Patek Philippe Replica Aquanaut Chronograph 5968A review

patek philippe replica presented its first Aquanaut chronograph at Baselworld 2018. It was a sophisticated version of the popular line of sports watches launched 21 years earlier in 1997. The Aquanaut was conceived as a starter in the brand’s portfolio, cheaper than the Nautilus and with less functionality than even the simplest versions of the Calatrava. And today we will talk about the more “advanced” version of Aquanaut from 2018.

A few words about design
This Patek Philippe Aquanaut Chronograph Ref. 5968A certainly has a very bright and unusual look, which is aimed primarily at a young audience. Last but not least, touches such as a wide 42.2 mm case and bright color schemes with orange accents in the design of the dial were to impress. Moreover, in addition to the standard black strap, the brand also offered an all-orange interchangeable option. Although, of course, these watches cannot be attributed to cheap ones. At around CHF 39,000, this watch is nearly CHF 3,000 more expensive than the comparable 41mm Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph.

Prior to the introduction of the 5968A, the Aquanaut was available in a classic 40mm three-hand case with a date window, a dual-zone Travel Time version, and a white gold 42mm anniversary edition launched in connection with with the celebration in 2017 of the 20th anniversary of the launch of the first Aquanaut watch. The introduction of the chronograph was a logical next step in the development of this line, as many replica watches fans wanted to see something classic but in a more modern size and design, while still being sporty and comfortable on the wrist. This is exactly what the 5968A turned out to be.
Case and dial
As mentioned above, the case of this watch model has a width of 42.2 mm and a thickness of 11.9 mm. And as a mechanism, the caliber CH 28-520 C is used, in which the chronograph hand can also be used as a regular second hand. For this, Patek Philippe has developed a special frictionless clutch that prevents unwanted flickering. As a flyback chronograph, the Aquanaut 5968A watch does not have an additional seconds dial on the dial, and the 60-minute chronograph counter is located at the 6 o’clock position and aesthetically completely duplicates the appearance of the main dial. The color brightness of the dial is added by the orange hands of the chronograph itself, the central hand and the minute markings on the additional dial. It is a pity that the date window is knocked out of the general color concept, but this is a traditional “solution” characteristic of many Patek Philippe Replica models, including the legendary Nautilus.

Used as a movement, the CH 28-520 C caliber consists of 308 parts, operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour and, depending on the nature of use, has a power reserve of 45 to 55 hours. If you turn the back of the watch, then through the transparent cover you can clearly see the central rotor made of 875 gold. On the right side of the case are the crown and two pushers: at 2 o’clock to start/stop the chronograph and at 4 o’clock to reset the chronograph and activate the flyback function.
Strap
Aquanaut watches would not be what they are for many fans without a composite strap. And the chronograph we are considering came out with two such straps: black and orange. And while black certainly looked very impressive, orange turned out to be more preferable for most buyers, since it made the model much brighter, more noticeable on the hand and original. Also with this model, an improved folding clasp with four latches for a more secure fit. And although the design of the new Aquanaut could no longer be called the most sporty, they still retained water resistance to a depth of 120 meters.

Finally
Against the backdrop of the Aquanaut Chronograph 5968A, the Travel Time version, while useful for frequent travelers, is nevertheless overly complicated, which is unlikely to be used as a daily watch by very many people. On the other hand, for people who can afford a watch of this class, very simple versions with three hands look too simple. Therefore, the “middle version” of the chronograph that appeared on the market was aimed at a relatively “mass” audience.