Singer Gary Barlow spotted wearing a Patek Philippe

Gary Barlow, the Take That singer and one of Britain's most commercially successful songwriters, was recently spotted wearing a Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time in stainless steel — reference 5164A-001. It's a considered, quietly confident choice that rewards those who know what they're looking at.

The Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time 5164A measures 40.8mm in stainless steel and is powered by the Caliber 324 S C FUS — a self-winding movement with a 45-hour power reserve, beating at 28,800 vph. The complication itself is elegantly simple to use: two pushers at 8 and 10 o'clock advance or retard the local hour hand in one-hour jumps, while a day/night indicator at 6 o'clock keeps orientation clear across time zones. The signature khaki-embossed dial and composite strap remain immediately recognizable as Aquanaut DNA, first introduced with the 5060A back in 1997.

The 5164A holds a particular place in the Aquanaut collector hierarchy. Unlike the more common 5167A, which offers no complication, the Travel Time variant justifies its price premium with a genuinely useful, well-executed function. Stainless steel Patek Philippe sports references — especially those with complications — have become some of the most aggressively sought pieces on the grey market over the past decade. The 5164A is no exception, consistently trading well above retail.

Gary Barlow is no casual watch wearer. The musician has been spotted with serious references before, and the 5164A fits a profile: understated from a distance, technically accomplished up close. For someone who splits time between the UK and international touring commitments, a dual time zone complication carries genuine practical logic beyond mere collecting.

At UK list price the 5164A sits just above £26,000, but finding one at retail is another matter entirely. Grey market premiums have pushed the reference significantly higher, reflecting both the enduring demand for stainless steel Patek sports watches and the specific appeal of a complication model that remains relatively limited in production. It is, in short, the kind of watch that serious collectors notice immediately — even on a stage.