American actor and filmmaker Sylvester Stallone sold 11 watches in a New York auction at Sotheby’s on Wednesday, including an ultra-rare Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime that sold for $5.4 million.
The price was about double the expected result.
The Rocky star told PA it was “bittersweet” to sell 11 of his watches but “they serve as a reminder that hard work pays off”.
Stallone's collection, which spans more than 20 years, includes a Panerai Luminor Submersible 1950 PAM00382 – a model that was also worn by Dolph Lundgren, Jason Statham, Terry Crews and Randy Couture in The Expendables 2. It sold for $96,000.
His Grandmaster Chime was sold in its single sealed casing with a presentation box engraved with Stallone's name and a certificate of origin confirming him as the original purchaser. The action star has never worn it.
Wednesday's sale was the first time a Grandmaster Chime had been put up for commercial auction.
“In a buzzing saleroom with more than 100 attendees, the hammer fell on the Grandmaster Chime following a back-and-forth bidding battle that lasted four minutes between a total of five bidders, with the watch going to a private Asian collector,” Sotheby's said in a press release.
Unveiled in 2014, the watch was designed to be Patek Philippe's most intricate and complicated wristwatch and comprises 20 complications, including five chiming modes, a reversible case, two independent dials and six patented innovations.
“It's particularly thrilling to bring the astonishing Patek Grandmaster Chime, one of the most complicated wristwatches in the world, to the rostrum at Sotheby's,” Geoff Hess, Sotheby's head of watches in the Americas, said before the auction.
Two highly coveted Nautilus models were also in the sale, including a 2021 stainless steel timepiece with a green sunburst dial and diamonds on the bezel, which sold for $492,000, higher than the estimated price.
The Panerai Luminor Submersible, called “Bronzo”, sold for tens of thousands over estimates. It was accompanied by a signed movie poster of The Expendables 2.
It was numbered 000, “so it’s likely the first one Panerai ever made”, Stallone said.
“I put this thing through its paces – underwater, above water, in the sand, fight scenes – you name it.
“It was my companion throughout that film and longer than that. I’ve derived so much pleasure from this watch.
“And now, why not have someone else enjoy it as much as I did?”
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
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Price: From Dh117,059
The five pillars of Islam
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
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The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
