Sylvester Stallone’s perfect replica Panerai split-seconds chrono watch worn in The Expendables is up for auction
Sylvester Stallone is a well-documented watch collector, and pieces of his going up for auction are by no means an entirely new phenomenon. But, when high quality replica watches from famous individuals hit the mainstream auction block – Phillips, Sotheby’s, and Christie’s – there is a lot of marketing and PR behind those lots and they inevitably get a lot of attention and bids. With a lesser-known website like Propstore Auction, which regularly auctions off film costumes, props, etc., however, things can slip a bit more under the radar. If of interest, Sylvester Stallone wore his personal 1:1 fake Panerai Luminor 1950 Regatta Rattrapante ref. PAM00332 in the first-ever The Expendables (2010) film. And, as luck would have it, that watch is up for auction right now.
The 44mm luxury fake Panerai, encased in PVD-coated brushed stainless steel, was introduced in 2009. To be honest, I am surprised he was able to wear the watch in the film unless he got access to the piece before it was formally released considering the film was released in 2010. A large and legible 100-metre water-resistant watch, with a split-seconds chronograph complication, the aaa quality replica Panerai is actually a very apt and cool choice for his character Barney Ross to wear. At the time of its release in 2009, it was priced at US$14,500, quite a deal compared to the market at present where name-brand split-seconds chronographs would be priced higher. It was also a limited edition of 500 pieces, with Stallone’s top quality super clone watch bearing the number 96.
While there is plenty of time left in the auction, the lot closing on March 12, the starting bid is set less than the original retail price at US$12,500 with an estimate set at US$25,000 – US$50,000. Were someone able to acquire this Swiss movement replica Panerai at the low end of the estimate range, considering its provenance and relative rarity it would be quite a pick up for a collection – especially if the winner is a ‘Paneraisti’. Do keep in mind, however, that there is a buyer’s premium of 25% added to the final hammer price along with any applicable taxes.