PATEK PHILIPPE Aquanaut CHRONO Ref. 5968A

Anyone who has been following OceanicTime for more than a year or so will know that it gets a bit quiet during the summer months;



there’s the Swiss watchmaker’s annual holidays, exciting new models are few and far between and when you’re in a niche such as I am you have to do more than the usual amount of legwork to create content which in the past has lead to me posting one or two questionable watches :-/



It’s time to be a little more aspirational, folks, time to see what the upper echelon have got slapped on their wrists and find out if this 43,700USD sports chronograph from Patek Philippe is a worthy proposition for your coin or indeed you wrist.



Patek’s Aquanaut and Nautilus are the maunfactures’ sportiest models; while they aren’t divers, per se, their names are at least evocative of the ocean and for me there has always been an appeal. Both models are offered in Stainless steel with the Nautilus considered the brand’s entry level model.



The 2018 Aquanaut Chronograph’s use of orange for its hands, markings and additional composite strap, its generous 42.2mm by 11.9mm Stainless steel case with 120 meters of water-resistance further adds to that appeal.



Despite its screw-down crown and tough Sapphire crystal, it’s by no means diver but it is nautical timepiece with an ambition that goes beyond the confines of a tailored shirt cuff – it wants to get wet and who are we to deny it, its right to be worn with neoprene.



Sat proudly at the pinnacle of watch-making, PP have a reputation as one of the finest manufacturers of luxury mechanical wristwatches – in the world (insert Jeremy Clarkson voice over), so it should come as no surprise that this Aquanaut Chrono is endowed with a top notch movement.



The PP Caliber CH 28-520 C mechanical self-winding movement with: chronograph, 60-minute counter, sweep seconds hand (chronograph hand) is comprised of 308 parts, 14 Bridges, 32 Jewels and a maximum power reserve of 55 hours.



Visible through the watch’s Sapphire case-back is a central rotor in solid 21K gold with Patek Philippe’s hallmark seal. It also boasts a Gyromax balance and Spiromax balance spring (as you do); vibrations per hour are 28 800 (at 4 Hz).



Its specially embossed dial is in sporty matte black with white gold applied numerals with luminescent coating.



The watch comes presented on a black ultra-resistant, composite strap with an Aquanaut fold-over clasp in Stainless steel; however it is supplied with an additional orange composite strap.



Thoughts? This possibly makes my ROO Scuba feel a little shabby – AP who?! What do you think; does it appeal to the casual dive watch enthusiast, is it potential grail material???