Details
CIRCA: 1996
CASE MATERIAL: Stainless steel
CASE DIAMETER: 44 mm.
DIAL: White
MOVEMENT: Manual
FUNCTIONS: Time only
BUCKLE: Stainless steel Panerai buckle
BOX: Yes
PAPERS: Yes
WITH: Certificate of Conformity dated 1996, Warranty card dated 1996, screwdriver, additional calf leather Panerai strap, I Mezzi d'Assalto heritage book, miniature submarine model, presentation box and outer packaging
REMARK: Limited edition of 100 pieces
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Lot Essay

In the summer of 1995, a well-connected Montenegrin photographer named Monty Shadow met with the management of Officine Panerai with the idea of promoting the brand through high-profile celebrities. Shadow bought a Panerai watch for himself and started wearing it when he was around famous people. Sylvester Stallone soon noticed the watch. The bold design instantly captivated the action star. Seeing the chance, Shadow went to Milan and bought Stallone a number of Panerai watches, which started the company's relationship with the Hollywood star.

After this first success, Shadow kept talking to Panerai and eventually suggested developing a line of watches specifically for Stallone. In order to progress the project, he set up a meeting between the actor and the brand in early September 1995 and supplied Stallone's signature for use on the casebacks. At the time, Stallone was working at Rome's renowned Cinecittà Studios on the disaster thriller Daylight. Stallone affirmed his friendship with Shadow and showed excitement for the partnership during the meeting. It was decided to create two new references with the name 'Sly Tech' on the dial, Sly being Stalone's nickname, and to feature them prominently in the movie.

As a result of this collaboration, the Submersible reference 5218-205/A was created for the underwater scenes, while the Daylight reference 5218-207/A, the present timepiece, was intended for the movie's opening scenes. The present wristwatch has the more widely used configuration of a white dial with black indexes. However, the model was first made with blue hands and indexes. According to the story, Stallone returned 37 of the 41 watches he received because he disliked the blue hue. Panerai subsequently created the reference with black indexes as a result. The final production unexpectedly reached 105 pieces, despite the original plan to manufacture 100, adding to the model's appeal to collectors.

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