Founded in 1851, Patek Philippe continues as a leading luxury company, celebrated for its commitment to quality and innovation. Although the company is over 170 years old, Patek Philippe’s ingenious sense and creations allure younger generations.
This leading luxury watchmaker has turned up with multiple avant-garde watches since its establishment. Moreover, the most iconic models are even typically backed by a rich, fascinating story. And the same case is with the Aquanaut.
The Patek Philippe Aquanaut made its debut in 1997 as a young, versatile and modern sports timepiece. Continue reading to know more about the watch. Also, find out what makes this Patek Philippe watch a valuable piece yet in today’s market.
Exploring the Glory of the Aquanaut
Patek Philippe is celebrated globally for its innovative sense and modern creations that tempt the younger crowd. Taking inspiration from the iconic Patek Philippe Nautilus, the watchmaker designed the Aquanaut. The watch carries a dynamic, contemporary style, having complications like date, travel time and a self-winding chronograph.
However, besides its rounded octagonal case, the Aquanaut sports a robust steel bracelet or a tropical strap crafted of a composite material. This strapping material offers high resistance to wear, UV radiation and saltwater. Moreover, it is waterproof up to a depth of 200m underwater.
Another defining feature of the Aquanaut is its geographical, black embossed dial with big, legible numbers with luminous fill. An automatic movement powers the watch, rendering mechanical finesse synonymous with the Patek Philippe name.
The Patek Philippe Aquanaut has various characterising features, including the ones that make every version unique. The Aquanaut strap offers multiple colour choices for its fans like blue, brown, black and white. Moreover, collectors can also opt for the stainless steel strap version. The Aquanaut is also available in different metal choices like stainless steel, white gold and rose gold.
Regardless, the Aquanaut was one of the most metamorphic releases in decades. Although it did not receive instant success, it gradually became a significant part of the brand. Today, the Aquanaut is a cornerstone collection of Patek Philippe and a watch that all watch collectors want to add to their collection.
Notable Owners of the Patek Philippe Aquanaut
While the Patek Philippe Aquanaut is highly coveted, the watch has graced the wrists of many notable people. For example, you can see Paul McCartney with an Aquanaut on his wrist on the cover of Rolling Stone. Moreover, he was also spotted strapping one on his wedding day.
Additionally, Ringo Starr was his former drummer, and he was also spotted with an Aquanaut on the wrist on several public shows. Furthermore, this classic sports Patek watch also accompanied the billionaire George Soros on his wrist during his picture shoot for his biography’s cover.
The Patek Philippe Aquanaut & its Controversy
So what’s the controversy around the Aquanaut? Well, it revolves significantly around the iconic Nautilus. When Patek Philippe introduced the Aquanaut in 1976, its sportier look surprised many people. Some models sporting a more prominent case size were also shocking.
However, the Aquanaut paved the way for a newer, sportier line. Regardless, it was a part of the controversy that makes both the Aquanaut and the Nautilus more tempting. What boosted the watch’s sportier appeal is its strap. It exhibited a clean design and combined the sense of luxury and sports exquisitely.
The Patek Philippe Aquanaut Can Be a Sound Investment
Patek Philippe Aquanaut watches can be a sound investment. However, its value can increase with time, especially if it is a limited edition piece or discontinued. Potential watch dealers often promise to offer top prices for a pre-owned Aquanaut model if it is in excellent working condition.
The Patek Philippe Aquanaut is among the most sought-after watch collections globally. It started its life as a classic, versatile sports timepiece. Although it made its debut in 1997, the watch yet feels like a new collection. Credit goes to the resurrection of interest each time the watchmaker released a new Aquanaut.
Moreover, Patek Philippe launched the Aquanaut as a limited edition collection of only 1,000 pieces. The series included two models – the stainless steel Reference 5060A and the yellow gold Reference 5060J. More significantly, the Aquanaut was the first-ever watch from Patek Philippe to sport a rubber strap.
The watchmaker named the strap “Tropical” that could resist UV rays, bacteria and saltwater. However, the Aquanaut remains a valuable piece even in today’s market also because it was the first timepiece having a sapphire crystal case back that was water-resistant to 120m.