Watch Paparazzi

Influencer Zainab Al Alwan spotted wearing Patek Philippe

Zainab Al Alwan, the UAE-based makeup artist and watch-collecting influencer, was recently spotted wearing the Patek Philippe Nautilus Travel Time Chronograph reference 5990/1A in stainless steel — a meaningful addition to what has become one of the more carefully curated Nautilus collections in the influencer space.

The 5990/1A is powered by caliber CH 28-520 C FUS, a self-winding movement that Patek Philippe developed specifically to integrate a lateral-clutch chronograph with a dual-timezone module — a genuinely difficult engineering task. The movement offers local and home time display, day/night indication for both time zones via apertures on the dial, and a local date hand, all within the 40.5mm horizontally integrated steel case that defines the Nautilus silhouette. The black gradated dial carries gold applied hour markers with luminescent coating, giving the watch visual depth while maintaining legibility across both functions.

Introduced in 2010 and updated in subsequent references, the 5990 family occupies a unique position in the Nautilus lineup — it is the only model to combine a flyback-capable chronograph with a travel-time complication. That pairing, executed in the most desirable material configuration (stainless steel, black dial), has made the 5990/1A a consistent target for serious Patek collectors rather than purely status-driven buyers. It rewards technical appreciation in a way that the standard 5711 or 5726 does not.

Zainab Al Alwan has documented her Nautilus acquisitions across social media over recent years, establishing credibility as a genuine collector rather than a casual brand ambassador. Adding the 5990/1A demonstrates an understanding of where the model sits in the hierarchy — not the most famous Nautilus reference, but arguably the most accomplished one.

At an official retail price of $57,500 USD, the 5990/1A is already positioned at the top of the Nautilus range. On the secondary market, stainless steel examples with black dials command a substantial premium, with grey-market values reflecting demand that consistently outpaces allocation. For a collector building around Nautilus, this reference represents the collection's intellectual anchor.