Cricketer Virat Kohli spotted wearing a Patek Philippe

Virat Kohli, one of the most decorated batsmen in the history of cricket and a man who has demonstrated consistently refined taste in luxury watches, was recently spotted wearing the Patek Philippe Nautilus reference 5711/1R-001 in 18-carat rose gold. The sighting adds another significant chapter to Kohli's well-documented relationship with high-end horology.

The 5711/1R-001 measures 40.5 mm in diameter and is crafted entirely in 18-carat rose gold, including its iconic porthole-inspired case and integrated bracelet — the design Gerald Genta sketched for Patek Philippe in 1976. The defining feature of this reference is its brown embossed chocolate dial, which develops a rich, warm interplay with the rose gold case that the standard steel and white gold variants simply cannot replicate. Powering the watch is the Calibre 324 S C, a self-winding movement with a 45-hour power reserve, beating at 28,800 vph, offering hours, minutes, seconds, and date — functional restraint at its finest.

The Nautilus 5711 series was officially discontinued by Patek Philippe in January 2021, a decision that sent grey-market prices into the stratosphere. The rose gold 5711/1R-001 had always commanded a premium over its stainless steel sibling on the secondary market, but post-discontinuation, it has become genuinely difficult to source. Collectors prize it not only for its rarity but for the warmth and depth the chocolate dial brings — a combination that photographs beautifully and ages with character. It sits in a different emotional register from the cooler, more industrial-feeling steel references.

Kohli is no stranger to Patek Philippe. The Indian captain has previously been seen wearing references from the brand's Aquanaut and Calatrava lines, suggesting a collector's approach rather than one-watch brand loyalty. His choice of the 5711/1R-001 — understated enough for a formal occasion yet robust enough for daily wear — reflects a considered sensibility.

On the current grey market, the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1R-001 trades at approximately $175,000, a figure that represents a multiple of several times its original retail price. With no successor announced and Patek Philippe showing no signs of reissuing the reference, that premium is unlikely to compress anytime soon.