The Ultimate Aquanaut: Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5167/300G

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The replica Patek Philippe Aquanaut has had an interesting journey. Since its launch, it has gone from a misunderstood and even blasphemous iteration of the venerable Nautilus to a very popular and unique watch. The Patek Philippe Aquanaut shows that “luxury” and “casual” are not diametrically opposed, and of all Aquanaut watches, I believe the Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5167/300G takes this philosophy to the extreme. This is an extremely rare white gold diamond reference 5167/300G that has never been produced in series. It’s a watch that never got mainstream coverage, and most collectors don’t even know it exists. This ultra-luxury, ultra-rare, yet fully functional sports watch is the ultimate Aquanaut.

history
In 1997, amid the craze, the first Aquanaut came out as a luxury sports watch for the younger generation. The Reference 5066A takes some of Nautilus’ best elements – like the octagonal bezel, stainless steel case, and durability – and applies them to a more modern, approachable timepiece. This is not your dad’s Patek Philippe sports watch. The watch, which stood out for its rubber strap and sporty design, appealed to the younger Silicon Valley crowd, who were more likely to wear pajamas than suits. Aquanaut has grown in popularity over the years.

Based on the entry-level 5167, the Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5167/300G is anything but. The baguette-cut diamond-encrusted style is very limited and was originally only available in white or rose gold in the Middle East. It is very rare and does not appear in any Patek Philippe catalogues. There are likely fewer than ten in existence, and the timepiece appears to be offered only to Patek Philippe’s best customers. It doesn’t get more unique than this.

plan the details
The case of this watch is 40 mm in diameter and 8.1 mm thick, made of 18k white gold and set with 101 baguette diamonds. If you’re not looking at a sapphire crystal, you’re looking at a diamond, not just any diamond; these are some of the finest diamonds. Patek Philippe uses only top color, internally flawless and cut diamonds. Furthermore, all the stones are mobiles without adhesives, illustrating Patek Philippe’s dedication to its craftsmanship.

But don’t let ice and gold fool you. This watch still has all the classic Aquanaut features we know and love. The grenade-like raised guilloche in the center of the dial, bold Arabic numerals and clear hands, and, of course, its tropical rubber strap, have it all. Even with the dazzling diamonds, the classic Aquanaut case shape is still recognizable from across the room. Despite the precious metals and diamonds, this watch retains the sporty feel of its durable rubber strap and 120-meter water-resistant case; this will satisfy just about any need. However, if I had it strapped to my wrist, the most adventurous thing I could hope to see was being pushed into the pool at a wedding.

inner work
With all the glitz and glamour, the in-house Caliber 324 SC trumps it. This self-winding time and date movement has a 45-hour power reserve and contains some of Patek Philippe’s advanced research components, including the four-spoke Gyromax balance wheel and the Spiromax balance wheel. These advanced features take advantage of Silinvar, a proprietary silicon blend made by Patek Philippe that is harder and more resistant to corrosion than steel. It is also very smooth and requires no lubricant, making it more efficient and reliable. Overall, these advanced research features of the 324 SC make it a highly durable and precise movement. This Aquanaut is as reliable and precise as it is luxurious. super replica watches

competing with
The rarity of this watch is hard to match, but its luxurious sportsmanship makes it the most competitive position on the market right now. If you’re looking for an ultra-luxury sports watch, here are some options to consider.

The first is this Rolex Yacht-Master 126655. Like the Aquanaut, the Yacht-Master lives in the shadow of the famous older brother Submariner. However, unlike the Aquanaut, which is considered more casual than the Nautilus, the Yacht-Master has always been a more luxurious version of the Sub. This is especially true of this model. With an 18K rose gold case and a dial set with pavé diamonds, there is no doubt that it is a standard sports watch. While the diamonds on the Yach-Master are more subtle than the Aquanaut, its rose gold case definitely catches the eye, so I’d say it’s just as gorgeous. Its Oyster-Flex bracelet—despite what looks like a rubber strap—is an expertly engineered marvel of durability and comfort. It definitely has the upper hand when compared to the Aquanauts Tropical Strap. However, this watch is of standard production and is not as precious as Patek Philippe.

Next up is this 37mm Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Model 15451. Its case and bracelet are made of stainless steel, just like the original Royal Oak, but the watch’s bezel is set with 40 brilliant-cut diamonds. If you’re looking for something softer than the Aquanaut, this is the watch. Plus, the sparkle and rarity you give up, you get provenance. Aquanaut is modeled after Nautilus, but Royal is completely original. In fact, Aquanaut is following in the footsteps of the Royal Oak. The Nautilus and Aquanaut might not exist without the Royal Oak, designed by Gerald Genta, to pave the way for luxury sports watches.

character
This is one of the most exclusive and luxurious offerings on the 5167 Aquanaut. It takes what is considered a fundamental reference and elevates it to the highest level of connoisseurship and collectible value. This watch is for collectors who already own all the other Aquanaut variants and think they’ve seen it all. they do not.

final thoughts
The Aquanaut has truly become one of the best sports luxury watches on the market, and it certainly no longer lives in the shadow of its big brother. This watch feels like it celebrates that, with luxury elements up to 11 points and all of its sportiness intact. It takes the concept of a luxury sports watch to new heights.

