Entrepreneur Nusret Gökçe Saltbae spotted wearing a Patek Philippe

Salt Bae was recently photographed wearing a yellow gold Patek Philippe Calatrava Ref. 3588, departing from the stainless steel Nautilus that has become his public trademark. The image offers a rare glimpse into a quieter, more classically-oriented side of one of social media's most recognisable restaurateurs.

The Patek Philippe Calatrava Ref. 3588 dates to the 1960s and 1970s, a period when the Geneva manufacture produced a series of elegant yellow gold dress watches distinguished by their integrated bracelets. The reference features a champagne dial with applied baton indices and a supple yellow gold mesh bracelet that sits flush with the case — an integrated design that predates the concept's fashionable revival by decades. Cased in 18-karat yellow gold, the piece houses a manually-wound movement consistent with Patek's Calatrava philosophy of mechanical restraint and finishing excellence. The overall diameter is modest by contemporary standards, firmly in the 33–35mm range, which only reinforces its status as an old-world gentleman's watch.

Among collectors, the Ref. 3588 occupies a quietly respected position. It lacks the auction fireworks of the perpetual calendar or minute repeater references, but connoisseurs prize it precisely for its discretion. The integrated mesh bracelet variants are particularly sought after, as they represent a coherent design exercise rather than a simple case-on-strap solution. Condition of the bracelet — prone to stretching and link loss over decades — is the primary determinant of value at auction.

Nusret Gökçe has publicly declared his affection for Patek Philippe on multiple occasions, and his Nautilus Ref. 3700/3J, the original Gerald Genta-designed steel sports watch, is well-documented on his social channels. The Calatrava Ref. 3588 sighting suggests his collection extends into the manufacture's more formal idiom, reflecting a collector instinct beyond trophy pieces.

On the secondary market, yellow gold Calatrava references from this era with original integrated bracelets in good condition typically trade between $15,000 and $35,000 depending on dial originality, bracelet integrity, and box-and-papers status. The Ref. 3588 remains accessible by Patek standards — for now.