Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Daniel Sturridge spotted wearing Patek Philippe

Daniel Sturridge, Liverpool FC and England international striker, was photographed wearing a Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time reference 5164A in stainless steel — a watch that manages to be simultaneously one of Patek's most approachable references and one of its most mechanically interesting.

The Patek Philippe Aquanaut Ref. 5164A measures 40.8mm in stainless steel, fitted with the brand's signature embossed 'tropical' rubber strap and matching textured dial. Beneath the sapphire crystal beats the manufacture Calibre 324 S C FUS, a self-winding movement with a 45-hour power reserve operating at 28,800 vph. The complication at its heart — a dual-timezone travel time with day/night indication — is actuated by two lateral push-pieces, making time-zone changes clean and intuitive. It is water resistant to 120 metres, positioning it as a genuine sport watch rather than a mere aesthetic exercise.

The Aquanaut line was introduced by Patek Philippe in 1997 as a more contemporary counterpart to the Nautilus, designed by Thierry Stern with a rounded octagonal bezel and a younger market in mind. The 5164 Travel Time variant, launched in 2011, elevated the collection's technical standing considerably. In stainless steel, the reference carries particular collector appeal: Patek's sports references in steel are chronically underproduced relative to demand, and the 5164A sits in that desirable intersection of complication and sportiness.

Sturridge, known as much for his expressive personality off the pitch as his clinical finishing on it, has shown consistently good taste in watches. Choosing the 5164A over a more ostentatious tourbillon or bejewelled piece speaks to a certain horological literacy — this is a watch that rewards those who know what they are looking at.

On the market, the Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time 5164A carries a UK list price of approximately £27,000. On the secondary market, grey-market premiums remain significant: stainless steel Patek sports references consistently trade above retail, with the 5164A typically commanding between $55,000 and $70,000 USD depending on condition and box/papers. For collectors, that premium is a reflection of genuine scarcity rather than manufactured hype.