Entrepreneur Nusret Gökçe Saltbae spotted wearing a Patek Philippe

Nusret Gökçe, the Turkish entrepreneur whose theatrical meat-salting gesture turned him into one of the most recognisable restaurateurs on the planet, was recently spotted wearing a Patek Philippe Nautilus reference 3800/108 — a 15-piece limited edition executed in full diamond set form with a pavé diamond dial. At $230,000 retail, it is not a watch that asks for subtlety.

The Nautilus 3800 was introduced in 1981 as a slightly smaller sibling to the original reference 3700, Gerald Genta's landmark 1976 design. Running at 37mm, the ref. 3800 housed Patek's calibre 335 SC — a manually wound movement later succeeded by various automatic iterations — and established the mid-size Nautilus as a legitimate alternative to the full-sized sports model. The reference remained in production for over two decades, spawning a range of precious-metal and gem-set variants that Patek reserved for its highest-tier clientele. The 3800/108 designation places this piece firmly in that rarefied category: a factory-set, limited-production jewellery watch built on a legitimate sports-watch architecture.

For collectors, the fully set 3800 occupies an interesting position. Purists who prize the integrated bracelet and brushed-satin finishing of the standard steel model sometimes overlook the gem-set variants, but auction records tell a different story. Factory diamond Nautilus references — particularly those with documented limited production figures — have commanded strong premiums at Christie's and Phillips in recent years, benefiting both from the broader Nautilus market boom and from growing collector interest in Patek's high-jewellery output.

Gökçe, who operates Nusr-Et steakhouse locations across multiple continents and counts athletes, musicians and heads of state among his clientele, has previously been photographed with Rolex, Richard Mille and Audemars Piguet pieces. The Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 3800/108 represents a notable step into vintage Patek territory and signals a collector sensibility that goes beyond pure brand recognition.

With only 15 units produced, secondary-market appearances are genuinely rare. Grey-market pricing, where data exists, reflects the scarcity premium on top of the already substantial retail figure, making this one of the more quietly significant watch sightings in recent memory.