Footballer Samuel Eto'o spotted wearing a Patek Philippe

At the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Samuel Eto'o made headlines both on and off the pitch — the Cameroonian legend was spotted pitchside wearing one of Patek Philippe's most coveted steel-to-gold upgrades: the Nautilus 5712/1R, the full 18K rose gold iteration of the beloved moonphase reference. On a wrist that has lifted the UEFA Champions League three times, the choice registers as anything but casual.

The Patek Philippe Nautilus 5712/1R is built around the Calibre 240 PS IRM C LU, an ultra-thin automatic movement measuring just 3.88mm in height. That movement delivers a moonphase display accurate to one day's deviation every 122 years — a specification that places it well beyond decorative complication territory. It also features a power-reserve indicator and a small seconds subdial, all arranged with characteristic Patek restraint on a horizontally embossed salmon-toned dial that deepens beautifully against the rose gold case. The 40mm case retains Gerald Genta's original 1976 porthole silhouette, here executed entirely in 18K rose gold including the integrated bracelet — a warmer, dressier take on the Nautilus formula.

From a collector standpoint, the 5712 reference occupies a singular position. Introduced in 2006 as an evolution of the earlier 3712, it gave the Nautilus line its first serious complications, and the rose gold 5712/1R has consistently commanded a premium over its stainless steel sibling. Patek discontinued several Nautilus references in 2021, which only sharpened demand for surviving and recently released variants across the family.

Eto'o's affinity for serious horology is well documented — the eight-time African Player of the Year has been spotted across a range of high-end references — but wearing the 5712/1R to the World Cup, in his capacity as president of the Fédération Camerounaise de Football, underlines a preference for pieces that balance technical depth with outright presence.

At retail, the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5712/1R carries a list price of approximately $81,500. On the secondary market, however, demand has pushed values considerably higher, with grey-market transactions currently tracking around $207,000 — reflecting both the enduring strength of the Nautilus name and the particular desirability of the full rose gold configuration.