Watch Paparazzi

Entrepreneur Nusret Gökçe Saltbae spotted wearing Patek Philippe

Nusret Gökçe, the Turkish entrepreneur and chef whose theatrical salt-sprinkling technique turned him into one of the internet's most recognizable figures, was recently spotted wearing a Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time in stainless steel — specifically the Ref. 5164A. For a man who operates steakhouse outposts from Dubai to New York to London, a dual time zone complication is less of an affectation and more of a practical instrument.

The Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time Ref. 5164A was introduced as part of the Aquanaut family, itself launched in 1997 as a more accessible, sport-oriented counterpart to the Nautilus. The 5164A measures 40.8mm in stainless steel and houses Caliber 324 S C FUS — a self-winding movement with a 45-hour power reserve, offering an ingenious pusher-operated local time adjustment that advances or retards the local hour hand in one-hour increments without disrupting the running seconds. It is water-resistant to 120 metres, and the embossed black composite dial with matching relief strap gives the piece its immediately recognizable tropical aesthetic.

From a collector standpoint, the 5164A carries considerable weight. Steel Patek Philippe sports references allocated through authorized dealers have, for the better part of a decade, been functionally unavailable at retail. The Aquanaut Travel Time in steel is no exception, and secondary market premiums have reflected that scarcity consistently. Unlike some Patek references that climb purely on speculation, the 5164A earns its desirability through a genuinely useful complication executed with manufacture-level precision.

For Gökçe, whose Nusr-Et brand now encompasses some of the world's most talked-about — and expensive — steakhouses, the choice of a steel Patek over more ostentatious alternatives says something considered. It is a watch that insiders recognize immediately and casual observers may underestimate — which is, for many serious collectors, precisely the point.

On the grey market, the Ref. 5164A in steel consistently trades at a meaningful premium above its official list price. With a UK retail of approximately £24,700, secondary market values in USD have historically settled well above the $40,000 mark depending on condition and provenance, underscoring its status as one of the most sought-after steel sports references in current production.