Prime Time: Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time | Patek Travel Time 5164/A

5164/A Split-Second Takeaways:

> Luxury watches represent the apogee of the watch market; Patek Philippe sits atop this rarefied class.

> Aquanaut Travel Time pairs a versatile stainless steel sports watch with a dual-timezone complication.

> Travel time feature allows simultaneous viewing of two time zones with a night/day indicator for each.

> Patek Philippe’s movement finish is the last word in detail; even microscopes struggle to find flaws.

> Pateks lead in retained value. This Aquanaut Travel Time is a rarity.

> A purchase date of June 2014 means the watch retains its Patek Philippe factory warranty.

While the Rolex “five-point crown” may be the best-known symbol in luxury watchmaking, Patek Philippe reigns as king of the realm. Quite literally a watchmaker to royalty, Patek inspires in seasoned collectors the same dissonant mix of emotions that the general public reserves for Rolex; shock, envy, lust, love/hate, and simple awe can overcome even jaded watch veterans when the subject turns to Patek.

To put it mildly, Patek Philippe ownership is an exclusive club. At any given time, even fewer longing souls can own the hottest Patek of the moment, and authorized dealer wait lists have been known to span years between desire and delivery. When the Aquanaut Travel Time (ref. 5164/A) appeared at the 2012 Baselworld trade show, the result was a perfect storm: a sports watch, in stainless steel, with a dual-time complication, limited volume and – most importantly –  all of this in a Patek Philippe.

H2: Meet the Exclusive Aquanaut Travel Time

The Aquanaut Travel Time takes Patek’s most versatile sports watch model line and seamlessly integrates a dual-time complication. A key to the Geneva firm’s success has been its skill at incorporating complications without spoiling the purity of their time-tested styles. When not required, the Aquanaut’s solid local time can be superimposed over its home time counterpart to create a supremely clean dial.

A “home time” hour hand projects from the center and is distinguished from the primary “local hour” indicator by its soft skeleton outline. The solid hour hand represents the time in one’s present (local) timezone. The home time can be used to keep track of friends, family, or colleagues who may be sufficiently distant to require a quick reference before diving headlong into a 3 am phone call.

Even better, the watch incorporates day/night indicators at 3 and 9 o’clock to provide instant notice of am/pm status in the home and local zones, respectively.

How the 5164/A Works

Naturally, Patek places a high value on ease of use. The twin pushers opposite the crown permit forward and backward adjustment of the time zone, and they can be actuated at any time of day without damaging the mechanism. These controls also recap Patek’s commitment to visual harmony; the curvature of the buttons conforms seamlessly to the flow of the case flank, and the effect provides a symmetrical counterweight to the crown and shoulders on the opposite side.

In fact, the look of this Aquanaut Travel Time evokes the twin-wing profile of its celebrated cousin, Patek’s iconic Nautilus. As a result, the 5164/A boasts wrist presence and broad-shouldered good looks that rival the original Patek sports classic – but at a far more appealing price point!

Patek Philippe’s travel time mechanism and the Aquanaut model seemingly have spent the last seventeen years on a convergence course. Both introduced at Baselworld 1997, the Aquanaut and TT complication seem to have been destined to combine.

Versatility is the reason why. The travel time feature will find daily use in almost any owner’s routine. Whether one travels frequently, communicates with those who do, or simply requires a means to keep track of events in distant time zones, the second hour hand will become a fixture in any user’s daily tasks. As Patek’s hippest and most versatile model, the Aquanaut is the rare Patek that looks at home in any setting. While the ideal sports watch is a “work hard, play hard” kind of companion, most Pateks are too traditional to wear beyond formal occasions.

But not the Aquanaut. Like a varsity footballer who also plays virtuoso violin, this Aqua blends robust stainless steel and natural rubber with the jeweler-grade detailing that makes Patek’s fine finish the industry leader. As a Patek without pretense, the Aquanaut allows its owner to enjoy the pleasure of Patek Philippe ownership in any setting and any company.

A Versatile and Sporty Look

A supple black strap in natural latex rubber provides a durable and comfortable counterpart to the 40.8 mm case. The strap pairs with a convenient trigger-release double deployant clasp that prevents accidental falls when donning and removing the watch.

When admired through the sapphire case back, the movement of the Aquanaut Travel Time lives up to the Patek Philippe legend. While certain watch movements appear impressive at first glance only to reveal their warts upon the second, a Patek Philippe grows more astounding as scrutiny draws closer. It’s not for nothing that a Patek’s movement finish can account for almost one quarter of the value of the entire watch.

More than a pretty face, the in-house movement also includes a clever date-disable mechanism that prevents accidental date changes when the device is engaged in changeover, and a silicon balance spring keeps the watch safe from modern high-powered office electronics.

Investing In Luxury Horology

Patek Philippe is the king of resale value. Among watches, only Rolex approaches the premium that Patek commands on the secondary circuit. More than an heirloom, a Patek is an investment. More fun than government bonds and more stable than stocks, a well-bought Patek is the ultimate “keeper.”

For this reason, pre-owned Patek Philippes with comprehensive factory accessories represent the best-of-the-best to savvy collectors. The 1916 Company is proud to offer this Aquanaut Travel Time with the works; everything that a collector would receive in a dealer’s showroom is included in immaculate condition. A purchase date of June 2014 means that this watch retains the lion’s share of Patek Philippe’s two-year transferrable factory warranty.

Our Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time 5164/A is the quintessential four-season Patek for current devotees of the Geneva legend. Alternatively, this Travel Time represents an ideal point of entry into luxury horology’s premier league… are you a player?