Sylvester Stallone’s Patek Philippe Reference 6300G-010 Grandmaster Chime will be one of the top lots at Sotheby’s “The Important Watches” auction in New York. Sotheby’s said it’s the first time this model has appeared at auction. Its estimate is $2.5 million to $5 million.
It is among 11 timepieces owned by Sylvester Stallone being offered at the June 5 sale.
With 20 complications including five chiming complications, the reference 6300G-010 Grandmaster Chime is the most complicated wristwatch ever created by Patek Philippe, the historic Swiss watch brand said on its website.
Sotheby’s said it is “widely considered a ‘holy grail’ amongst the watch community.” Publicly, no one knew Stallone owned the watch as he has never worn it.
In fact, it has never been removed from its sealed plastic casing.
The Grandmaster Chime Ref. 5175 with its distinctive hand-engraved yellow gold case was unveiled as a limited-edition in 2014 to commemorate Patek Philippe’s 175th anniversary.
It later joined Patek’s permanent collection in 2016 as the reference 6300, making it the company’s most complex and first grande-sonnerie wristwatch added to the company’s collection.
It features a reversible white gold case adorned with Patek Philippe’s signature hobnail pattern. The development, production and assembly of the timepiece took 100,000 hours.
The movement of the Grandmaster Chime has no fewer than 20 complications: a grande and petite sonnerie, minute repeater, alarm with time strike, date repeater, second time zone with day-night indicator, strikework mode display, strikework isolator display, alarm on-off indicator, crown position indicator and power reserve indicators for the movement and the strikework.
The instantaneous perpetual calendar alone consists of a date on both sides, day of week, month, leap-year cycle, four-digit year display, 24-hour and minute subdial, and moon phases.
The complications are revealed on both sides of the timepiece, easily reversible. It can be worn on either side.
As mentioned, the watch is in its original single-sealed casing. It is accompanied by a presentation box engraved with Stallone’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 Stallone as the original purchaser, product literature in a large leather portfolio, a collection book, a travel case, cufflinks, a USB drive, a sealed setting pin, hang tag, an Apple iPad with a Patek Philippe leather case, adapter, charger and Apple earpods with a Patek Philippe case.
Geoff Hess, Sotheby’s head of Watches, said the timepiece is “one of the most complicated wristwatches in the world…. With Sly being a personal friend, the opportunity to work with him and present this part of his collection to market is a privilege that eclipses virtually any watch project I’ve worked on in my career.”
The other 10 watches in the collection consist of three other Patek Philippe watches, four Panerai models, and timepieces by Audemars Piguet, Rolex, Cartier and Piaget. Highlights of the sale are as follows.
Patek Philippe reference 5711/1300A-001 Nautilus
The Patek Philippe Nautilus is one of Patek Philippe’s most popular models and is recognized as one of the most important luxury sports watches in history.
The 2021 stainless steel Nautilus reference 5711/1300A-001 has the highly sought-after “sunburst olive-green” dial within the Nautilus line. Its bezel is adorned with 32 baguette diamonds, marking Patek’s first gem-set stainless steel 5711.
Produced for only a brief period, the stainless steel and diamond reference 5711/1300A-001 is the most exclusive of all modern Nautilus, according to Sotheby’s. It was distributed to its best clients.
It’s only the second time this model has been made available on the open market.
Its estimate is $200,000 to $400,000.
Audemars Piguet reference 26730OR.OO.1320OR.01 Royal Oak Tourbillon 50th anniversary
This example of the legendary Royal Oak sports watch has an automatic flying tourbillon movement created for the 50th anniversary of the Royal Oak in 2022. The watch is housed in a pink gold case revealing a smoked blue dial with a grande tapisserie pattern.
The movement also features a special gold rotor with a ’50 Years’ logo.
Its estimate is $100,000 to $200,000.
Panerai reference PAM00382 Luminor Submersible 1950, Worn by Stallone in the movie, “The Expendables 2”
Launched in 2011, the PAM 382 “Bronzo” by Panerai, limited to 1,000 pieces, has a 47mm case and green dial. It was the first Panerai watch crafted entirely of bronze.
The entire edition quickly sold out, the auction house said. The watch is numbered N0000/1000 – suggesting it could be the first piece made in this limited-edition series.
It was worn by Stallone in the film “The Expendables 2,” the same year the model was released. The same model was worn by several actors in the film, including Dolph Lundgren, Jason Statham, Terry Crews and Randy Couture.
The watch is also accompanied by a signed movie poster of “The Expendables 2.”
Its estimate is $30,000 – $60,000.
Panerai reference PAM00269 Luminor Submersible ‘Piece Unique’
Stallone’s longtime association with Panerai helped propel the brand to international recognition.
When he wore the Panerai reference 5218-201/a in the 1996 film, “Daylight,” it resulted in the creation of two new watch models, with the moniker “Sly Tech” on the dial along with Stallone’s signature on the caseback.
Stallone continued his collaboration with Panerai, with several limited edition “SLYTECH” models. The reference PAM00269 stands out as a unique piece made exclusively for him.
Produced in 2006, this Luminor Submersible Chronograph has a 47mm yellow gold case and black dial. The caseback has the engravings, “Special Edition for SLY” and “Esemplare Unico.”
Its estimate is $30,000 to $60,000.
Rolex reference 228235 Day-Date
In 2016, Rolex marked the 60th anniversary of the Day-Date timepiece with the reference 22823. Encased in elegant pink gold, it has quintessential Rolex features: applied Roman numerals, a fluted bezel and a president bracelet.
What sets this watch apart is its dial in Rolex’s hallmark dark green colour. This piece bears the nickname “Sly” engraved on the caseback.
Its estimate is $25,000 to $50,000.
“I enjoy the collecting process,” Stallone said in a statement. “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.”
The other timepieces in Stallone’s collection being sold by Sotheby’s are:
- Patek Philippe: Reference 5711/1A-001 Nautilus with an estimate of $50 to $100,000
- Panerai Reference PAM00332 Luminor 1950 Regatta ‘Classic Yachts Challenge with an estimate $20,000 to $40,000
- Cartier Reference W301970M Pasha Seatimer with an estimate of $15,000 to $30,000
- Piaget Reference P10623 Polo Grande with an estimate of $6 to $12,000
- Panerai Reference PAM00202 Luminor Submersible 1950 Chrono ‘Slytech’ with an estimate of $6,000 $12,000
This article was first published on forbes.com and all figures are in USD.
