Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Tyrone Mings spotted wearing Patek Philippe

Spotted pitchside following England's win over Ukraine, Tyrone Mings drew attention not only for his commanding defensive display but for the stainless steel Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograph 5980/1A-014 sitting on his wrist — a reference that has since been discontinued and commands serious money on the secondary market.

The 5980/1A-014 houses Calibre CH 28-520 C, a manufacture movement featuring a column wheel, lateral clutch, and flyback function — a chronograph architecture that allows the timer to be reset and restarted in a single pusher action. The movement beats at 28,800 vph and offers a 45-hour power reserve. The 40.5mm stainless steel case follows the classic horizontally embossed dial pattern Genta conceived in 1976, here finished in deep black with applied baton indices and the signature integrated bracelet in steel. Both pushers at 2 and 4 o'clock are integrated flush into the case middle, maintaining the sports-luxe silhouette that defines the Nautilus family.

The reference 5980/1A was introduced in 2006 as the first Nautilus chronograph, and its significance within the Patek catalogue is hard to overstate. Collectors recognised immediately that squeezing a flyback chronograph mechanism into a case that still reads as elegant rather than technical was a genuine achievement. The 5980 line has since been discontinued in this steel configuration, which only amplifies desirability among serious collectors who place it alongside the 5711 as a foundational modern Nautilus reference.

Mings, who has represented England at senior international level and established himself as one of the Premier League's more cultured defenders, has shown consistent interest in high-end horology. Wearing a piece of this calibre — rather than a more visible or commercially prominent watch — suggests genuine collector sensibility rather than a stylist's briefcase.

With its official retail price no longer applicable following discontinuation, the 5980/1A-014 now trades on the grey market at approximately $140,000 — a significant premium that reflects both the scarcity of steel Nautilus chronographs and the sustained global appetite for the reference. For a watch that was already aspirational at list price, secondary market positioning cements its status as a serious horological asset.