Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Jesse Lingard spotted wearing Patek Philippe

At Manchester United's annual Player of the Year awards ceremony, Jesse Lingard arrived with arguably the hardest watch to actually buy at retail on his wrist: the Patek Philippe Nautilus reference 5711/1A-011 in stainless steel with a white dial. The event, a gathering of players, staff, and club figures, provided a sharp backdrop for one of horology's most recognisable silhouettes.

The Nautilus 5711/1A-011 is powered by Patek Philippe's Calibre 324 S C, a self-winding movement beating at 28,800 vph with a 45-hour power reserve. The case measures 40mm in 316L stainless steel, water-resistant to 120 metres, and features the signature horizontally embossed dial — here rendered in crisp white — with applied baton indices and the characteristic porthole-inspired bezel with integrated bracelet. Designed by Gérald Genta and launched in 1976, the Nautilus was built to challenge the notion that a steel sports watch couldn't carry a luxury price tag. It succeeded definitively.

The white dial version of the 5711/1A is particularly sought after among collectors. Compared to the standard blue-dialled 5711/1A-010, the white reference has historically been produced in smaller numbers, lending it an additional layer of scarcity. Patek Philippe discontinued the entire 5711 line in early 2021 — citing a desire to evolve the collection — which immediately transformed every existing reference into a de facto collector's piece. Demand, already intense, became feverish overnight.

Lingard, known for a consistently sharp approach to streetwear and personal style throughout his time at Old Trafford, has demonstrated a genuine interest in high horology beyond the usual footballer signalling. The Nautilus 5711/1A-011 reads both as a collector's choice and a statement piece — it works equally well as a conversation among enthusiasts and as a visual punctuation mark at a high-profile club event.

At retail, the 5711/1A-011 was listed at approximately £18,030 in the UK — a price that, in practice, very few buyers ever paid, given that authorised dealers allocated pieces to top clients with long purchase histories. On the grey market, post-discontinuation, the reference has traded consistently well above £50,000, with the white dial commanding a premium over its blue counterpart. For a steel watch with a three-hand movement, those numbers remain extraordinary.