Musician Yosef Wolde-Mariam spotted wearing a Patek Philippe

Yosef Wolde-Mariam, the British-Ethiopian singer-songwriter who rose to prominence with neo-soul duo Floetry and has since become a presence on The Voice as a mentor, was recently photographed wearing a timepiece that commands serious attention in any room: the Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograph reference 5980R in 18-karat rose gold.

The 5980R is no ordinary sports watch. Launched in 2006 to mark the 30th anniversary of the Nautilus line, the reference presented one of horology's genuine engineering feats: integrating a lateral clutch flyback chronograph into the slim, horizontally brushed case that Gerald Genta originally sketched on a paper napkin in 1976. The movement inside is the caliber CH 28-520 C, a self-winding manufacture ebauche beating at 28,800 vph, offering a 45-to-55 hour power reserve. The case measures 40.5mm and, critically, maintains the Nautilus's characteristic thinness despite the complication stacked within — a proportion that rival manufacturers have struggled to replicate.

The rose gold version of the 5980 occupies a distinct tier in the collector world. Where the steel 5980/1A commands premiums driven by sheer scarcity and sports-watch mania, the 5980R appeals to a different collector sensibility — one that prizes the warmth of 18k rose gold against the chocolate-brown gradient dial, a pairing that gives the watch an almost architectural richness. Production numbers across all metals remain tightly controlled by Patek Philippe, and the reference has since been discontinued, making surviving examples increasingly difficult to source through official channels.

Wolde-Mariam's choice signals a collector's eye rather than a casual luxury purchase. The 5980R is not a watch you stumble into — it requires either a significant purchase history with an authorized dealer or a willingness to engage the secondary market at a considerable premium. Wearing it without ostentation, as the sighting suggests, is itself a statement of confidence.

On the current grey market, the Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograph 5980R trades consistently in the $350,000–$400,000 range, a figure that reflects both the discontinued status of the reference and sustained global demand for integrated-chronograph Nautilus pieces. The official retail price, when the watch was still listed, sat considerably lower — underscoring just how dramatically the market has repriced this particular reference over time.