Watch Paparazzi

Entrepreneur Nusret Gökçe Saltbae spotted wearing Patek Philippe

Nusret Gökçe — globally recognised as Salt Bae, the theatrical Turkish chef behind the Nusr-Et steakhouse empire spanning more than five countries — was recently spotted on the wrist wearing one of the most historically significant pieces in Patek Philippe's catalogue: a vintage Nautilus Reference 3700 in 18K yellow gold, featuring a diamond-set bezel that elevates an already rare configuration into true collector territory.

The Patek Philippe Nautilus 3700 debuted in 1976, the product of Gérald Genta's now-legendary design brief — an integrated-bracelet luxury sports watch that arrived alongside his Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and answered the same cultural moment. The Ref. 3700 was produced initially in stainless steel, but Patek Philippe also produced a limited run of precious metal variants, of which the 18K yellow gold example is among the most scarce. This particular piece features a ribbed dial in the characteristic dark blue-black sunburst finish, applied luminous gold hour numerals, and luminous dauphine hands — details entirely authentic to early Nautilus production and deeply appealing to period-correct collectors.

The diamond-set bezel on this reference 3700 adds a layer of rarity that relatively few examples share. Patek Philippe offered factory diamond bezels on select precious metal Nautilus pieces during the original production run, and survivors in this configuration — especially in yellow gold — surface infrequently at auction. The movement powering the Ref. 3700 is the Caliber 28-255 C, an ultra-thin automatic with a micro-rotor, entirely in keeping with Patek's manufacture standards of the era and appropriate for the slim profile the Nautilus was designed to achieve.

For collectors, the Nautilus 3700 in steel is already a six-figure proposition at auction, with examples regularly exceeding $150,000 at Christie's and Phillips. Yellow gold variants with diamond bezels occupy a different stratosphere entirely, with market values reflecting their scarcity and the crossover demand between vintage Patek collectors and jewellery-watch enthusiasts.

Salt Bae's taste in watches has drawn attention before, and this sighting confirms a collector instinct that goes beyond celebrity ostentation. The Patek Philippe Nautilus 3700 in 18K yellow gold with diamond bezel is precisely the kind of piece a serious buyer acquires quietly — and wears loudly.