No Reserve
68Δ
Panerai
Ref. 5218-304
Pre-Vendome, Mare Nostrum "SLYTECH"
A rare stainless steel limited edition chronograph wristwatch
- Estimate
- CHF12,000 - 18,000•
CHF45,000
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Panerai
- Year
- 1996
- Reference No
- 5218-304
- Case No
- 020/500
- Model Name
- Pre-Vendome, Mare Nostrum "SLYTECH"
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Calibre
- Manual, 13'''
- Bracelet/Strap
- Leather
- Clasp/Buckle
- Large stainless steel buckle, <em>signed Panerai</em>
- Dimensions
- 42mm. Diameter
- Signed
- <em>Case, dial and movement signed, case back further signed Special Edition Sylvester Stallone and engraved with the actor's signature</em>
Stainless steel
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
The present special edition Panerai is known as a Pre-Vendome model. Panerai was re-established in 1993 and all of the firm’s watches manufactured from this point up until the Vendome Group took control in late 1996/7 are known as Pre-Vendome pieces. Panerai commissioned a special series of large stainless steel chronograph wristwatches for the actor Sylvester Stallone. Originally intended to be made in a limited edition of 500 watches, scholarship states that eventually only 50 watches of reference 5218-304 were ever finished. In fact, it appears that Officine Panerai sold 31 watches of this series and Vendome distributed the remaining 19 examples. The example offered here for sale is consequently a very rare collector’s watch and preserved in overall very good condition.
Panerai
Italian | 1860Known for its robust designs and large case sizes, Officine Panerai was established in 1860 by Giovanni Panerai in Florence, Italy. Around 1900, Giovanni's grandson Guido Panerai took over, and Panerai became the supplier to the Regia Marina — the Royal Italian Navy. After supplying the navy with high-precision instruments for a number of years, Officine Panerai created Radiomir, a radium-based powder that gives luminosity to the dials of sighting instruments and devices. By 1936, the Royal Italian Navy approached Panerai again with the request to design a watch resistant to extreme underwater conditions. The watch they created became known as the "Radiomir".
Panerai's watches made during the early twentieth century era were comprised of cases designed and manufactured by Rolex SA, with Cortébert, a Swiss manufacturer, supplying the majority of their movements. The most recognizable designs from the firm are the Radiomir and Luminor. To date, vintage models from the first half of the 1900s, such as the reference 3646 and 6152 models, remain the most desirable among collectors.
Browse MakerPanerai's watches made during the early twentieth century era were comprised of cases designed and manufactured by Rolex SA, with Cortébert, a Swiss manufacturer, supplying the majority of their movements. The most recognizable designs from the firm are the Radiomir and Luminor. To date, vintage models from the first half of the 1900s, such as the reference 3646 and 6152 models, remain the most desirable among collectors.