Footballer Achraf Hakimi spotted wearing a Patek Philippe

Moroccan international footballer Achraf Hakimi made a striking appearance at the Morocco national team training center ahead of the 2026 World Cup campaign, wearing the extraordinary Patek Philippe Aquanaut Luce 'Rainbow' Ref. 7968/300R in 18k rose gold. The sighting captures one of contemporary watchmaking's most exclusive pieces in active use, paired with the watch's proprietary red composite strap that echoes the Moroccan national colours.

The Aquanaut Luce 'Rainbow' Ref. 7968/300R is an ultra-limited variant of Patek Philippe's modern sports icon, manufactured exclusively in 18k rose gold and measuring 42.2 mm in diameter. The defining feature is its bezel, where Patek Philippe craftspeople have invisibly set a rainbow arrangement of baguette-cut diamonds and multi-coloured sapphires—each stone calibrated to precise dimensions and positioned without visible prongs or framework. The dial preserves the Aquanaut's signature integrated dial and applied indices, rendered in precious metal finishes that complement the rose gold case. Water resistance reaches 120 metres, adequate for the watch's luxury sports positioning rather than professional diving use. The movement remains Patek Philippe's calibre 324 SC, an in-house automatic chronometer with approximately 45 hours of power reserve—a reliable foundation for a watch whose value derives entirely from its case and bezel execution.

The 'Rainbow' bezel construction places this reference among Patek Philippe's most technically demanding pieces, requiring master lapidaries to match and seat each gemstone to tolerances of fractions of a millimetre. Production numbers remain undisclosed but are estimated in the low hundreds globally. The Aquanaut Luce line itself, introduced in the early 2020s, repositioned the Aquanaut as a jewelry alternative to steel sports watches, attracting collectors and high-net-worth individuals who view precious-metal sports watches as wearable assets rather than functional timepieces.

Hakimi's choice reflects a broader trend among elite athletes toward ultra-luxury watches as personal statements of achievement and taste. Unlike endorsement watches worn by ambassadors, this sighting represents a private acquisition—Patek Philippe does not gift such pieces. The Aquanaut Luce 'Rainbow' commands retail prices near $250,000 USD, with secondary market values exceeding $390,000 due to production scarcity and the bezel's labour-intensive gemstone work.

Access to the Ref. 7968/300R remains restricted to Patek Philippe's highest-tier clientele, with waiting periods extending beyond five years at official retailers. The watch functions as both horological artifact and wealth marker, making its appearance on a globally recognized athlete a rare documentation of contemporary collecting behaviour at the apex of the market.