Footballer Bafetimbi Gomis spotted wearing a Patek Philippe

Bafetimbi Gomis, the French striker who built his career across Lyon, Swansea, Galatasaray, and Al-Hilal before returning to Marseille, was recently caught on camera wearing one of the most quietly impressive references in Patek Philippe's current catalogue — the Nautilus 5712.

The Patek Philippe Nautilus Reference 5712 is a complication watch masquerading as a sports watch. Built around the Calibre 240 PS IRM C LU — a micro-rotor automatic movement running at 21,600 vph with a 48-hour power reserve — it packs an annual calendar, moon phase display, and power reserve indicator into the 40.5mm stainless steel (or white gold, ref. 5712G) case that Gerald Genta designed in 1976. The integrated bracelet and horizontally embossed dial remain faithful to the original Nautilus DNA, while the subsidiary dials at 6 o'clock give the 5712 a visual complexity that separates it clearly from the time-only 5711 and 5726.

From a collector standpoint, the 5712 occupies a fascinating middle ground. It lacks the raw hype of the 5711/1A steel, but commands serious respect among enthusiasts who understand complications. The annual calendar mechanism — requiring just one manual correction per year, at the end of February — is a genuine daily-use convenience wrapped in a finishing standard that few manufactures can match. Côtes de Genève, bevelled bridges, and Patek's signature chamfering are all present under the caseback.

Gomis has long cultivated a polished image away from football, and the 5712 fits that profile precisely. It is not the obvious footballer's choice — that would be something larger and louder. The Nautilus 5712 reads as the pick of someone who has done the research, or has been well advised. Either way, it reflects a considered approach to horology rather than a reflexive reach for a trophy piece.

On the market, the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5712 in stainless steel carries a retail list price in the region of $37,000–$42,000 USD depending on configuration and market. Grey market premiums exist but are modest compared to the 5711, with pre-owned examples typically trading between $55,000 and $75,000 USD — strong, but not irrational, for what the movement delivers.