Watch Paparazzi

Royal Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani spotted wearing Patek Philippe

Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani, younger brother of Emir Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar, was spotted during Eid prayers wearing a watch that most collectors will never see in the metal: the Patek Philippe Nautilus Perpetual Calendar Ref. 5740/1G. The sighting, captured in Qatar, places a horological milestone on one of the most influential wrists in the Arab world.

The Ref. 5740/1G is a landmark piece in Patek Philippe's catalogue. Introduced at Baselworld 2018, it became the first Nautilus ever to carry a Grand Complication — specifically an instantaneous perpetual calendar displaying date, day, month, leap year, and moon phase. The 18-carat white gold case measures 40mm and retains the signature horizontally embossed blue sunburst dial, here enriched with applied gold hour markers featuring luminescent coating. Power comes from calibre 240 Q, a micro-rotor automatic movement measuring just 3.88mm in height — a genuine feat of miniaturisation given the perpetual calendar module it carries. The integrated bracelet, another Genta hallmark, flows seamlessly from the case.

Among collectors, the 5740/1G occupies rarefied territory. It answered a long-standing question in the community: could the Nautilus carry serious haute horlogerie complications without losing its sporty identity? Patek's answer was definitive. Production numbers are deliberately limited, and the reference has maintained sustained pressure on the grey market since its release, consistently trading well above retail. Its combination of wearability, movement pedigree, and the cultural weight of the Nautilus name makes it arguably the most complete watch in the entire sports-luxury segment.

Sheikh Joaan is a prominent figure in international sport diplomacy and a known watch enthusiast within Gulf royal circles. Choosing to wear the 5740/1G during Eid prayers — a moment of public, formal significance in Islamic tradition — speaks to both the piece's versatility and the wearer's understated confidence in pairing high complications with ceremonial occasions.

At an official retail price of $126,850, the Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5740/1G is already positioned at the top of the sports watch hierarchy. On the secondary market, examples regularly command approximately $165,000, reflecting a premium of roughly 30 percent over list — a figure that has remained stable even as broader grey-market premiums on Nautilus references have fluctuated. For a Grand Complication in a steel-adjacent aesthetic, that kind of market resilience is telling.