 to $400,000
Proving that real men wear diamonds, Sly’s Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1300A-001, bought in 2021, is a 40mm stainless steel watch set with 32 flawless top Wesselton baguette diamonds.
Rolex Day Date
Estimate $25,000 to $50,000
In 2016, Rolex marked the 60th anniversary of the Day-Date with the launch of the reference 22823, exemplified by this pink gold piece with a dark green dial, applied Roman numerals, a fluted bezel, and a President bracelet.
Bearing the nickname ‘Sly’ engraved on the case back, this watch not only embodies luxury but also represents the dedication and hard work that have characterized Stallone’s career.
Piaget Polo Grande
Estimate $6,000 to $12,000
Reference P10623 Polo Grande yellow gold automatic wristwatch with date and bracelet, Owned and Worn by Sylvester Stallone, Circa 2000.
Patek Philippe
Estimate $2,500,000 to $5,000,000
Patek Philippe commemorated its 175th anniversary with the introduction of the Grandmaster Chime Reference 5175. Initiated by Philippe Stern in 2007, this ambitious project aimed to create the most intricate wristwatch in Patek Philippe’s history, honoring its illustrious heritage since 1839.
The Grandmaster Chime Ref 5175, featuring a distinctive hand-engraved case, stole the spotlight among the commemorative timepieces presented on this momentous occasion.
Originally launched as a limited edition, it later joined the permanent collection in 2016 as the Reference 6300, marking the introduction of the company’s most complex and first grande-sonnerie wristwatch ever added to the company’s current collection.
Made with a reversible white gold case adorned with Patek Philippe’s signature hobnail pattern, the development, production, and assembly spanned an astounding 100,000 hours. With a total of twenty complications, including five chiming modes, a reversible case, two independent dials, and six patented innovations, the Grandmaster Chime epitomizes horological excellence. By way of comparison, the heralded Sky Moon Tourbillon has only 12 complications.
Central to the Grandmaster Chime’s twenty complications are the five chiming mechanisms, notably the Grande Sonnerie as the pièce de résistance, and a groundbreaking date repeater controlled by the perpetual calendar, which audibly indicates the date. Additionally, an alarm feature strikes the time upon activation.
To ensure optimal legibility, the watch is designed with two faces: one focusing on timekeeping and sonnerie, and the other dedicated to the instantaneous perpetual calendar. A patented invisible reversing mechanism facilitates effortless rotation of the case, allowing seamless transition between dials.
Sotheby’s says this watch is the first Reference 6300G Grandmaster Chime to appear at auction.
The timepiece, previously owned by Sylvester Stallone and still in its original single sealed casing, is accompanied by a grand presentation box engraved with Stallone’s name and adorned in white gold, and a Grandmaster Chime book bearing his name on the cover and inside cover.
The lot additionally includes a Certificate of Origin confirming Stallone as the original purchaser, product literature in a large leather portfolio, a collection book, travel case, cufflinks, USB drive, sealed setting pin, hang tag, an Apple iPad with a Patek Philippe leather case, adapter, charger, and Apple earpods with a Patek Philippe case.
