Footballer Declan Rice spotted wearing a Patek Philippe

Declan Rice, England international and Arsenal midfielder, was recently spotted wearing one of the most coveted discontinued references in the entire Patek Philippe catalogue: the Nautilus Travel Time Chronograph in stainless steel, reference 5990/1A. For a footballer known for his disciplined, cerebral style on the pitch, the choice of watch is fitting — the 5990/1A is not a watch you stumble into. It rewards research.

The Patek Philippe Nautilus 5990/1A was introduced in 2014 and discontinued in 2021, making its production window relatively short for a reference of this stature. Built around the calibre CH 28-520 FUS, an in-house automatic movement beating at 28,800 vph with a 45-to-55 hour power reserve, it delivers a column-wheel chronograph mechanism alongside Patek's proprietary travel time complication. The result is a dial packed with information — local and home time, day/night indicators, chronograph subdials — yet the iconic Nautilus horizontal embossed pattern and Gerald Genta-designed case keep it unmistakably coherent. The 40.5mm stainless steel case with integrated bracelet remains one of the cleanest executions of a complex sports watch in the industry.

From a collector standpoint, the 5990/1A occupies rare territory. It is the only Nautilus reference to combine a flyback-capable chronograph with dual-timezone functionality, making it technically superior to the more famous 5726A Annual Calendar and arguably more wearable than many dress complications. Its discontinuation — part of Patek Philippe's broader rationalisation of the Nautilus line that also saw the controversial retirement of the 5711 — immediately accelerated secondary market interest. Seasoned collectors had anticipated this move; those who secured examples at retail consider themselves fortunate.

Rice, 25, has emerged as one of the more quietly serious watch collectors among top-flight footballers. Rather than gravitating toward high-visibility diamond-set pieces, his choices tend toward mechanically significant references with genuine horological credentials. The 5990/1A fits that profile precisely.

On the current grey market, the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5990/1A trades at approximately $180,000 USD — roughly three times its original retail price of around $58,000 USD. That premium reflects both the reference's discontinued status and the enduring global appetite for stainless steel Patek Philippe Nautilus complications in any form.