Entrepreneur Nusret Gökçe Saltbae spotted wearing a Patek Philippe

Nusret Gökçe, better known worldwide as Salt Bae, was spotted on the wrist with one of Patek Philippe's most technically ambitious sports watches: the Nautilus Chronograph reference 5980R in 18-karat rose gold. For a personality who has turned every public gesture into a spectacle, the choice of watch is telling — the 5980R is not merely a luxury accessory but a horological argument in its own right.

The Patek Philippe Nautilus 5980R debuted in 2006 to mark the 30th anniversary of the Nautilus line, originally introduced in 1976 with Gerald Genta's revolutionary integrated bracelet design. The reference 5980 was the first Nautilus to house a chronograph complication, and Patek built it around the manufacture calibre CH 28-520 C — a column-wheel, horizontal clutch flyback movement beating at 28,800 vph with a 45-to-55 hour power reserve. The movement itself is a cooperative development drawing on Patek's acquisition of movement manufacturer Lemania, and it represents serious in-house engineering behind the sportsman's facade.

In rose gold, the 5980R takes on a warmer, more opulent character than the steel 5980/1A, which has historically commanded the wilder grey-market premiums. The 40.5mm case retains the hallmark horizontally embossed dial and octagonal bezel, here executed in 18k rose gold with a matching integrated bracelet. The two-register dial layout — small seconds at 9 o'clock and 30-minute counter at 3 — is balanced and legible, a discipline Patek rarely abandons regardless of complication.

For collectors, the 5980R occupies a specific niche: it delivers a genuine flyback chronograph in a format that doubles as a daily sport watch. The reference has since been discontinued in certain configurations, adding to its desirability on the secondary market. Rose gold Nautilus references consistently attract buyers who prioritize wearability alongside rarity, and the 5980R checks both boxes with credentials that outlast any trend cycle.

Nusret Gökçe, whose Salt Bae persona has made him one of the most recognizable restaurateurs on the planet, has never been shy about luxury — his venues and his wardrobe both signal that clearly. The Patek Philippe Nautilus 5980R, listed at approximately £67,500 on the UK price list, sits comfortably within a collector tier that matches his public profile. On the grey market, demand for discontinued rose gold Nautilus references keeps values firmly above retail.