Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Garry Rodrigues spotted wearing Patek Philippe

Garry Rodrigues was recently spotted wearing a Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograph in rose gold, reference 5980R, with the sighting attributed to Davide Pedretti Watches, a trusted dealer within the Mondani Web network. The image circulated on social media, drawing immediate attention from watch enthusiasts familiar with just how significant this particular reference is within the Patek Philippe catalogue.

The Patek Philippe 5980R is no ordinary sports watch. Introduced in 2006 and discontinued in 2018, it was the first Nautilus to house a flyback chronograph complication, a genuine milestone for the line. Beating inside is the Calibre CH 28-520 C, an in-house automatic movement with a column wheel, horizontal coupling clutch, and flyback function — operating at 28,800 vph with a 45-to-55 hour power reserve. The movement is visible through a sapphire caseback, a relative rarity on a Nautilus. The 40.5mm rose gold case retains the signature octagonal bezel and integrated bracelet design first conceived by Gerald Genta in 1976, with the chocolate brown dial providing a warmth that pairs naturally with the 18k rose gold.

Among collectors, the 5980R occupies a specific and coveted position. It represents the intersection of Patek's haute horlogerie credentials and the Nautilus's enduring sporting aesthetic. The rose gold variant in particular is prized for its dial and case harmony, and its relatively limited production run during a twelve-year window has kept secondary market demand consistently strong. It is a watch serious collectors seek rather than stumble upon.

Rodrigues, the Cape Verde international winger who built his reputation in the Turkish Süper Lig and Dutch Eredivisie, has shown a discerning eye here. This is not a watch purchased for visibility alone — the 5980R rewards those who understand what they are wearing, and sourcing it through a verified Mondani Web dealer suggests a considered acquisition.

On the grey market, the Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograph 5980R commands figures well above its original retail price, reflecting both the discontinuation of the reference and sustained global demand for rose gold Nautilus complications. It remains one of the most liquid and desirable references in the entire Patek secondary market.