Patek Philippe - STYLED. Timeless Watches & How to Wear Them New York Wednesday, December 5, 2018 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 1999
    Reference No: 5065/1A-001
    Movement No: 3'011’259
    Case No: 4’047’552
    Model Name: Aquanaut
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 315/190 SC, 30 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Patek Philippe brick-style bracelet and additional Patek Philippe rubber strap
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Patek Philippe double deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 37mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement, and bracelet signed.
    Accessories: Accompanied by Certificate of Origin confirming the sale of this watch at the Wempe boutique in Hamburg, Germany on July 15th, 1999, extra tropical strap and buckle, product literature, Wempe certificate, inner and outer box. Further accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming this watch was manufactured in 1999 and sold on April 30th, 1999.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Just as an astronaut is one who explores space, an aquanaut is one who explores the seas. In order to be conferred such a title, one must actually spend time in these most extreme of habitats, and have appropriate wrist attire for such excursions. For those more likely to spend time sipping Mai Tai’s on a tropical island than living in an oxygen depleted environment under the sea, equally appropriate wristwear is also needed.

    Patek Philippe’s Aquanaut was the first model produced and sold with a rubber strap. Released at Basel in 1997, the reference 5065A "Jumbo" was a limited edition watch of 1,000 timepieces, sold in both stainless steel and 18K yellow gold. The watch had a sporty appeal and was representative of Patek’s foray into creating a watch for more casual lifestyles – it was the first Patek Philippe wristwatch to be released with a rubber strap. Though drawing some design cues from the Nautilus, released 20 years earlier, it can be considered a breed unto itself. The model quickly became a strong seller, and has been released in a variety of sizes and with several different complications in the intervening years. The reference 5065 was produced from 1998 until 2006, when it was replaced by the reference 5167A. The present, early reference 5065/1A-001 stands out among these as it is the only variant of the reference ever sold as a package that included both the rubber composite strap and steel bracelet.

    Even for a casual, sporty wristwatch, significant planning and attention to detail went into the design for the Aquanaut. The embossed, oversized guilloché dial is reminiscent of the brick design of both the steel bracelet and the rubber strap. Significantly more luminous material is used on the dial of the Aquanaut in comparison to the Nautilus, and the hands and indexes are consequently thicker. Both references share the vertically brushed flat bezel, though the Aquanaut has more angular corners, rather than the rounded, porthole-style corners of the Nautilus.

    Preserved in exceptional condition for almost two decades, and accompanied by all of its original accessories, the opportunity to own this very rare and original Aquanaut "Jumbo" is one not to be missed.

  • Artist Biography

    Patek Philippe

    Swiss • 1839

    Since its founding in 1839, this famous Geneva-based firm has been surprising its clientele with superbly crafted timepieces fitted with watchmaking's most prestigious complications. Traditional and conservative designs are found across Patek Philippe's watches made throughout their history — the utmost in understated elegance.

    Well-known for the Graves Supercomplication — a highly complicated pocket watch that was the world’s most complicated watch for 50 years — this family-owned brand has earned a reputation of excellence around the world. Patek's complicated vintage watches hold the highest number of world records for results achieved at auction compared with any other brand. For collectors, key models include the reference 1518, the world's first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph, and its successor, the reference 2499. Other famous models include perpetual calendars such as the ref. 1526, ref. 3448 and 3450, chronographs such as the reference 130, 530 and 1463, as well as reference 1436 and 1563 split seconds chronographs. Patek is also well-known for their classically styled, time-only "Calatrava" dress watches, and the "Nautilus," an iconic luxury sports watch first introduced in 1976 as the reference 3700 that is still in production today.

    View More Works

Ο22

Ref. 5065/1A-001
A very attractive and well-preserved stainless steel wristwatch with center seconds and date

1999
37mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement, and bracelet signed.

Estimate
$15,000 - 25,000 
CHF15,000-24,900
€13,000-21,700
HK$118,000-196,000

Sold for $32,500

Contact Specialist
Paul Boutros
Head of Watches, Americas
+1 212 940 1293
pboutros@phillips.com

STYLED. Timeless Watches & How to Wear Them

New York Auction 5 December 2018