Watch Paparazzi

Entrepreneur Guram Gvasalia spotted wearing Patek Philippe

Guram Gvasalia, the Georgian businessman and co-founder of the fiercely influential fashion label Vetements, was recently photographed wearing what may be the single most storied example of the Patek Philippe reference 5970 in private hands — a unique white gold perpetual calendar chronograph with Breguet numerals, previously owned by Eric Clapton, one of the most celebrated watch collectors in the world.

The Patek Philippe 5970 was produced from 2004 to 2011 and represented the Swiss manufacture's first horizontally coupled column-wheel chronograph with perpetual calendar in the modern era. Powered by the caliber CH 27-70Q — a manually wound movement combining the legendary Lemania-derived CH 27-70 chronograph base with Patek's in-house perpetual calendar module — the 5970 offered instantaneous date jumping, a four-digit year display, moon phase, and 60-minute chronograph counter. The case measured 40mm, and the reference was issued in yellow gold, rose gold, white gold, and platinum. Standard retail examples already command extraordinary premiums, but this particular 5970G departs from production specification entirely.

What sets this watch apart is its unique status: the Breguet numeral dial and bracelet configuration were not part of the standard 5970 production run, suggesting a bespoke or one-of-a-kind commission. Clapton, who has consigned landmark timepieces through Antiquorum and Christie's over the decades, is known for acquiring watches of singular character. That provenance alone transforms the 5970G from a top-tier collector's piece into a horological artifact. The watch fetched approximately £760,000 — roughly $950,000 — at auction, a figure that reflects both its technical pedigree and the weight of its ownership history.

Gvasalia's taste in watches is consistent with someone who moves fluidly between high fashion and high horology. As the business engine behind Vetements — a label that built its identity on deconstruction and provocation — he gravitates toward objects that carry meaning beyond the surface. Wearing a unique Patek with Clapton provenance reads less as flex and more as connoisseurship.

On the grey market, standard white gold Patek Philippe 5970G examples regularly trade between $250,000 and $400,000 depending on condition and papers. A unique piece with documented Clapton provenance occupies an entirely different market tier, with its last known auction result of $950,000 serving as the most relevant benchmark. Further appreciation is expected.