From Salt Bae to Brad Pitt, 7 Patek Philippe Nautilus wearers you might not know about
Nick GouldThe Patek Philippe Nautilus remains one of the most coveted watches in the world, with a long waiting list for anyone buying through an AD, and and prices fetching well above RRP on the secondary market. It is a favourite amongst current-day celebrities such as Ellen DeGeneres, however with a little digging we have discovered some more surprising owners in showbiz and beyond.
A little backstory first. The original Nautilus was launched in 1976 as a contemporary in design and style to the Royal Oak by Audemars Piguet, which was launched in 1972. Perhaps not surprisingly, given their similar aesthetics, both timepieces were designed by Gérald Genta. And while the popularity of the Patek Philippe Nautilus has exploded around the world in recent times, the reception to the model’s ascension hasn’t all been positive. The inflation in price and demand has resulted in some claims that hype around the model is “killing it for collectors”. That matters not to these famous fans, past and present, who have a Nautilus in regular rotation.
Jonah Hill
Jonah Hill isn’t a name that immediately comes to mind when you think of Hollywood stars with jaw-dropping watch collections, but as we see right here, Jonah knows what’s up when it comes to dress-appropriate steel sports models. In a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, there was a certain steely glint that confirmed he too was under the spell of the Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 5711. If you want to explore more of Jonah’s collection, hit here.
Brad Pitt
While today, Brad Pitt makes up one-third of the Breitling Cinema Squad, he’s also known to appreciate a certain stainless steel sports watch from Patek Philippe. He was spotted here, in some casual denim, wearing a ref 3700, showing the true versatility of the sports watch.
Henry Golding
Henry Golding came to worldwide prominence after starring in the film Crazy Rich Asians and more recently in The Gentlemen with Matthew McConaughey and Colin Farrell. As far as watches go, Golding has a few standout timepieces, which he showed in this video. Since then, he has added a stainless-steel Rolex GMT-Master “Pepsi” and the iconic Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref 5711 in steel. He is pictured wearing his Nautilus at the premiere of 2019 film Last Christmas, where he played one of the main characters alongside Emilia Clarke and Michelle Yeoh.
Insta-famous Salt Bae aka @nusr_et
Salt Bae was the 2017 viral butcher who became famous worldwide for his forearm salt-sprinkling style. Despite descending from the altitude sickness-inducing heights of three years ago, he continues to ride the wave of social media stardom and has amassed a collection of very nice Patek Philippe watches. Included in his batch is this ref. 3700/13J, a yellow gold Nautilus with a diamond bezel.
Investor Kevin O’Leary
Kevin O’Leary (right) is the renowned businessman and Shark Tank investor (who Nick Kenyon interviewed recently right here) who loves watches as much as he loves making money. When he bought his Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 5711 he said it brought a tear to his eye because of the amount of money it was worth over the retail price he paid. It’s also one of the only watches he doesn’t wear on his famous red straps.
Italian film director Sergio Leone
Another Nautilus wearer was the legendary Italian film director Sergio Leone. He is credited for creating the Spaghetti Western genre of film. He propelled Clint Eastwood into the international spotlight with the trilogy of films, A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Leone also made the classic gangster film Once Upon a Time in America. Leone wasn’t on my radar for timepieces, but a photo taken in Italy in 1989, 13 years after the 5711 was released, shows Leone leaning against a stone statue with his Nautilus prominently adorned on the wrist.
The last Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was the last Shah of Iran from 1941 until he was overthrown in the Iranian Revolution in 1979. The Shah is known to have owned watches from Audemars Piguet and Rolex, but I had not read anything relating to him owning a Nautilus. Then I came across a photo from 1978, of the Shah sitting at his desk. Peeking out clearly from underneath his shirt cuff — the iconic Nautilus case shape and integrated bracelet.