Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Virgil Van Dijk spotted wearing Patek Philippe

When Virgil Van Dijk arrived at Liverpool, the cameras caught more than a new shirt number — they caught a Patek Philippe Aquanaut Reference 5167A on his wrist, one of the most coveted steel sports watches in contemporary horology and a piece that has become a genuine status symbol among elite footballers and collectors alike.

The Aquanaut 5167A is built around Patek Philippe's in-house Calibre 324 S C, a self-winding movement measuring 27 mm in diameter with a 45-hour power reserve, beat rate of 28,800 vph, and Gyromax balance wheel with Spiromax balance spring — both proprietary innovations that underline the manufacture's technical independence. The 40 mm stainless steel case offers 120 metres of water resistance, while the distinctive octagonal bezel with rounded edges and embossed 'tropical' dial pattern trace their lineage directly to Gerald Genta's original 1997 Aquanaut design, itself a spiritual successor to the Nautilus. The bracelet-integrated black composite rubber strap remains one of the most ergonomically refined straps in the industry.

From a collector standpoint, the 5167A occupies a rare position: it is Patek Philippe's most accessible entry point into the steel sports watch category, yet it is effectively impossible to purchase at retail without a significant purchasing history with an authorised dealer. That scarcity dynamic has driven grey-market premiums to sustained levels well above list, making the reference both a horological statement and a demonstrably sound asset.

Van Dijk's choice is telling. The Dutch centre-back has long projected an image of controlled authority — on and off the pitch — and the Aquanaut aligns precisely with that persona. It reads as sporting and understated at a glance, but carries the full weight of Patek Philippe's prestige for anyone who looks closer. Among Premier League footballers, the 5167A has established itself as a peer of the Rolex Submariner and Audemars Piguet Royal Oak as a default off-duty choice.

At a UK list price of £15,400, the Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5167A appears affordable by the brand's standards. On the secondary market, however, reality differs sharply — clean examples regularly command between $28,000 and $35,000 USD, a premium that shows little sign of softening given continued constrained supply from Geneva.