Watch Paparazzi

Tennis player Gaël Monfils spotted wearing Patek Philippe

Gaël Monfils, one of professional tennis's most expressive and athletically gifted players, was recently spotted wearing the Patek Philippe Nautilus Annual Calendar Reference 5726A — a watch that sits at the precise intersection of sportive aesthetics and high complication horology. For a player who routinely makes the extraordinary look effortless on court, the choice feels entirely coherent.

The Nautilus 5726A was introduced by Patek Philippe in 2006, marking a milestone in the Nautilus lineage by being the first model in the family to carry a major complication. Built around Gerald Genta's original 1976 porthole-inspired design, the 40.5mm stainless steel case houses the caliber 324 S QA LU 24H — a self-winding movement with an annual calendar mechanism that distinguishes between short and long months, requiring just a single correction each year, on March 1st. The dial also features a moon phase display accurate to one day's deviation every 121 years, a 24-hour day/night indicator, and a power reserve display, all rendered in a characteristic slate-blue sunburst finish.

Among collectors, the Nautilus 5726A occupies rare territory: a stainless steel sports watch that carries genuine complication credibility. It is frequently discussed alongside the 5712A — the Nautilus perpetual calendar — as one of the reference's most desirable variants. The 5726A's annual calendar is considered the more wearable complication for daily use, lending it strong appeal with both serious collectors and enthusiasts who actually wear their watches.

Monfils has long been recognized in watch circles as one of professional tennis's most committed collectors, with a taste that runs toward complicated and historically significant pieces rather than purely flashy statements. The Nautilus 5726A suits that profile precisely — it is a watch that rewards knowledge and daily engagement rather than immediate visual spectacle.

On the market, the Nautilus 5726A has followed the broader Nautilus appreciation curve, with grey market values climbing well above retail. With Patek Philippe's official retail in the $55,000–$60,000 range, secondary market transactions have regularly exceeded $80,000–$100,000 depending on condition and papers, cementing its status as both a wearable complication and a sound horological asset.