Watch Paparazzi

Royal Salman Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-khalifa spotted wearing Patek Philippe

The Crown Prince of Bahrain, Salman Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, was recently photographed wearing a Patek Philippe Nautilus Perpetual Calendar Ref. 5740G-001 — a watch that represents perhaps the highest expression of complication within the Nautilus family. The choice is telling: this is not a piece selected for visibility alone, but one that rewards close examination by those who know what they are looking at.

Introduced in 2018 as the successor to the Ref. 5726A Annual Calendar, the 5740G raised the bar considerably by housing a full perpetual calendar — displaying date, day, month, leap year, and moon phase — within the Nautilus's 40mm horizontally brushed case in 18K white gold. The movement responsible is the legendary calibre 240 Q, a self-winding micro-rotor movement measuring just 3.88mm in height. Patek Philippe has deployed this calibre across its perpetual calendar portfolio for decades, and its proven reliability and exceptional finishing make it one of Geneva's most respected ebauches. The blue sunburst dial, with its characteristic alternating horizontal stripes, accommodates the perpetual calendar subdials with remarkable legibility and elegance.

For collectors, the 5740G occupies a singular position. The combination of an architecturally complex dial, an ultra-thin perpetual movement, and the cultural weight of the Nautilus design places it beyond the reach of most reference lists. It was discontinued relatively quickly — Patek Philippe retired it in 2021 alongside a broad purge of white metal Nautilus references — which has only sharpened collector appetite. Finding a clean example today, particularly with original box and papers, is a genuine exercise in patience.

Crown Prince Salman, who holds significant political and diplomatic responsibilities as Bahrain's Prime Minister, has long been associated with refined taste in luxury goods. His choice of the 5740G over more ostentatious complications reflects a collector's sensibility rather than a purely symbolic gesture. It is a watch worn by someone who understands what is inside the case.

On the secondary market, the Ref. 5740G now commands prices well above its already substantial retail figure. Grey-market values have settled in the $200,000 range, a significant premium that reflects both the model's discontinuation and enduring demand from serious collectors worldwide.