Watch Paparazzi

Pilot Daniel Ricciardo spotted wearing Patek Philippe

Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren F1 driver and one of motorsport's most openly enthusiastic watch collectors, was recently spotted wearing one of Patek Philippe's most discreet and coveted creations: the Nautilus reference 5711/112P, known informally as the 'Ruby' version. The piece sits entirely outside Patek's public catalogue, allocated only to the brand's most privileged clientele — making any confirmed sighting a genuine horological event.

The Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/112P is built on the foundation of the standard 5711/1A, one of the most celebrated sports watch references of the modern era. The jump to the 112P configuration means a case and bracelet executed entirely in platinum 950, already a significant material upgrade. The bezel — that signature porthole octagonal frame designed by Gerald Genta in 1976 — is here set with baguette-cut rubies, mirroring the geometry of the integrated lugs with chromatic intensity. All 12 hour markers are similarly replaced with individual baguette rubies, set flush against a black gradient dial that deepens toward the edges and retains the characteristic horizontal embossing of the Nautilus lineage. The date aperture at 3 o'clock remains, maintaining the functional clarity Patek has always preserved even in its most jewelled executions.

Powering the 5711/112P is the calibre 26-330 S C, Patek's self-winding movement with a 35-jewel construction, 28,800 vph beat rate, and a power reserve of approximately 45 hours. The movement carries the Patek Philippe Seal, the brand's in-house standard that superseded the Geneva Seal and governs both technical and finishing criteria across the entire watch.

The 5711/112P 'Ruby' belongs to a trio of gemstone Nautilus pieces — alongside sapphire and emerald variants — that Patek produces in extremely limited numbers without ever formally publishing them. Collectors regard these as the apex expression of the Nautilus concept: mechanically identical to the reference that Patek officially discontinued in 2021, but transformed into jewellery-grade objects that rarely surface publicly. Ricciardo's acquisition signals both serious collector intent and an established relationship with the brand's client services.

On the secondary market, examples of the 5711/112P 'Ruby' essentially never appear at auction in clean, documented condition. When they do change hands privately, values are reported well into six figures. The official retail price, when disclosed to allocated clients, stands at approximately $160,000 — itself a figure that reflects platinum, gemstones, and the movement equally.