Watch Paparazzi

Entrepreneur Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha spotted wearing Patek Philippe

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was photographed wearing a Patek Philippe Nautilus Travel Time Chronograph in stainless steel, reference 5990/1A — a watch that, much like its owner, managed to be simultaneously understated and extraordinary. The image serves as a quiet testament to a man whose ambitions stretched well beyond the boundaries of conventional expectation.

The 5990/1A is built around calibre CH 28-520 C FUS, a self-winding movement measuring 30 mm in diameter and running at 28,800 vph with a 45-to-55 hour power reserve. The movement integrates a column-wheel flyback chronograph with an instantaneous jumping local time display — a dual complication that required Patek Philippe nearly a decade of development before the reference debuted at Baselworld 2014. The 40.5 mm stainless steel case retains the signature horizontally embossed dial and integrated bracelet first introduced by Gerald Genta in 1976, here updated with two crowns at 10 o'clock to manage the travel time function independently from the chronograph pushers.

Among collectors, the 5990/1A occupies a peculiar and desirable position. It is widely regarded as the most complication-dense Nautilus ever offered in steel, yet it has historically been overshadowed in conversation by the cleaner aesthetics of the 5711. That dynamic has made it a connoisseur's choice — appreciated most by those who understand the genuine engineering achievement beneath the dial. Production numbers have always been constrained, and authorised dealer allocation has been nearly impossible to secure since the late 2010s.

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, founder of King Power Duty Free and owner of Leicester City Football Club, died in October 2018 when his helicopter crashed shortly after leaving the King Power Stadium. His legacy in football is singular: in the 2015–16 season, Leicester City — 5,000-to-1 outsiders at the start of the campaign — won the Premier League title, producing one of the most improbable sporting achievements in modern history.

On the secondary market, the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5990/1A in stainless steel commands a significant premium over its already elevated list price. Grey-market values have consistently exceeded $120,000, reflecting sustained collector demand and the watch's status as a technically serious piece within the Nautilus family.