Watch Paparazzi

Royal Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim spotted wearing Patek Philippe

The Crown Prince of Johor, General Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim — one of Southeast Asia's most visible royals and a figure with a well-documented appreciation for fine timepieces — was recently photographed wearing a stainless steel Patek Philippe Aquanaut, Reference 5167A, on its matching black composite bracelet.

The Ref. 5167A-001 is the definitive iteration of the Aquanaut line. Launched in 2007, it enlarged the case to 40mm in diameter — up from the 38mm of its predecessor, the Ref. 5065 — while retaining the distinctive octagonal bezel with rounded corners and the textured tropical composite dial that has become one of the most recognisable surfaces in contemporary watchmaking. The black dial features Patek Philippe's signature embossed pattern, paired with luminescent Arabic numerals and hands. Water resistance stands at 120 metres. The integrated composite rubber-and-textile strap was replaced here by the matching black composite bracelet, a configuration that gives the watch a more formal, coherent silhouette.

Beneath the case, Patek Philippe's Calibre 324 S C beats at 28,800 vph with a 45-hour power reserve. It is a self-winding movement decorated to the manufacture's exacting standards — perlage, Côtes de Genève, bevelled bridges — visible through the sapphire caseback. For a sports watch, the movement finishing is exceptional and speaks directly to why Patek commands the premiums it does.

From a collector standpoint, the 5167A occupies a peculiar and powerful position. It is officially listed in Patek's catalogue, yet obtaining one at retail requires either a significant purchase history with an authorised dealer or considerable patience — often both. That scarcity, combined with the watch's crossover appeal among both traditional Patek collectors and a younger luxury audience, has driven secondary-market prices to extraordinary levels.

With a retail price of approximately $23,400 and a grey-market value hovering around $92,000, the 5167A represents one of the strongest investment cases in the current watch market. For Tunku Ismail, a royal who moves comfortably between military ceremony and global pop culture, the Aquanaut 5167A is a fitting choice — restrained enough for a prince, rare enough for a collector.