PATEK PHILIPPE, AQUANAUT REF. 5066/1J, AN ATTRACTIVE GOLD AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH GOLD BRACELET

This attractive watch by Patek Philippe comes as part of the Aquanaut line, a watch meant to tread a similar line to its big brother, the Nautilus. One would perhaps say that whereas the Nautilus straddles the fence between sportiness and dressiness, the Aquanaut is more on the sporty side.

The first Aquanaut reference, the 5060A was launched in 1997. A year later, three more references were introduced, the Ref. 5064 (quartz movement), the Ref. 5065 (upsized to 38 mm.) and finally the Ref. 5066 which featured an exhibition caseback. Dials made between 1998 and 2004 featured Tritium lume plots and over the years some of these examples have developed a warm patina.

Straddling the line between vintage and modern watches at 36 mm., the present example's appeal lies in its matching yellow gold bracelet that’s been confirmed on the Extract from the Archive.