Patek Philippe Aquanaut Jumbo 20th Anniversary 5168G-001 Review
Today we review a popular Patek Philippe watch; the Aquanaut Jumbo 20th Anniversary 5168G-001. Let’s dive right in and get a close look at this beauty.
Patek Philippe Aquanaut Jumbo 20th Anniversary 5168G-001 Review
The unmistakable embossed globe on the gradated blue dial of the aquanaut is one of the Aquanaut’s most recognizable features. The very same pattern can be found running down the midnight blue tropical rubber strap; a design choice that ties the whole watch together handsomely. The tropical rubber strap can fit a wrist up to an 8.5” wrist and is both soft to the touch and comfortable to wear.
The 42.2mm almost cushion cut shaped case uses a combination of a finely brushed and polished finish with a polished screw-down crown for added water resistance. This larger more masculine looking size is perfectly consistent with the growing trend of larger case sizes which has been gaining traction even with the big three watchmakers.
The case is made of 18kt white gold. It features a satin-finished bezel and polished crown guards which protrude on the right side of the watch case to protect the polished crown. The crown, like the buckle and the self-winding rotor found on the watch’s movement, is emblazoned with the Calatrava cross; a symbol and testament of Patek Philippe’s commitment to horological perfection.
Though the name, screw-down crown, and rubber strap would suggest this is a professional diving watch, the 120m/400ft water resistance would suggest that this watch is catered to a different niche. In fact, some light snorkeling and swimming are about all that is recommended with this level of water resistance. With its price tag though, it’s probably a better idea to just keep this watch on dry land and away from the prying teeth of sharks and whatever else lurks beneath in the deep blue sea.
This 20th Anniversary edition Aquanaut has reference number 5168G-001 and is fastened to the wrist with an Aquanaut push-button folding clasp which is branded with an engraved Calatrava cross.
The dial features a blue color fade that runs in a radial gradient with a slightly lighter blue center and darker blue edges. This design gives an even more three-dimensional look to the already 3D dial design. The applied polished index hour markers are thick, and the Arabic numerals are bold. They are both coated with a luminous material allowing for excellent visibility in low-light conditions. A white, finely printed seconds track encircles the perimeter of the dial. The hands are polished and filled with luminescent material.
A transparent scratch-resistant sapphire crystal is used to protect the dial, and another crystal is used on the back of the case allowing you to see the beautifully finished mechanical self-winding caliber. As you would expect from Patek Philippe, the movement is immaculately finished with stainless-steel plates and a weighted 18kt gold rotor all using several finishing techniques. These various combinations have a way of refracting light and brilliantly illuminate the caliber like a piece of fine jewelry.
The automatic in-house movement that is powering this watch is the Patek Philippe caliber 324 SC. It is comprised of 213 parts, contains 28 watch jewels and uses a trademarked Spiromax balance spring and Gyromax balance. The 324 SC caliber has an oscillation rate of 4Hz or 28,800 vibrations per hour and has a power reserve of up to 45hours on a full wind.
The 5168G-001 watch from Patek Philippe comes in an exquisitely polished wooden presentation box complete with a certificate of origin and all original documentation. Click here to view this watch.
