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Football manager Frank Lampard spotted wearing Patek Philippe

Frank Lampard was caught wearing serious steel on the Chelsea touchline following a winning result against Lille — and the watch on his wrist was no casual choice. The Patek Philippe Nautilus Annual Calendar Moon Phase, reference 5726/1A, is one of the manufacture's most coveted complications in its sportswear-adjacent Nautilus line, and it demands attention from anyone who knows what they're looking at.

The Nautilus 5726/1A houses Patek Philippe's calibre 324 S QA LU 24H, a self-winding movement with an impressive 45-hour power reserve. The annual calendar mechanism — a Patek invention patented in 1996 — correctly accounts for months of 30 and 31 days automatically, requiring manual correction only once a year, on March 1st. The 40.5mm stainless steel case retains the Nautilus's signature porthole-inspired bezel and horizontally embossed dial, here rendered in a rich blue-grey that perfectly offsets the apertures for date, day, month, and a finely executed moon phase display at 6 o'clock.

Debuted at Baselworld 2019, the 5726/1A replaced its predecessor and brought subtle refinements to both the movement and finishing. In stainless steel, it sits at the intersection of Patek's grand complication philosophy and the Nautilus's sporty DNA — a combination that collectors have found almost irresistible. It is worth noting that Patek Philippe tightly controls allocation of steel Nautilus references, meaning even clients on strong terms with authorised dealers routinely struggled to acquire one at retail.

Lampard's watch tastes have long reflected his standing in football: decorated, discerning, and never ostentatious. As a Chelsea legend returning to the club as manager, every detail of his public image carries weight, and the 5726/1A — understated in profile yet technically elite — suits that persona precisely.

On the grey market, the Nautilus 5726/1A in stainless steel commands a significant premium above its retail price, which at UK launch stood at approximately £35,160. Secondary market values have consistently exceeded retail by a wide margin, reflecting both constrained supply and enduring demand for complication-equipped Nautilus references in steel.