The Patek 5164 & Patek 5164A are variants of the Aquanaut travel time watch released by Patek Philippe in 2011. It is an iconic Aquanaut model because it is the first watch in the collection to feature any complication.
This simple but elegant sports watch has features that allow it to track a second time zone as well as home and local time indicators on the dial. Consequently, Patek Philippe 5164 is considered a perfect travel companion beloved by people who spend a lot of time traveling across time zones and want to keep time as accurate as possible,
Of course, before you decide whether to buy any watch (even if it’s a high-quality one like a Patek Philippe), you must thoroughly research it to know what to expect. Patek Philippe watches don’t come cheap; while they generally have a solid reputation for their high quality and expert craftsmanship, each piece is unique, and you should learn about any watch you want to buy. In this post, we will quickly review the Patek 5164 & Patek 5164A, analyzing their features to understand their design, wearability, function, and pricing.
Aesthetics
The Patek Phillipe Aquanaut 5164 has a case diameter of 40.8mm, measured from 10 o’clock to 4 o’clock and a thickness of 10.2mm. It is an elegant watch in three material options, depending on the reference.
The first one is the 5164A, which is the stainless steel variant of this watch. This is matched with a black embossed dial with gold numerals and luminescent hour markers. The embossed pattern adds some visual interest to the dial, but the layout is simple enough to preserve the elegant appearance of the timepiece.
This watch also has a White Gold variant (Patek Philippe 5164G). This one has an opaline blue-gray dial, white gold applied numerals, and a white luminescent coating. Then there’s the rose gold reference (the Ref. 5164R) featuring a stunning brown embossed dial to match. All versions of this watch have a rubber strap in a color that matches the color of the dial.
The bezel on all these watches is characterized by the familiar brushed finish that has become a signature feature of the standard Aquanaut. These aesthetic elements combine to create a timepiece with a smart and contemporary look, exuding a sense of seriousness without compromising its sporty look.
Comfort and wearability
One of the first things most people notice when they slip this timepiece on is how comfortable it is. The Patek 5164 measures 40.8mm across but is much smaller thanks to its unique “not-so-circular and not-quite-angular shape. This watch also features an ultra-slim movement, which keeps its thickness to less than 11mm.
What’s even more striking is how lightweight this Aquanaut timepiece feels when you have it on. It weighs less than 100 grams, meaning you might not notice you are wearing the watch most of the time.
Another attribute that makes this timepiece so comfortable to wear is its rubber composite, designed for optimal wearability regardless of the size of the wearer’s wrist. The strap features jeweler-grade detailing, including 10mm successive notices on the back and embossed patterns designed to match the pattern on the dial. The semi-scalloped design of the back of the strap helps it mold better to the wrist while improving airflow.
It might not feel as supple on the wrist as leather, but it’s just the right strap you’ll want on a sports watch like this. The strap has a signature double-deploy clasp, which is quite functional. It secures the watch perfectly on the wrist without compromising comfort.
The clasp is beautifully made, although slipping the watch off and on is a bit more complex. However, the butterfly clasp is the signature clasp for the Patek Philippe Aquanaut watches, with a flat profile that blends nicely with the rest of the watch. Any other type of clasp would have probably felt out of place on this watch.
Function
The Patek 5164 & Patek 5164A are Aquanaut watches with a useful complication. They’re powered by the Calibre 324 S C FUS movement, an automatic caliber with a dual-time complication, a local date function, and day/night indicators.
The highlight is the travel-time complication, perfect for people who travel frequently or do business across time zones. Patek has ensured that this function is as easy to use as possible. The watch has twin pushes on opposite sides of the crown which can be used to adjust the hour hand of the local time forward or backward without affecting the second hour hand that tracks the home time.
When not in use, the skeletonized home-time hour hand of the Patek Philippe 5164 is hidden under the main hand – a brilliant arrangement that keeps the dial clutter-free when the dual time zone feature is not in use.
Another cool feature of this timepiece is the day/night indicators for the local and home time. Positioned next to the 9 and 3 o’clock buttons are delicately cut windows that rotate between dark navy blue and white colors within a 24-hour cycle to indicate whether it’s day or night in their respective time zones.
The movement that makes all these possible has less than 300 parts with 29 jewels. One of the highlights of this movement is its incredible power management. The calibre 324 S C F_US boasts a 45-hour power reserve. This is impressive because it is the same power reserve as the version of this movement without a travel-time complication. Like many other Patek Philippe Aquanaut watches, this intricate movement can be admired through the transparent sapphire case. The movement has a beautiful finish and fits the case dimensions perfectly.
Versatility
The Patek Philippe 5164A is an extremely versatile watch. It is one of the sleekest Patek Philipe models and can be worn for both formal events and casual occasions alike. Of course, the precious metal variants like the Patek Philippe 5164G are more suitable for luxurious occasions where opulence takes priority. This timepiece is built to be waterproof to a depth of 120 meters. It isn’t suitable for professional diving but will hold up well for light use cases like swimming and snorkeling.
The travel-time feature of the Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5164G and 5164R also helps to extend the utility of this watch. It’s a feature with many potential use cases but will be most useful for people who travel frequently, do business in international territories, or converse with people living in other time zones. The dual-time function allows you to set the time in a second-time zone, so you don’t have to track the time manually.
Price
When the Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5164A was launched, it debuted at a slightly lower price than other Aquanaut models. This pricing was unusual, considering it was the first Aquanaut timepiece to feature a complication. However, the price of this watch was still slightly higher than other travel-time luxury timepieces from other watchmakers.
The stainless steel version of this watch (the Patek Philippe 5164A) is the cheapest. However, the Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5164A has been discontinued, meaning the only way to lay your hands on one is in the secondary market, where it is now sold for about $72,000 to $86,000. The timepiece is now roughly double its original retail price of about $42,000.
The precious metal variants of the Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5164 (white gold and rose gold) are more expensive, which isn’t surprising. Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5164G and 5164R are available in retail, selling for about $63,000 from authorized dealers. Their price in the secondary market ranges from about $96,000 to $150,000.
For collectors and enthusiasts who love the design philosophy of the Nautilus but would prefer sportier and more affordable alternatives, timepieces like the Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5164 present the perfect alternative.
Conclusion
The Aquanaut Travel Time is one of the coolest-looking modern Patek Philippe watches. This watch also has a carefully thought-out design that makes it extremely comfortable. This is all thanks to its lightweight case, custom-cut composite strap, and deployant clasp. Beyond the aesthetics, the Patek Philippe Aquanaut is a highly functional timepiece with useful complications like travel time and double day/time indicators. What you get when you buy this watch is a super comfortable sports watch with elegant aesthetics and useful complications.