Watch Paparazzi

Entrepreneur Umar Kamani spotted wearing Patek Philippe

Umar Kamani, the Manchester-born entrepreneur best known as co-founder of fast-fashion giant PrettyLittleThing, was recently spotted wearing one of the most sought-after discontinued references in contemporary watchmaking: the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1R in 18-karat rose gold. For a businessman whose brand built its identity on accessibility, the choice of wristwatch signals the opposite end of the luxury spectrum entirely.

The Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1R is the rose gold sibling of the legendary steel 5711/1A, sharing the same Gerald Genta-designed case architecture but distinguished by its warm 18k rose gold construction and a richly hued salmon-brown dial. The case measures 40mm across with the signature horizontally embossed dial, applied rose gold indices, and an integrated bracelet — details that made the Nautilus an icon since its 1976 debut. At its core sits Caliber 26-330 S C, a self-winding movement with a 45-hour power reserve, glucydur balance wheel, and Gyromax balance — hallmarks of Patek's manufacture finishing standards. Water resistance is rated to 120 metres.

The collector significance of this reference cannot be overstated. Patek Philippe announced the discontinuation of the entire 5711 Nautilus line in January 2021 — a decision that sent secondary market prices into the stratosphere overnight. While the steel 5711/1A commands the loudest headlines, the rose gold 5711/1R occupies a distinct niche: rarer in production volumes, warmer in aesthetic, and arguably more wearable across formal contexts. Serious collectors regard it as the more complete long-term hold.

Kamani has cultivated a public profile that blends entrepreneurial ambition with visible luxury, and the 5711/1R slots naturally into that positioning. It reads as understated to the uninitiated but communicates volumes to anyone who knows the reference. It is precisely the kind of watch that rewards knowledge over flash.

On the grey market, the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1R now trades well above its original UK list price of approximately £39,070. Demand has only intensified since discontinuation, with authenticated examples regularly changing hands north of $80,000 USD — sometimes significantly more depending on condition, box, and papers.