Patek Philippe Aquanaut

The Patek Philippe Aquanaut may be one of the most important modern luxury sport watches on the market. The Reference 5060J, launched in 1996 for the 20th anniversary of the Nautilus, was a sort of transitional watch. Borrowing features from the Nautilus but doing away with the famed case “ears” of that porthole-inspired model and adding lugs, it provided the basis for the Reference 5060A in 1997, the first model actually bearing the Aquanaut name. The Aquanaut would go on to form the basis of a full collection of luxury sports watches that provided the entry point into the Patek Philippe catalog. This particular Aquanaut, a Reference 5065A-001, dates to the 2000s and features a 38mm stainless steel case with a satin finished bezel and polished facets. Accompanied by a signed screw-down crown, sapphire crystal and 120 meters of water resistance, this is an easy choice for the go-anywhere, do-anything steel sports watch from the maison. Featuring a stern black colorway with signature hobnail texturing, the luminous dial houses a set of applied ‘Arabic’ indices, block markers, a ‘stick’ handset and a date window at 3 o’clock. The exhibition caseback gives way to Patek’s self-winding Calibre 330 SC packed with 30 jewels, offering 48 hours of power reserve and a handy quick-set date mechanism. In great condition throughout showing light signs of honest use, this piece delivers with its factory box, books, leather folio, extra strap, and its Certificate of Origin dated 2005. If a luxury sports watch in the perfect size is what you’re after, stop right here —you've found it.