Rolex’s upgrade this time can be said to be “unprecedented”

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In the eyes of many people, Rolex is actually a bit stubborn, and many watches are sold for decades without much change, which has also attracted a lot of complaints from watch friends. And cheap Rolex seems to have heard everyone’s voice. The new watch released this year has some visible changes, especially the “left-handed” Sprite circle that everyone didn’t expect, which is really surprising. But in addition to this highly regarded “Sprite Circle” GMT, there is also a watch that has undergone very big changes and upgrades. This change can be said to be “unprecedented” for Rolex.

Among Rolex’s new watches this year, the new green and black “Sprite Circle” GMT and the new Airmaster are the two new watches that attract the most attention from players. In addition to these two sports models, there is also a heavyweight Rolex that has undergone a major facelift this year, which is Rolex’s new platinum weekday calendar DAY DATE. The new platinum DAY DATE uses a new dogtooth bezel, replacing the previous polished bezel.

Rolex platinum DAY DATE used dog tooth ring for the first time.

Rolex DAY DATE, since its birth in 1956, has launched a platinum case model. You know, from 1956 to 2021, in the past 65 years, the Rolex DAY DATE platinum case model has been using a polished bezel and has not changed.

As a result, the gold DAY DATE, rose gold DAY DATE, and platinum DAY DATE all use a dog-tooth bezel, but the platinum DAY DATE uses a polished bezel. As soon as you see the DAY DATE with the “polished bezel”, you can recognize it at a glance. This is the most expensive platinum case DD in the DAY DATE family.

But things changed this year (2022). Rolex replaced the platinum shell DAY DATE with a “dog tooth ring” and completely discontinued the “grinding ring” platinum DD. A break with a 65-year-old tradition. From then on, the Rolex DAY DATE family, regardless of gold, platinum, rose gold, or platinum, has no polished bezel, and the dog tooth ring “unifies the rivers and lakes” (except for the dog tooth, the bezel is diamond-encrusted).

Why does Rolex only use dog teeth ring for platinum DD to this day?

Because, Rolex couldn’t make platinum dog teeth ring before.

Platinum is the most valuable precious metal in watches. Compared with 18K gold such as gold, platinum, and rose gold, platinum has a high melting point and high hardness, making it difficult to recast and polish. Platinum is expensive and difficult to machine. This is why, among the famous watches, the platinum case is 30% or more higher than the public price of the 18K gold case for the same watch.

Rolex dog teeth ring, with a large number of facets and all polished, 18K gold is easy to make because it is relatively soft. In the past, platinum has not made dog tooth rings, and can only use a relatively simple polished bezel for more than 60 years. From the actual effect, the dog tooth ring has a large number of reflective surfaces, and the effect is definitely better than a simple polished bezel. It was reported before that Rolex finally broke through the manufacturing technology of platinum dog teeth, so this year, the dog teeth ring was completely changed on the platinum DAY DATE.

Rolex’s new platinum DD comes in two sizes, 40mm and 36mm.

40mm version, model number 228236.

36mm version, model number 128236.

The two models, 40mm and 36mm, are dog-tooth rings, head bracelets, and use the iconic “ice blue” dial of Rolex platinum watches. Whenever you see a Rolex with an “ice blue” dial, whether it is a DAY DATE or a Daytona, you can instantly recognize that this is a platinum Rolex. It should be noted here that in addition to the ice blue plate, Rolex’s platinum DAY DATE also has a white plate, a black plate, a silver plate, a green plate, and a gray plate, but only “ice blue” is the exclusive color of Rolex platinum watches.

Apart from the size difference, the biggest difference between the 40mm and 36mm models is the dial hour markers.

40 mm 228238: Use Rolex’s latest three-dimensional Roman numeral hour markers. The three-dimensional time scale has multiple facets, and the three-dimensional effect is very strong and very sharp. At present, this new time scale is only used on the 40mm DD.

36mm 128236: Use the regular Roman hour markers before Rolex. Although it is also a three-dimensional hour-marker, the hour-marker is only polished on the front. This kind of Roman numerals, the log-type DATEJUST is also used, and it is only used on the 36 mm size on the DAY DATE.

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In terms of size selection, the size of the gold watch is smaller, and the sense of formal wear will be stronger, and 36mm is no problem. The 40mm DAY DATE is updated in terms of design language, and 40mm can be given priority. Here I want to say one more thing, platinum watches are very heavy, even heavier than 18K gold. I have worn a friend’s platinum Rolex, platinum head platinum chain, very heavy.

The new 40mm and 36mm platinum dog tooth DDs both use Rolex’s new generation of 32 series automatic movements (3255 movement). The 32 series movement uses the new Chronergy escapement, which improves the efficiency of the movement and enhances the power of the mainspring. While maintaining 70 hours of power, it has the standard of the Rolex Super Observatory, with an error of +2/-2 seconds per day. And continue to use the Rolex blue niobium hairspring to maintain outstanding anti-magnetic ability. At present, Rolex has popularized the new generation 32 series automatic movement across the board. It has been 7 years since its launch in 2015, and the performance of the movement has passed the test of time. The small crown in the middle of SWISS MADE at 6 o’clock on the dial is a sign of the use of the new 32 series movement.

Although the market of Rolex sports models is now higher, DAY DATE has always been the flagship style of Rolex. This time, the dog-tooth ring replaced the grinding ring, and some players also said that they still prefer the platinum DD of the previous grinding ring.