Some watches break the internet more than others – like the late Virgil Abloh's one-of-a-kind blacked-out Nautilus that sent watch lovers into a frenzy a few years ago. A sleek and futuristic Nautilus 5526 that was customised for him by MAD Paris , it came with a steel outer case and inner mechanics that were coated with a fine black diamond carbon via a process called ionic pulverisation, and even featured his trademark design signature quotation marks on the Patek Philippe logo on the dial. Recently, a very similar-looking jet-black Nautilus spotted on Thierry Henry ’s wrist has the internet confused.
The Arsenal and France legend (and watch connoisseur) has been spotted more than once at the Paris Olympics wearing a customised blackened Patek Philippe that looks almost identical to Abloh’s piece. All over social media, people were commenting on the watch: “Anyone know which watch Thierry Henry is wearing?” Many wrongly assumed MAD Paris was responsible but MAD, and the creative agency behind it, NAMES , have confirmed it wasn't their handiwork – adding a certain amount of mystery around Henry's watch. “Thierry Henry's customised watch highlights the growing demand for personalised luxury,” Elena Filipponi, director and co-founder of Names, tells GQ .
“While not a MAD Paris creation, it exemplifies the broader movement that we have pioneered within the industry – the convergence of craftmanship and individuality. Pioneered by MAD, and empowered by NAMES,.