Footballer Philippe Coutinho spotted wearing a Patek Philippe

Philippe Coutinho touched down in Birmingham to finalise his loan deal with Aston Villa, and eagle-eyed watchers on the ground caught the Brazilian midfielder arriving with something considerably more valuable than his travel bag on his wrist: a white gold Patek Philippe Aquanaut reference 5168G-001, its blue tropical-style dial unmistakable under the English sky.

The Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5168G is the white gold variant of the 42mm Aquanaut line, introduced as part of Patek's ongoing expansion of the reference 5168 family. The 42mm case is proportionally larger than the original 5065 that debuted in 1997, and the white gold execution elevates what is ostensibly a sports watch into genuinely precious metal territory. Inside sits the calibre 324 S C — a self-winding movement with a 27mm rotor, running at 28,800 vph and delivering approximately 45 hours of power reserve. The blue dial carries Patek's signature embossed 'Aquanaut' pattern, and the integrated khaki rubber strap with its fold-over clasp completes a remarkably cohesive package.

Among collectors, the 5168G occupies a particularly interesting position. White gold Aquanaut references have historically moved faster on the secondary market than their steel counterparts, partly due to lower production volumes and partly because precious metal Patek sports watches attract a different buying demographic — one less dependent on waiting lists and more driven by outright desirability. The reference is water-resistant to 120 metres, keeping genuine sport credentials intact despite the precious case material.

Coutinho, who built his reputation across spells at Liverpool and Barcelona before his transfer to Bayern Munich, has long been associated with understated but high-quality watch choices. Arriving for a loan move is rarely a glamorous occasion, yet the 5168G — retailing at approximately £33,700 — signals a collector sensibility rather than mere watch ownership.

On the grey market the 5168G-001 currently commands values in the region of $125,000, representing a premium of roughly 170 percent over list price. That figure reflects both chronic supply scarcity and the enduring strength of the Patek Philippe Aquanaut name in a secondary market that continues to favour the brand's sportier references.