Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Nicolás Otamendi spotted wearing Patek Philippe

Nicolás Otamendi, the Argentine World Cup winner and Benfica defensive pillar, was recently spotted wearing a Patek Philippe Aquanaut Chronograph reference 5968A — a watch that sits at the crossroads of elite sport-watch design and grand complication watchmaking, and one that consistently draws attention on any wrist it occupies.

The Patek Philippe Aquanaut Chronograph 5968A was introduced in 2018, bringing a flyback chronograph complication to the Aquanaut family for the first time. Housed in a 42.2mm stainless steel case water-resistant to 120 metres, the ref. 5968A-001 runs the manufacture Calibre CH 28-520 C — a self-winding flyback movement with a column wheel, horizontal clutch, and a power reserve of approximately 55 hours. The orange-accented dial, with its characteristic embossed 'Tropical' chequered pattern, and the matching composite strap give the piece an unmistakably sporty identity that still reads as unmistakably Patek.

Among collectors, the 5968A occupies a particular sweet spot. It is the most accessible entry point to a Patek flyback chronograph — the complications in the Calatrava and grand complications lines command far steeper prices — yet it carries all the credibility of the manufacture's movement architecture. The steel case makes it infinitely wearable, and the orange detailing has become a modern house signature, keeping it visually coherent with the broader Aquanaut and Nautilus sport-watch language. Waitlists at authorised dealers remain lengthy, which has kept grey-market premiums firmly elevated.

Otamendi's taste in watches aligns with a generation of elite footballers who collect with genuine knowledge rather than purely for status. A Copa América and FIFA World Cup champion, the defender has built a career defined by precision and composure — qualities that map neatly onto a manufacture like Patek Philippe, where technical rigour is non-negotiable.

At an official retail price of around $54,890 USD for the 5968A-001, the piece is already beyond casual reach. On the secondary market, demand consistently pushes examples well above retail, with clean unworn references trading between $85,000 and $110,000 depending on condition and documentation — a premium that shows no sign of softening while authorised dealer allocations remain constrained.