Tennis player Gaël Monfils spotted wearing a Patek Philippe

Gaël Monfils has never been shy about his passion for horology, and his latest sighting confirms that his collection operates at the highest level. The ATP veteran was recently spotted wearing the Patek Philippe World Time GMT Reference 5131R in 18k rose gold — one of the most coveted and technically complex references in Patek's modern lineup, and a watch that commands serious respect among collectors worldwide.

The 5131R is built around Patek Philippe's Caliber 240 HU, a self-winding movement measuring just 3.88mm in height. The micro-rotor architecture keeps the profile slim while accommodating the World Time complication, which simultaneously displays the current hour across all 24 time zones via a rotating disc and chapter ring. The case measures 39.5mm in rose gold — substantial without being aggressive — and water resistance is rated to 30 metres. What makes the 5131R genuinely extraordinary, however, is the dial: a hand-crafted cloisonné enamel map of the world, produced by specialist artisans using a technique that dates back centuries. Each dial takes weeks to complete and is effectively unique.

The 5131 family has a storied lineage tracing back to the legendary Reference 1415 of the 1940s, which introduced the Worldtime complication to Patek Philippe under the influence of independent watchmaker Louis Cottier. The modern 5131 series, introduced in the 2000s, revived that heritage with contemporary movement finishing and the now-signature enamel dials. The rose gold 5131R occupies a particularly desirable position in the range — warmer in tone than the white gold 5131G and arguably the more classically elegant option.

Monfils is one of professional tennis's most dedicated watch collectors, regularly photographed with pieces from Rolex, Richard Mille, and Patek Philippe. His choice of the 5131R suggests a collector who understands Patek's internal hierarchy — this is not a gateway piece but a considered acquisition from someone who knows exactly what they're wearing.

The Patek Philippe 5131R has been discontinued, making grey-market examples increasingly scarce. Retail pricing when available hovered around $58,000 USD, but the secondary market tells a different story entirely, with auction results and dealer asking prices regularly exceeding $100,000 — and climbing.