Patek Philippe’s Aquanaut was the first model produced by the manufacture which is sold with a rubber strap. When released at Basel in 1997, the reference 5065 was a limited edition watch of 1,000 timepieces, and sold in both stainless steel and 18k yellow gold. The watch had a sporty appeal and representative of the casual era but was a breed unto itself compared to the Nautilus, which had been released 20 years earlier. The model became a collector’s favourite and has been issued in a variety of sizes and movement types.

The present example is part of a very limited number made for the Japanese market. It most notably displays a special blue dial with applied numerals.

Fresh to the market, it is offered in remarkably well-preserved condition of both case and dial. Most notably, this watch retains its original strap, along with an additional blue strap provided by Patek Philippe during the servicing. It is even accompanied by its original blue Patek Philippe presentation box. Considering that only a handful of examples of this “Japan Edition” are known from the public market, it is safe to say this is a highly exclusive opportunity to own one of the most unusual and charismatic Aquanaut models ever produced.