Footballer David Alaba spotted wearing a Patek Philippe

David Alaba, the versatile Austrian defender who has been one of Bayern Munich's most decorated players in modern memory — and later a key figure at Real Madrid — was recently spotted wearing a Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time in 18K rose gold, reference 5164R. It's a considered, knowledgeable choice: this is not simply an expensive watch, it is a mechanically serious one.

The Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time Ref. 5164R houses Calibre 324 S C FUS, an automatic movement with a 45-hour power reserve, offering instantaneous local time adjustment via pushers at 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock — forward and backward respectively — without interrupting the running of the movement. The 40.8mm rose gold cushion case is fitted with the Aquanaut's signature embossed composite strap in a warm brown tone that complements the chocolate-toned dial. Water resistance is rated to 120 metres. The reference was introduced in the mid-2000s as part of the Aquanaut family, itself a line launched in 1997 as a more accessible, sportier sibling to the Nautilus.

Among collectors, the 5164R occupies a unique position. Rose gold sport Pateks carry a certain quiet confidence — less ostentatious than yellow gold, more characterful than steel. The Travel Time complication adds genuine utility for a professional athlete who crosses time zones constantly, making this far more than an aesthetic acquisition. Collectors regard the 5164R as a sleeper piece: technically complex, beautifully finished, and historically underappreciated compared to its steel counterpart.

Alaba has long demonstrated a sharper-than-average watch sensibility for the footballing world. A Champions League winner and Bundesliga stalwart, his off-pitch style tends toward the understated, and the 5164R fits that profile precisely — it reads as a rich man's tool watch rather than a trophy piece.

At UK list price of approximately £35,000, the Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time Ref. 5164R sits in serious territory for a sport watch. On the secondary market, rose gold Aquanaut references have historically commanded premiums, and the 5164R typically trades above retail, reflecting both Patek Philippe's controlled production volumes and the enduring demand for complication-equipped Aquanaut variants in precious metal.