30 Must-Buy Classics-PP Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5167A-001

Aquanaut 5167A is one of the few stainless steel watches of Patek Philippe. As it has a basic three-hand calendar function, its low price was once considered the closest distance to the king of watches. But before long, the popularity of 5167A has risen, and the market has long been different. Judging from the price alone, it may still be the “entry-level” model of the king of watches, but it is not so easy to actually buy it.

In the early days, it was unknown and neglected, but in the current market boom dominated by sports watches, it has become a hot young representative of Patek Philippe. The birth of the Aquanaut series in 1997 was actually based on the great response of Nautilus in the market. Therefore, when it was first released, it was positioned as an affordable version of Nautilus. It is also a high-end sports watch made of stainless steel, and the appearance is quite similar, including the special shape of the case continuing the circle with a square, and the dial also has embossed patterns. Unfortunately, although it tried to copy the successful model of Nautilus at that time, the popularity of Aquanaut was far less than that of its big brother Nautilus.

At first, the popularity of Aquanaut was not as expected. However, with the increasing demand for high-end sports watches in recent years, Aquanaut began to attract attention and played its advantage as a brother of Nautilus. When you want a sports watch of the king of watches, Aquanaut is a more affordable choice; and the 5167A-001 with a stainless steel case and a basic three-hand calendar function is priced much more friendly than other watches of the king of watches, so it is not an exaggeration to say that it is the closest distance to the king of watches. In particular, the 5167A was revised in 2007 to adjust the diameter of the watch to 40mm, and the following year it was changed to be equipped with a 324 SC automatic winding movement. Both the appearance size and the interior have been adjusted and upgraded to better meet the needs of modern people. On the most practical black dial, the checkerboard-shaped relief pattern is a major feature of the series. The lines are curved along the arc of the dial, and the platinum three-dimensional digital hour markers and printed minute scales are inlaid. The matching “Tropical” strap is made of a new composite material, which is not only durable and wear-resistant, but also resistant to seawater erosion and ultraviolet radiation, and is not easy to deteriorate.

Although it is a cheap version of Nautilus, Aquanaut will not always be content to play second fiddle. Because the series is relatively young and lively, and it is the only series of Patek Philippe with rubber straps, some colors that are less likely to appear on the screen in other series will appear in Aquanaut, and even have colors that Nautilus does not have. For example, the special edition 5167A-012 launched at the Singapore Watch Fair in 2019 uses a bright red central second hand, minute scale and rubber strap; the Aquanaut 5168G, which is made of platinum and has a diameter of 42mm in the same year, has a military green dial with a rubber strap of the same color; the complex 5968A uses orange hands with a gradient black face. The traditional black, brown or now more popular blue face of the watch king is nothing new to Aquanaut. 5167A is currently priced at HK$147,700. Judging from the price alone, it is indeed the closest distance to the king of watches. Even though it often has a price that is 30% or 40% higher than the price in the auction market, it is still relatively affordable compared to other PP models. However, as high-end sports watches are becoming more and more popular in the market, the price of Nautilus, which is the first on the wish list, is getting higher and higher, and it has become a hot commodity that is hard to find. 5167A is also listed as one of the popular models that need to be waited for. If you are interested in buying it now, not only is it not an ordinary one with a super-priced level, but it is also not easy to get it in stock.