Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Erling Haaland spotted wearing Patek Philippe

Erling Haaland, the Manchester City and Norway striker who has rewritten goal-scoring records across European football, was recently photographed in what appears to be a private family setting, his left wrist carrying what this publication can identify as a Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5726R-001 — a watch that sits at the very top of the Nautilus hierarchy and commands serious attention from even the most discerning collectors.

The 5726R is the rose gold expression of Patek's Nautilus annual calendar moon phase, first introduced in 2006. At 40.5mm in 18k rose gold, it houses Calibre 324 S QA LU — a self-winding movement with a 45-hour power reserve — delivering annual calendar functionality (day, date, month) and a moon phase accurate to one day's deviation every 122 years. The characteristic black-brown horizontal-stripe dial features applied rose-gold baton indices, a subsidiary seconds register at 6 o'clock, and the moon phase aperture flanked by date and day/night indicators at 9 o'clock. The brown alligator strap with rose-gold deployant clasp ties the whole ensemble together with quiet luxury.

Among Nautilus references, the 5726R occupies a collector tier well above the entry-level 5711 and 5712. It represents genuine complication — not just sport-watch aesthetics — and the rose gold variant is considered the most formal and the most warmly received on the secondary market. When Patek discontinued the stainless steel 5711 in 2021, attention pivoted sharply to complication references like the 5726, tightening supply further.

Haaland, 23, has demonstrated a clear appetite for serious horology beyond the predictable AP Royal Oak or Rolex Daytona choices common in professional football. Spotting a 5726R on his wrist signals a collector's instinct rather than mere status purchasing — this is a watch that rewards knowledge.

Retailing at approximately $155,000 USD, the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5726R-001 currently trades on the grey market between $180,000 and $220,000, reflecting sustained demand that shows no signs of softening. For a 23-year-old reportedly earning north of £375,000 per week, it is a considered and respectable horological choice.