Watch Paparazzi

Lawyer Aleksander Ceferin spotted wearing Patek Philippe

Aleksander Ceferin, the UEFA President who became one of football's most consequential figures when he led the charge against the ill-fated Super League in 2021, has been spotted wearing a Patek Philippe Aquanaut reference 5167A — a stainless steel sports watch that, much like Ceferin himself, projects quiet authority rather than ostentatious power.

The Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5167A is the standard-bearer of the Aquanaut line in steel. It measures 40mm in diameter and 8.47mm in thickness, housing the in-house Caliber 324 S C — a self-winding movement with a micro-rotor, 45-hour power reserve, and 28,800 vph beat rate. The signature embossed black dial, inspired by the pattern of a tropical composite strap, gives the watch its instantly recognizable texture. A sapphire caseback reveals the finishing on the movement, which is entirely consistent with Patek's manufacture standards despite the watch's sporty brief.

The Aquanaut was introduced at Basel 1997, conceived by Patek Philippe designer Italo Fontana as a modern, more accessible-looking alternative to the Nautilus — itself then celebrating its 20th anniversary. Early reception was lukewarm; collectors were not immediately won over by the rounded octagonal bezel and the composite strap. Over the following two decades, however, the model built a loyal following, and by the early 2020s demand had completely outstripped supply, mirroring — and in some configurations surpassing — the frenzy around the Nautilus 5711.

For collectors, the 5167A represents perhaps the most practical entry into Patek's steel sports segment: 100-meter water resistance, a no-date dial that ages exceptionally well, and a wearability that the thinner Nautilus cannot quite match on the wrist. Its discontinuation risk, and Patek's known appetite for retiring references, adds a layer of urgency to acquisition.

Ceferin's choice of the 5167A over flashier complications reflects the sensibility of a lawyer-turned-administrator who has consistently chosen institutional credibility over spectacle — precisely the philosophy Patek Philippe has built its reputation on. On the secondary market, the 5167A currently trades well above retail, a gap that shows no meaningful sign of closing.