Sylvester Stallone is one of the most influential watch collectors of the past 30 years. In the mid-’90s, he fell in love with Panerai replica watches, collaborated with the brand, and started gifting these robust watches to friends like Arnold Schwarzenegger. (How Stallone first got introduced to Panerai remains a topic of much debate.)

Recently, Stallone auctioned off 11 pieces from his collection through Sotheby’s, raising an impressive $6.7 million. While some watches in the sale were ones we’ve seen the action star wear in movies like The Expendables 2, the crown jewel of the auction had been hidden from view until now.

For the first time, a Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime 6300 was up for sale. (Sort of: a version Patek created specially for the charity auction Only Watch sold in 2019, but more on that in a bit.) Stallone never actually wore this watch, and it remains sealed in its original packaging. The Patek 6300 is already considered a holy grail watch, known for being one of the maker’s most complicated pieces. Variations of it have been seen on the wrist of Jay-Z and have set records for the most expensive watch ever sold, at $31 million back in 2019. Stallone’s watch is a 6300G-010 made of white gold. The watch lives up to its Grandmaster Chime name with the ability to chime in five different ways, including a grande sonnerie, petite sonnerie, and an alarm.

The specs of the 6300 are impressive, but the auction also highlighted what customers like Stallone receive with the watch. The Grandmaster Chime comes with a lavish presentation box engraved with Stallone’s name. His name also appears on a “Grandmaster Chime book” and a certificate of origin. The package includes a 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. The watch was estimated to sell for $2.5 million to $5 million. It ultimately sold for $5.4 million, making it the most valuable modern watch ever sold in Sotheby’s history.

“A perfect auction piece has a great story behind it. Much of the story is based on its provenance: who owned it, when they owned it, and why. The history of an object’s ownership imbues it with an allure far beyond its intrinsic value,” said Geoff Hess, Sotheby’s Head of Watches, Americas. “At Sotheby’s, we’ve seen objects with compelling provenance create auction magic as bidders around the world vie for a spectacular piece with a story to tell. For example, Freddie Mercury’s moustache comb soared to an extraordinary level far beyond its estimate and market precedents. A celebrity’s popularity and relevance today also have an enormous impact on the resulting outcome. Stallone remains one of the most recognized and revered actors of the last 50 years, and he is still very much active. In fact, he’s currently filming the next season of the hit series Tulsa King.”

“The sale of the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime was an unrepeatable celebration, not only of a masterpiece by the most revered Swiss-watchmakers of technical excellence, but also of the legendary icon that is Sylvester Stallone, who has been a deeply influential and admired collector for many decades. To feel the pulse of collectors racing with excitement in pursuit of absolute top-caliber material was tremendous, and an homage to the art of collecting at the highest level.”

While Stallone might be best known for the rugged Panerais he helped popularize, the 6300 shows that his tastes are wide-ranging. “I’ve had the privilege of owning some truly remarkable watches over the years, each with its own unique character and history,” Stallone said in a statement. “I enjoy the collecting process like so many others in this passionate community, who don’t just see watches as accessories, but admire them for their history, craftsmanship, and artistry. Most importantly, they appreciate how these watches 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.”

A smaller collection of Stallone’s watches came up for auction in 2020. That assortment included a single Panerai and four Richard Mille watches and sold for a total of $3.1 million. The highlight then was the Panerai Luminor he wore in his movie Daylight, which sold for $214,200.

“While many recognize Stallone as the legendary actor behind characters like Rocky Balboa and John Rambo, watch enthusiasts have long admired him for his discerning taste in watches. The watch community already had an enormous amount of respect for Sly, but I think it surprised a lot of people to learn that he owns the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime,” added Hess. “Not only is it widely considered a holy grail in the watch community, it’s also the first example to ever appear at auction. It’s incredibly thrilling.”