Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Emil Forsberg spotted wearing Patek Philippe

Emil Forsberg, the Swedish international midfielder who helped RB Leipzig reshape modern pressing football and led Sweden to the 2018 World Cup quarterfinals, was recently spotted wearing a piece that speaks volumes about serious watch taste: the Patek Philippe Nautilus reference 3800 in 18k yellow gold, paired with its signature dark blue horizontally embossed dial.

Introduced in 1981, the Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 3800 was conceived as a more accessible — dimensionally speaking — interpretation of Gerald Genta's original 1976 ref. 3700 design. At 37.5mm, it sits closer to the wrist than today's 40mm ref. 5711, yet its integrated bracelet, porthole-inspired case, and relief dial retain every visual cue that made the Nautilus an icon of luxury sports watchmaking. Powering the ref. 3800 is the calibre 335 SC, a self-winding movement with a 48-hour power reserve, operating at 19,800 vph — a robust, no-nonsense engine entirely appropriate for a watch conceived to be worn actively.

The yellow gold configuration of the Nautilus 3800 occupies a particularly compelling position among collectors. While stainless steel references dominate headlines and auction records, the 18k yellow gold variant rewards a different kind of attention: warmer, richer, and historically associated with a clientele that wore Patek Philippe as a matter of course rather than as a statement. Production numbers were limited, and survivors in clean condition with original bracelets and dials are increasingly difficult to source. The dark blue dial — sensitive to light and aging — only adds to the desirability of well-preserved examples.

Forsberg's affinity for a vintage Patek Philippe over a contemporary sports reference reflects a collector's sensibility rather than a hype-driven purchase. At 32 years old during his peak Leipzig years, choosing a ref. 3800 suggests genuine horological curiosity.

On the grey market, the Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 3800 in 18k yellow gold commands well north of $125,000, with exceptional examples pushing considerably higher depending on condition, box, and papers. For a reference that retailed modestly in its day, that trajectory tells its own story.