Sotheby’s led the Important Watches auction with Sylvester Stallone's impressive watch collection.
Let's explore what happened and why it matters to the world of luxury watch collecting.
Personal Connections and Sylvester Stallone's Collection
My connection to Sylvester Stallone is interesting, though indirect. While working at TASCHEN, I contributed to the creation of his Rocky Art Edition. Later, after moving to New York and joining Sotheby’s, I began handling the sale of his watches.
The general public may not know, but Stallone has a deep relationship with art and aesthetics. His edition even includes a reproduction of the actor's own painting.
It is unsurprising that his watch collection is impressive. One of the lots - a set of eleven watches - became one of the main events of the Sotheby’s auction in May.
In two rounds of the auction, the watches seemed to dodge and strike, leading to victory.
Important Watches Auction: Context and Features
The Important Watches auction is held at Sotheby’s as part of Luxury Week - a week of luxury when leading brands and boutiques organize special events, and auction houses like Sotheby’s and Christie’s hold prestigious sales.
The focus is on the watch and jewelry departments, but wines and collectible items, including bags and sneakers, also participate.
In 2024, Sotheby’s put on quite a show. The day before the auction, I visited the galleries where a white wall was completely transformed into a space with Stallone’s murals.
The auction itself took place on June 5, 2024, and was held in two rounds.
Sylvester Stallone's Watch Collection: History and Features
Working with Stallone is a great honor. Even for Sotheby’s, where everyone strives to collaborate with famous personalities, it is a special experience.
According to the book A Man and His Watch, Stallone became interested in watches after a chance encounter with musician Gregg Allman on a plane. Allman was sleeping with his arm exposed, and Stallone noticed his gold Rolex. Inspired, in 1976, he acquired his own gold Rolex Submariner.
By the 1990s, Stallone had become a recognized collector with a particular interest in the Panerai brand. Although Panerai is produced in Switzerland, the brand hails from Florence - explaining the