Footballer Sebastian Giovinco spotted wearing a Patek Philippe

Sebastian Giovinco, the Italian forward celebrated for his explosive seasons with Juventus and Toronto FC, was recently spotted wearing one of Patek Philippe's most quietly coveted discontinued references: the Nautilus 5724R in pink gold, fully set with diamonds. It is a piece that demands attention not through ostentation alone but through genuine rarity.

The Nautilus 5724R is powered by Patek Philippe's Caliber 240 PS IRM C LU, an ultra-thin self-winding movement measuring just 3.88mm in height. It delivers a moon phase complication, an instantaneous date, a power reserve indicator, and a sweep seconds hand — all within a 40mm pink gold case that traces its lineage directly back to Gerald Genta's 1976 porthole-inspired design. The lateral lugs, horizontal embossed dial, and integrated bracelet remain faithful to the original brief, while the added diamond setting — 52 baguette-cut stones on the bezel and case flanks, plus 2 brilliant-cut stones at the crown — elevates the piece into unmistakably high-jewellery territory.

Collectors pay close attention to the distinction between the 5724R and the non-set sibling reference 5712R. Patek assigned a separate reference specifically because the diamond configuration alters the watch's identity in a meaningful way — not merely decorative, but a different commercial and manufacturing proposition altogether. Both pink gold (5724R) and white gold (5724G) versions were produced before the model was quietly retired, making surviving examples genuinely finite.

For Giovinco, whose career spanned the highest levels of European and North American football, the choice signals a collector sensibility that goes beyond the obvious. The Nautilus remains one of the most recognised silhouettes in watchmaking, but the 5724R in particular requires knowledge to fully appreciate — it rewards the informed eye rather than simply the casual admirer.

On the secondary market, diamond-set discontinued Nautilus references command significant premiums over their listed retail prices, driven by a combination of Patek's enduring desirability, the Nautilus model's sustained grey-market heat, and the added scarcity of jewellery-set variants. The 5724R is not a watch one stumbles across easily at auction or through a dealer — when it does surface, it moves quickly and at elevated prices.