Watch Paparazzi

Baseball player Alex Rodriquez spotted wearing Patek Philippe

Alex Rodriguez was recently spotted on the wrist of the former New York Yankees slugger — a Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time in stainless steel, reference 5164A. The sighting comes as no surprise to those who follow A-Rod's off-field persona: the man has consistently demonstrated a collector's eye, and the 5164A is precisely the kind of piece that separates informed buyers from casual luxury spenders.

The Patek Philippe Aquanaut Ref. 5164A measures 40.8mm in stainless steel and houses the caliber 324 S C FUS, a self-winding movement with a 45-hour power reserve. The complication at the heart of this reference is the travel time function: a home/local time display with a day/night indicator, operated via two pushers at 10 and 8 o'clock. The signature chocolate-brown embossed dial — Patek calls the pattern 'Tropical' — pairs with the composite strap in matching tones. Water resistance is rated to 120 metres, reinforcing its sports-watch credentials.

The Aquanaut line was introduced in 1997 as a more accessible, contemporary counterpart to the Nautilus, designed by Stern family scion Thierry Stern. The 5164A, launched in the mid-2000s, added genuine horological substance through the travel time complication, elevating the collection beyond aesthetics. In stainless steel, it sits in a category Patek produces in deliberately limited numbers, which has driven grey-market premiums to multiples of list price for years.

Rodriguez retired from professional baseball in 2016 with 696 home runs and has since built a considerable investment and media portfolio. His watch choices tend toward the substantial — the 5164A, with its technical depth and understated sporting elegance, fits that profile exactly. It is the kind of watch worn by someone who knows what it means, not just what it costs.

At UK list price of approximately £23,800 — roughly $30,000 USD depending on exchange rates — the Patek Philippe Aquanaut Ref. 5164A remains largely theoretical at retail. Grey-market values have historically traded between $45,000 and $60,000 USD, reflecting persistent demand and restricted authorized dealer allocation. For collectors, the 5164A represents a sweet spot: genuine complication, sporting DNA, and the Patek Philippe pedigree in a configuration that is genuinely hard to acquire.