Royal Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim spotted wearing a Patek Philippe

Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, the Crown Prince of Johor and one of Southeast Asia's most publicly visible royal watch collectors, was recently photographed wearing the Patek Philippe Nautilus Reference 5711/1A-014 — the now-legendary olive green dial variant that effectively closed the chapter on the 5711 series when it was unveiled at Watches & Wonders Geneva 2021.

The 5711/1A-014 is mechanically identical to its blue-dialled predecessor, housing Patek Philippe's Calibre 26-330 S C — a self-winding movement beating at 28,800 vph with a 45-hour power reserve, offering hours, minutes, seconds, and a date display. The stainless steel case measures 40mm across the iconic horizontally embossed dial, with the integrated bracelet design Gerald Genta originally conceived in 1972. What sets the -014 apart is that sunburst olive green dial, a departure from the signature blue that defined the model for nearly two decades, and a choice that proved immediately divisive — and then definitively desirable.

Patek Philippe announced the discontinuation of the 5711 reference alongside the -014's debut, a calculated move that sent the grey market into a frenzy. Authorized dealers received allocations in the single digits. The olive green variant had effectively no period of calm secondary-market pricing — it launched into six-figure territory almost immediately and has largely remained there. For collectors, it represents the final expression of arguably the most important steel sports watch reference of the modern era.

Tunku Ismail is no stranger to serious horology. The Crown Prince has been photographed over the years with references from Rolex, Richard Mille, and Patek Philippe, and his choices consistently reflect an informed collector's eye rather than purely ceremonial or status-driven acquisition. Wearing the 5711/1A-014 — a watch that requires genuine access and genuine commitment — fits his established profile precisely.

At a retail price of approximately $37,800, the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A-014 was already a premium proposition. On the grey market, the reference currently trades at figures approaching $940,000, making it one of the most extreme retail-to-secondary-market spreads in watchmaking. Patek Philippe has since introduced the 5726/1A with a green dial to partially address demand, but the 5711/1A-014 remains in a category of its own.