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Footballer Josip Iličić spotted wearing Patek Philippe

Photographed in an Atalanta club context, Slovenian international Josip Iličić drew attention not for his footwork but for the timepiece on his wrist: a Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograph in rose gold, Reference 5980R-001, worn on an alligator leather strap — one of the most technically and aesthetically accomplished configurations the Nautilus family offers.

Introduced in 2006 to mark the Nautilus line's 30th anniversary, the 5980 represented a landmark for Patek Philippe: it was the first Nautilus to integrate a chronograph complication. The ref. 5980R-001 houses calibre CH 28-520 C, a lateral-clutch flyback movement developed entirely in-house, featuring column-wheel control, a vertical clutch, and a date display at 3 o'clock. Running at 28,800 vph with a 55-hour power reserve, it is housed in a 40.5mm rose gold case that faithfully reinterprets Gerald Genta's original 1976 porthole silhouette — horizontally embossed dial, integrated lugs, and the signature octagonal bezel secured by four screws per side. The dark brown dial, a defining trait of the 5980R-001, shifts tone dramatically under different light conditions, moving from deep espresso to warm cognac.

Among collectors, the 5980R occupies a peculiar position: perpetually overshadowed by the steel 5980/1A in terms of raw desirability, yet genuinely rarer and mechanically identical. Rose gold examples appeal to buyers who prioritise wearability and a slightly more formal register, and the alligator strap variant — as seen on Iličić — is a factory option that underscores that positioning. The reference was discontinued as Patek transitioned to the updated 5990 and later 5726 family, making existing examples increasingly sought after on the secondary market.

Iličić, known for his creative, technically refined style on the pitch — most memorably his four-goal performance against Valencia in the 2020 Champions League quarter-final — has cultivated a reputation for quiet personal elegance off it. The 5980R fits that profile: it is not the loudest choice, but it is one of the most informed.

At an official list price of approximately $63,000 USD at the time of its production, grey-market values for clean examples of the Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograph ref. 5980R-001 have settled in a range considerably above retail, reflecting the broader Nautilus premium and the reference's discontinued status.