Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Gini Wijnaldum spotted wearing Patek Philippe

Georginio Wijnaldum was recently spotted wearing a heavily customized Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1R in 18k rose gold, its bracelet, dial, and bezel entirely after-set with VS1-graded round brilliant diamonds — a configuration that pushes the already stratospheric desirability of this reference into a different atmosphere entirely.

The Nautilus 5711/1R is the rose gold iteration of what many collectors consider the defining luxury sports watch of the modern era. Powered by Patek Philippe's Calibre 26-330 S C — a self-winding movement with a 35-45 hour power reserve, operating at 28,800 vph — it delivers a date function through an instantaneous-jump mechanism and carries the Geneva Seal. The 40mm stainless steel case profile, with its horizontally embossed dial and integrated bracelet, traces a direct lineage to Gerald Genta's 1976 original, the ref. 5711 having carried that DNA since its 2006 introduction.

Patek Philippe officially discontinued the entire 5711 line in January 2021, a move that immediately sent grey market premiums into the stratosphere. The rose gold 5711/1R was always the rarer sibling to the iconic steel 5711/1A, commanding a higher list price and, paradoxically, somewhat less speculative frenzy — steel 5711s were the unicorn. Nevertheless, the 5711/1R in clean, unmodified form consistently trades well above retail. Wijnaldum's diamond after-set version represents a common customization path among footballers and entertainers, applied by specialist workshops rather than Patek Philippe's own maison, which affects both resale dynamics and purist sentiment.

Wijnaldum — a midfielder who built his reputation at Liverpool under Jürgen Klopp, winning the Premier League, Champions League, and contributing centrally to the Netherlands national team — is no stranger to high-end horology. This particular piece reflects the taste common among elite European footballers: a recognizable, prestigious reference personalized aggressively enough to stand out even on a crowded touchline.

In its factory rose gold configuration, the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1R carried a retail list price of approximately $38,650 USD before discontinuation. After-set diamond versions, depending on stone quality, carat weight, and workshop provenance, routinely reach $100,000–$130,000 USD in private sales, consistent with the $120,000 figure associated with Wijnaldum's example.