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Patek Philippe Aquanaut 40mm Stainless Steel
Ref. 5167/1A-001
Sits in Patek Philippe’s upper tier here — more premium than three quarters of the Patek Philippe watches we list, which start at £10,250.
Price range £10,250 to £91,995 across 17 Patek Philippe watches in stock.The Aquanaut arrived in 1997 as Patek Philippe's answer to a younger, more active wearer — less formal than the Nautilus, built to go in the water, but unmistakably from the same house. The 5167 succeeded the original reference 5065A a decade later, refining the proportions while keeping the rounded octagonal case and the embossed dial that shifts between grid and texture depending on where the light catches it. The "-001" suffix is the detail that matters here: where most Aquanaut references ship on the composite rubber strap, this one comes on the fully integrated steel bracelet, which changes the character of the watch considerably — dressier in hand, more formal on the wrist. At 8.1mm thin and 48mm lug to lug, it lies unusually flat and close for a watch rated to 120 metres, and it disappears under a cuff in a way that very few sports watches manage. The 324 S C inside carries a 21-carat gold rotor and was, in earlier production runs, certified to the Geneva Seal before Patek transitioned to their own proprietary standard — either way, the finishing visible through the caseback belongs to a movement that Patek regards as a workhorse in the best sense: accurate, robust and decorated as though it will be looked at. The butterfly clasp tucks cleanly under the wrist, and link adjustment is done mechanically by pin, which keeps the bracelet's integrated lines intact.
- Reference
- 5167/1A-001
- Brand
- Patek Philippe
- Collection
- Aquanaut
- Case size
- 40.8mm
- Case thickness
- 8.1mm
- Lug width
- 21mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Octagonal
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- 324 S C
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 120m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Butterfly clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Pre-owned
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 48mm
- Power reserve
- 45 hours
Learn more about Patek Philippe
Antoine Norbert de Patek, a Polish cavalry officer exiled after the November Uprising, founded a watch business in Geneva in 1839 with his countryman François Czapek. The partnership dissolved after six years, and in 1845 Patek took on the French watchmaker Adrien Philippe, inventor of the keyless winding crown. The firm became Patek Philippe in 1851.
That single invention mattered more than any other in the company's early history: it removed the winding key, and every modern watch descends from it. Queen Victoria bought a Patek pendant watch at the Great Exhibition the same year, establishing the royal patronage the house has traded on ever since.
The Stern family, dial manufacturers and long-standing suppliers, bought the company in 1932 during the Depression. Four generations later it remains in their hands — the last independent family-owned manufacture in Geneva, currently led by Thierry Stern.
Patek's reputation rests on complications: the Calibre 89 of 1989 carried thirty-three of them, and the Grandmaster Chime remains among the most complicated wristwatches made. The Nautilus, drawn by Gérald Genta in 1976 as a steel luxury sports watch, became an unlikely commercial phenomenon four decades after launch.
Production stays deliberately modest, in the tens of thousands annually, and every watch carries the Patek Philippe Seal, an in-house standard the company adopted in 2009 after abandoning the Geneva Seal as insufficiently strict.
- 1839
- Antoine Norbert de Patek and François Czapek found the firm in Geneva.
- 1845
- Adrien Philippe joins, bringing the keyless winding crown.
- 1851
- The company is renamed Patek Philippe; Queen Victoria buys a watch.
- 1932
- The Stern family acquires the company.
- 1976
- The Nautilus debuts, designed by Gérald Genta.
- 2009
- The Patek Philippe Seal replaces the Geneva Seal.
Also in 5 collections
This watch appears in Back in Stock (4,405), Stainless Steel Watches (2,927), Automatic Watches (1,634), Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (326) and Watch Price Drops (293).
2-year Goldsmiths warranty
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 120m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- 8.1mm is unusually slim for a 40.8mm case
- 48mm lug-to-lug keeps the 40.8mm case wearable
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Price history
This watch is currently at its lowest recorded price. It reached £69,950 on 18 September. Prices are checked every day, and we record any changes.
Patek Philippe Aquanaut alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification |  5167/1A-001 | 228206 | 26240OR.OO.D315CR.01 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £65,000 | £62,950 | £74,450 |
| Case size | 40.8mm | 40mm | 41mm |
| Water resistance | 120m | 100m | 50m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet | Leather strap |
| Power reserve | 45 hours | 70 hours | — |
| This watch | Closely matched |
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 120m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 45 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
What size strap does it take?
21mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 48mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16.5cm (6½ inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
How to size a watch to your wristIs it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
Goldsmiths at £65,000, against £69,950 at Goldsmiths. Two UK retailers stock this reference.
Has the price changed recently?
It's currently at its lowest recorded price since we began tracking it. It's ranged between £65,000 and £69,950, today it's £65,000.
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