Patek Philippe has been a household name in the world of luxury watches for almost 200 years. For a brand that’s been around that long, it has been most known for its professional watch contributions. Like most of their models, the Aquanaut started out with having sports and aquatic functions. Last January, Patek Philippe introduced its first chronograph version.
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Release Date: January 2018
After the first professional sports and aquatic versions in 1997, more commercial iterations of the Aquanaut were released since – the time-and-date and travel time collections. Twenty-one (21) years later, Baselworld 2018 became the venue for the launch of the Aquanaut chronograph, where it made a far-reaching impression. It’s made to have the same square-shaped case and rounded corners but with the additional function of a chronograph through its 60-minute counter sub-dial on top of the six o’clock marker.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Diameter: 42.2 mm
- Height: 11.9 mm
- Movement: Calibre CH 28-520 C with 308 parts and 32 jewels
- Water Resistance: 120 meters
- Power Reserve: 45-55 hours
- Strap: Composite material in black or orange
- Features/Functions: Chronograph with 60-minute counter
PROS
Patek Philippe’s name and brand image has long been associated with the professional and business-inclined market. For the first time, the Aquanaut chronograph, with its orange accents and alternative orange strap, gives the brand a more reachable presence among a younger audience.
It allows an opportunity for a new market in people who are in their youthful age to connect with the brand and want one of its watches. The pop of color gives it a quirky and modern touch, and though the 60-minute counter makes the dial look more complicated than other mass-appeal watches, the extra buttons on the side for the chronograph function are disguised well as if an intentional design element. An equal balance between the contemporary feel and the professional function is achieved.
CONS
A watch that’s almost like a copy of the original, the Aquanaut chronograph wasn’t made with revolutionary features. No new innovations are placed on the movement and the design aspect isn’t something we’ve never seen before. Also, for a watch that offers only one additional feature than its predecessors and is marketed for commercial use than a professional one, it’s a lot more expensive, especially compared to the Royal Oaks and Nautilus models.
Image Sources: Hodinkee, Monochrome Watches, Time & Tide Watches, abtw
