Timely Pursuits

With an uninterrupted legacy of 178 years of creating the finest watches in the world, PATEK PHILIPPE uses Baselworld year after year to excite connoisseurs of fine watchmaking. This year’s edition of the famed watch fair was no different, with the Swiss watch manufacture unveiling a number of brilliant new innovations

AMONG THE MANY fascinating new developments and debuts from Patek Philippe at this year’s Baselworld, there were two standouts that caught the attention of watch collectors and enthusiasts alike – for various reasons.

Last year, Patek Philippe celebrated the 40th anniversary of its unique Nautilus collection. Now, in 2017, another anniversary was on the cards: the 20th birthday of its sporty and dynamic Aquanaut line that was first introduced in Basel in 1997. With the Aquanaut Ref. 5168G, the manufacture delivers impressive proof of how well the elegance of noble metals complements a rugged and decidedly masculine watch that is water-resistant to a depth of 120 metres.

The new Ref. 5168G is the first men’s Aquanaut wristwatch in 18K white gold. With its somewhat warmer hue, it clearly sets itself apart from stainless steel. But as with the other Aquanaut models (and the Nautilus watches), the design of the gently rounded octagonal bezel with vertically satin-finished flats and chamfered polished flanks remains unchanged.