Circa. 2012/16 Patek Philippe Aquanaut Date 5167A-001
Ref: 5167A-001
Specification
Lugs : 20mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : Box
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold with an original Patek Philippe box, but no original paperwork. An Extract from The Archives from Patek was requested and paid for, however, they refunded that and stated that due to the watch being less than 10 years old they do not provide Extracts. Emails of the order and refund by Patek are provided in the parcel. The watch comes paired with its original fitted and cut Tropical composite strap with a signed fold-over clasp. In the box is an additional RubberB uncut strap. The watch is from and is sold in worn condition, but overall fair condition as you can see. The watch comes with our 12-Months Warranty.
The Watch
Here we have a Patek Philippe Aquanaut Date 5167A-001 which was first released in 1997 it has the sporty feel of the Nautilus but with a modern aesthetic. Famously worn by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr for everyday wear. Included with the watch will be a Patek Philippe extract, this is on order from Patek and can take a little while for delivery. The curvacious octangular 40mm stainless steel case sits perfectly on your wrist with a lug to lug length of 47mm and a case thickness of 8mm giving the watch an impressive wrist presence. Polished and satin-brushed surfaces transition with crisp edges. A subtle curve to the sculpted lugs flows over the wrist for a comfortable fit. On the right side is a signed crown protected by crown guards that are sculpted from the case. The flat smooth bezel has chamfered polished edges and vertical brushed top catching the light as you rotate your wrist. A flat sapphire crystal sits above an embossed black dial with its characteristic rectangular “grenade” pattern. An outer minute chapter ring has large plots of luminance at the hours with large Arabic numeral indices. At 3 0’clock we have a date window. Elegant sword hands are infilled with luminance complemented by a tapered sweeping second hand. The text is precisely executed at 12 o’clock with the Patek Philippe Geneve motif. On the reverse, a screw-down exhibition case back. Inside an Automatic Patek Philippe Cal. 324 SC, 29 jewels, 28,800 beats per hour. The stunning rotor is made of 21ct Yellow Gold. Comprising just 217 parts they use modern materials such as a Gyromax balance and a Spiromax balance spring. Beautifully decorated with perlage finishing and the Patek Philippe seal. The watch comes with its original cut Tropical composite strap resistant to seawater and UV and a signed fold-over clasp. In the box is an additional RubberB uncut strap
Personal Note
This has to be one of the best sports models made to date, often overshadowed by the Nautilus it remained the "Ugly Duckling" for the longest time in the lineup, but with the insane increase in popularity that the Nautilus received the Aquanaut started getting the respect it deserved on its own merits. We are also priced as one of the best in Europe and certainly the best in the UK, so if you've been after one, now is your chance!
The Brand
Patek,Czapek & Cie was founded by Antoine Norbert de Patek and François Czapek in 1839. The company name became Patek, Philippe & Cie –Fabricants à Genève in 1851. They created the first Swiss wristwatch, made for Countess Koscowicz of Hungary In 1868. They produced the first complicated ladies’ wristwatch with a five-minute repeater, No. 174 603 in 1916. In 1923 they sold the first split-seconds chronograph wristwatch, No. 124 824. In 1932 we saw the launch of the first Calatrava: Ref. 96. The business began with the regular production of perpetual calendar wristwatches in 1941. They won a record number of first prizes for precision in the Geneva Observatory competition in 1944. Later in 1962, a tourbillon movement achieved the still unbeaten world timekeeping precision record for a mechanical watch, at the Geneva Observatory. In 1976 we saw the launch of the first Nautilus sports watches Ref. 3700/1 in steel. To celebrate their anniversary they launched the Calibre 89 to mark 150 years of Patek Philippe. It has an incredible 33 complications, which is the most ever in a portable timepiece. They moved into a new production facility in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva in 1996. Continuing their mastery of Horology they launched the most complicated Patek Philippe wristwatch with a double face: the Sky Moon Tourbillon, Ref. 5002 in 2001. The Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva opened in the same year. Renovation of the beautiful rue du Rhône salons in Geneva was completed in 2006. It celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2014.