This Panerai Slytech 5218-205/A model was acquired by our team in Switzerland in the form of a dial and a main case. After a detailed examination of the dial, we concluded that it is original, and therefore decided to proceed with the restoration of this rare timepiece. Our assessment is based on the following observations: 1. The numerals on the dial are filled with tritium lume. As visible in the photos, the tritium has dried and aged, which is consistent with an approximately 30-year-old dial. The tritium now shows little to no luminosity, further supporting its age. 2. The numerals are not simply painted or flatly lumed. They feature relief-style lume application, where the tritium appears to be poured into slightly recessed numeral shapes, a characteristic detail consistent with early Panerai Slytech dials. The hands have been re-lumed during the restoration process. This was done to ensure better legibility and usability, as the original lume on the hands had degraded over time. As a result, the lume on the hands is visually and functionally different from the original aged tritium on the dial, which is typical and acceptable for watches of this period that have undergone restoration. 3. All Vendôme-era Panerai cases feature uniform lug hole dimensions for strap attachment. Based on this characteristic, we commissioned custom strap fastening components specifically suited for this case. In contrast, modern Panerai cases use different lug hole sizes and specifications for strap mounting, which differ from the standards used on Vendôme-era cases. 4. An additional element supporting historical consistency of the case is a small component positioned in front of the winding wheel. This washer-like part ensures precise operation of the crown locking system, allowing the crown guard lever to close correctly and securely. Non-original cases typically do not feature this construction. As a result, the crown locking action is less precise, and in some cases, when attempting to wind the movement, the hands may continue to rotate instead of the movement being properly wound. 5. Based on our assessment, this watch is fitted with a mineral crystal, which we consider to be correct for early Slytech-era Panerai models from the mid-1990s. The crystal has a warmer visual tone and shows minor surface scratches consistent with mineral glass and with the age of the watch. While sapphire crystals became standard on later Panerai models, the use of mineral glass during this period is historically plausible. In our professional opinion, the crystal is consistent with the originality and period correctness of this 5218-205/A. ------------------------------------------------------------ These watches were originally fitted with a standard ETA 6497-1 movement, with minor differences in the bridges and specific engravings. As the original movement was not available, the most appropriate solution was to install an ETA 6497-1 / Panerai OP XXIX–based movement. This is a simple, traditional, and time-proven movement, which has been chosen to be visually as close as possible to the original configuration, while being 1:1 identical in terms of functionality and quality. ------------------------------------------------------------- We have installed our own caseback, manufactured by our watch studio. As shown, the engraving depicts a film director’s environment. This watch model was originally intended for Sylvester Stallone and his team. His well-known phrase, “i wanna to wear a watch in the film, that no one had ever seen,” has become iconic, and we felt it was an important historical reference that deserved to be acknowledged in this restoration. --------------------------------------------------------------- All these elements allowed us to restore a legendary Panerai Slytech timepiece, completed with our own strap, buckle, and presentation box, all produced by our watch studio. We intentionally did not aim to remove all scratches from the main case and the dial, as doing so would compromise the spirit and character of the era. Signs of age and wear are considered an important part of the watch’s history. We also do not claim this watch to be fully authentic or factory-assembled, as it was reconstructed from individual components rather than assembled at the Panerai manufacture. This restoration represents our respectful interpretation of a historic Panerai Slytech model, carried out with transparency and professional care. Parts overview (transparency statement) - Dial: original Panerai Slytech dial - Main case: original Panerai case, professionally restored - Crystal: mineral crystal (based on our professional assessment) - Movement: non-authentic, but original swiss ETA 6497-1 / Panerai OP XXIX–based movement, serviced and regulated - Hands: original hands, re-lumed during restoration - Caseback: custom-made by our watch studio; custom-made by our watch studio - Crown guard & crown: original Panerai - Strap & buckle: non-original; produced by our watch studio - Box: custom-made by our watch studio; produced by our watch studio