Nicolás Otamendi — watch collection

About Nicolás Otamendi’s watch collection

Nicolás Otamendi is one of the most decorated central defenders of his generation. Born in Buenos Aires in 1988, the Argentine international built his career across some of Europe's biggest clubs, including Valencia, Manchester City, and currently Benfica, where he has been a commanding presence at the heart of the defence. The crowning moment of his career came at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where Argentina ended a 36-year wait for the trophy, with Otamendi playing a central role in the tournament's defensive structure. A Champions League runner-up and multiple Premier League and Primeira Liga title winner, he is universally respected as one of the most physically imposing and technically disciplined defenders of his era.

The Nicolás Otamendi watch collection, based on confirmed sightings, centres firmly on Patek Philippe — the Geneva manufacture regarded by collectors as the gold standard of Swiss horology. Otamendi has been photographed wearing the Patek Philippe Aquanaut Chronograph reference 5968A, a 42.2mm stainless steel sports watch introduced in 2018 that marked the first time a flyback chronograph complication had appeared in the Aquanaut line. The ref. 5968A-001 pairs the brand's casual, rounded-octagonal case and textured "Tropical" strap with a genuinely serious movement, making it one of the more technically ambitious references in the Aquanaut family. It is water-resistant to 120 metres, grounded enough for daily wear, yet carries a level of mechanical complexity that appeals to serious watch buyers rather than casual luxury consumers.

The choice of the 5968A says something concrete about Otamendi's approach. Rather than gravitating toward the overtly dressy end of the Patek Philippe catalogue — the Calatrava or the grand complications — he opts for a reference that functions well in the context of an active life while still representing one of the most sought-after stainless steel sport watches on the secondary market. For a player who has spent his career combining graft with quality, it is a coherent and considered selection.