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Footballer Hakim Ziyech spotted wearing Patek Philippe

Hakim Ziyech, the technically gifted Moroccan international who built his reputation at Ajax before moving to Chelsea and subsequently Galatasaray, was recently photographed at a restaurant dinner with what is unmistakably one of the most audacious custom Patek Philippe Nautilus commissions in circulation — 'The Pearl Project' by Geneva-based customisation atelier Artisans De Genève.

Artisans De Genève occupies a singular niche in the watch world. Rather than producing watches under their own brand, the atelier accepts donor timepieces — frequently Rolex and, as here, Patek Philippe — and performs deep modifications that go well beyond surface aesthetics. 'The Pearl Project' begins life as a standard stainless steel Patek Philippe Nautilus, most likely based on the reference 5711/1A-010, the benchmark 40 mm three-hander powered by the manufacture Calibre 26-330 S C, a self-winding movement with a 45-hour power reserve and Gyromax balance. The case architecture, integrated bracelet and overall proportions remain recognisably Nautilus, the work of Gerald Genta from 1976.

What Artisans De Genève adds is transformative. The octagonal bezel — normally brushed steel — is replaced entirely with a piece of forged carbon composite, its characteristic marbled grey weave pattern immediately visible in the photograph. The dial is then skeletonised by hand, removing the conventional surface to reveal the movement's bridges, gears, and escapement, all finished with Artisans De Genève's signature polishing standards. Rose-gold plated hands and hour markers provide legibility and warmth against the dark mechanical landscape beneath.

From a collector standpoint, pieces like 'The Pearl Project' occupy contentious but fascinating territory. Patek Philippe does not endorse third-party modifications, and purists note that such work voids manufacture warranties and arguably complicates long-term provenance. Yet the bespoke market appetite is undeniable: Artisans De Genève commissions command significant premiums over the modified donor watches, and their work is documented and numbered, lending a degree of collector legitimacy.

For Ziyech, a player known for his creative, individualist style on the pitch, the choice resonates. A standard Nautilus 5711 — already fetching multiples of its list price on the grey market before discontinuation in 2021 — is transformed here into something genuinely unique. No two Artisans De Genève commissions are identical, which aligns with the footballer's reputation for doing things differently. The combined value of the donor reference and the bespoke conversion work places this piece firmly in six-figure territory.