Rapper Drake spotted wearing a Patek Philippe

Drake — born Aubrey Drake Graham and one of the most commercially successful rappers of his generation — was recently spotted wearing a Patek Philippe Aquanaut Chronograph in stainless steel, reference 5968A-001, fitted on its distinctive orange composite rubber strap. The sighting adds another serious horological statement to a collection already known for its depth and ambition.

The Patek Philippe Aquanaut Chronograph 5968A was introduced in 2019 and represents the pinnacle of the Aquanaut line, grafting a genuine flyback chronograph complication onto the 42.2mm steel case that defines the sports collection. The movement inside is the manually integrated calibre CH 28-520 C — a column-wheel flyback chronograph with a horizontal clutch, offering 65 hours of power reserve. The textured black 'Tropical' dial, characteristic embossed pattern on the strap, and sapphire crystal caseback complete a package that is both tool watch and haute horlogerie in equal measure.

From a collector's standpoint, the 5968A occupies a near-mythical position. Patek Philippe produces steel sport references in very limited numbers, and an integrated flyback chronograph in a 42mm steel case is a proposition virtually unmatched in the industry. Allocation is tightly controlled through authorised dealers, meaning the watch rarely, if ever, reaches a retail customer without a significant prior purchasing relationship with a boutique. On the grey market, demand is relentless.

Drake's relationship with serious watchmaking is well documented. The Toronto-born artist has been photographed in Royal Oak chronographs, gem-set Rolexes, and various Patek Philippe complications over the years. His choice of the 5968A on the orange strap — the most visually assertive of the available strap options — reflects an understanding of the reference rather than merely its status.

The Patek Philippe Aquanaut Chronograph 5968A-001 carries a UK list price of approximately £34,730, which translates to roughly $44,000 USD at current exchange. On the secondary market, however, the reference consistently commands multiples of that figure, with authenticated examples regularly achieving $120,000 to $150,000 USD and beyond at auction and through reputable grey-market dealers — underlining why a sighting on Drake's wrist is entirely unsurprising.