Ugandan businessman and investor Charles Mbire has offered another glimpse into his understated luxury lifestyle after being spotted wearing what appears to be a Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time 5164R-001, one of the Swiss watchmaker’s highly sought-after timepieces.
The rose-gold watch, distinguished by its brown dial and matching rubber strap, is far from an ordinary timepiece.
The Aquanaut Travel Time is designed with a dual-time-zone complication, allowing the wearer to track two time zones simultaneously, a feature particularly suited to a businessman whose interests and movements extend beyond Uganda.
What makes Mbire’s latest wristwear particularly eye-catching is the value attached to the specific model.
A Tiffany & Co.-retailed example of the Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time 5164R-001 was recently listed on Chrono24 for about US$285,000, equivalent to more than Shs1 billion, although a listing price should not be confused with the actual selling price of a watch.
The model has also found its way onto the wrists of some of the world’s most recognisable high-profile personalities.
NBA billionaire LeBron James has been photographed wearing the exact 5164R Travel Time, while other celebrities and sporting stars associated with the rose-gold reference include Kevin Hart, J Balvin, Sergio Ramos, Jadon Sancho, Chris Paul and David Alaba.
The Patek Philippe connection also extends into royalty.
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, one of the world’s most prominent royal watch collectors, has been photographed wearing several exceptional Patek Philippe pieces, including the Aquanaut Ref. 5168G. He has also been seen wearing some of the brand’s ultra-rare Nautilus models, underlining the standing Patek Philippe enjoys among the world’s wealthiest collectors.
