A Brief History of the Patek Philippe Aquanaut

Why the Patek Aquanaut is a Great Investment

There are many lovely pieces of jewelry, but it seems like those that are most iconic are the ones with a great story behind them. Such is the case with the Patek Philippe Aquanaut. First released in 1997, the watch was young, modern and unexpected. It was also controversial due to its characteristics that contradict our notion of a luxury time piece. Read on to find out more about this watch and why it remains such a valuable piece in today’s market.

About the Patek Company

The Patek Philipe Company has been independent for over 175 years. Originally founded in 1851, it is native to Geneva, and was originally formed as Patek, Czapek & C by founder Antoni Patak and partner Franciskek Czapek. Today, it continues as a luxury company that is known for its innovation and dedication to quality. The watches the company produces are considered to be the most prestigious in the world among watch connoisseurs.

About the Patek Philipe Aquanaut

Due to their sense of innovation, the Patek company is known for making pieces that appeal to a younger crowd. The Aquanaut offers a fun, modern style with features like travel time and date and a self winding chronograph. Aesthetic features include its rounded octagonal case and tropical strap which is made of a composite material that is easy to clean and ultra-resistant to wear, salt water and UV radiation. The Aquanaut was inspired by Patek’s Nautilus collection, an elegant sports watch released by the company in 1976.
The watch’s distinctive features include its aforementioned tropical strap as well as its ability to remain waterproof in water depths of up to 200 meters. Its large indices and distinctive numbers make it easy to read. A black embossed design adorns the Aquanaut’s dial. The watch is powered by automatic movement and offers the mechanical finesse that has become synonymous with the Patek name.
While the Aquanaut has a number of standard features, there are also those that make each model unique. For starters, the band is available in a variety of colors including black, brown, blue, white and neutral tones. It can also be purchased with a stainless steel strap.
Other variations include the watch face which is available in rose gold, stainless steel and white gold. The watches are available for both men and women.

Famous Owners of the Aquanaut Watch

Because the Aquanaut is such a sought after piece, it should come as no surprise that it has been seen gracing the wrists of many celebrities. Paul McCartney wore one when featured on the cover of Rolling Stone and was also known to be wearing one on his wedding day. His former drummer, Ringo Starr, was seen wearing the time piece for countless public appearances. Billionaire George Soros wore one on when photographed for the cover of his biography.

Controversy surrounding the Aquanaut

The controversy surrounding the Aquanaut revolves mainly around its predecessor, the Nautilus. In 1976, when this watch was released, it countered what many expected from a luxury watch. Its sportier appearance shocked some, but also paved the way for a newer, sportier take on luxury. In some models, a larger case size was also part of the culture shock.
Although some may think that this sense of shock may have cooled a bit with the more recent release of the Aquanaut, this is not the case as its more stripped down appearance brought it to a new level in casual watches which may have been influenced by the late 90’s turn to grungier styles as well as the Monster sports explosion. Of course, it is part of this controversy that also helps to make both models that much more appealing.
Also, notable in the watch’s sportier appearance was its strap which represented a clean design which is carried throughout the watch and manages to embrace both a sense of sport and luxury with an all or nothing sensibility.
But one can not discuss the controversial aspects of this sporty watch without making mention of the price. Whether you consider this watch luxury or sport, the price tag clearly aligns with luxury as both models come with price tags equaling tens of thousands of dollars.

Various Styles of Aquanaut Watches

Many variations of the Aquanaut watch have been released over the years. With these updates, the watch itself has evolved in style. The first model was a 5060A Aquanaut which was available in black on black with a stainless steel face. It features a 33mm case size, a sapphire crystal, Arabic dial markers and automatic movement.
Over the years, the watch has evolved, featuring models with larger cases and more complicated, gender specific options. Other updates include a variety of colors and case metals, However, it still manages to be a mainstay in the watch fashion world, conveying both a casual vibe and an air of effortless sophistication.
To get a better idea of how the Aquanaut has evolved, here are examples of newer models the line has released:

Aquanaut Luce: The Aquanaut is made for both men and women. The Luce is one of the more popular women’s models, bringing a splash of color to the Aquanaut line. It comes in color varieties including Pure White, Ocean Blue, Chocolate Brown and Mysterious Black.
Like most women’s watches, the case is smaller that those featured on its male counterparts. These measure 35.6 milimeters as opposed to the men’s that can range from 38 – 40 milimeters.
The Luce clearly combines the right amount of sport with luxury. The bezels are brilliantly set with approximately 27.6K of baguette diamonds while the Tropical bracelets have water capabilities of up to 120 meters. The sapphire crystal case back allows owners to view the mechanical caliber 324 S C.
The Aquanaut Travel Time: The Aquanaut Time Travel’s distinctive feature is its dual time mechanism. This allows frequent flyers to refer to local time as well as time zones at home and in other parts of the world. It is this feature that earned the watch the title of Best Travel Watch 2011.
The case back of the watch is comprised of sapphire crystal that allow the wearers to view the technology of the Calibre 324 SC FUS movement that powers the watch.
The diameter of the case measures 40.8 making it one of the larger of those in the Aquanaut series. The watch also features the Tropical bracelet.
Aquanaut Chronograph Reference: This Aquanaut not only provides travel time and date but updated features including a self winding chronograph which guarantees accuracy.
Clearly catering to a younger, sporty crowd, the Tropical band is featured in bright orange (also available in black) and has orange accents incorporated into the face of the watch as well. The caliber is the same as that used in the 5980 Nautilus with a 60 minute counter at 6 o’clock.
The face diameter is 42.2 making it one of the larger watches in that respect. Its case is stainless steel and it is water resistant up to 120 meters.
Annual Calendar 5250: Among the watches in the Patek Aquanaut collection, a number were limited edition. The Annual Calendar 5250 is among them as only 100 were produced.
The watch was released in 2005 and features a revolutionary silicium escape wheel. Silicium is a material that is twice as hard as steel, light, smooth and anti-magnetic. It eliminates the need to lubricate the escape wheel.
The watch includes a power reserve and moonphase as well as an annual calendar that recognizes 30 day months and does not need to be manually adjusted during those periods.
There have been newer, improved version of the watch produced in following years, but the 5250G remains the one that is most highly coveted and is currently valued at over $100,000.

Why Buying the Patek Aquanaut Can Be A Great Investment

Buying any luxury item can be a great investment. If kept in good condition, its value will increase over the years, especially if it is a limited edition item or one that is no longer being produced.
Selling your item will be one way to cash in on its value, but many like to hold on to their items for prestige and well as sentimental value. However, there are other ways your luxury items can help you if you are in a financial crunch.
When we think of pawn shops, we often think of them as being places where we can sell items. But did you know that pawn shops can also make loans too? Here’s a bit about how it works.
If you have an item you think might be worth money, you can take it into a pawn shop for a loan. The shop will appraise the item and offer you a loan that is worth a percentage of the item’s value. You will then arrange terms so that you can make payments on your loan which will include interest rates and fees. Once the loan is paid off, your item will be returned to you.
In rare cases, people are not able to pay off their loans. If this happens, the pawn shop keeps your item, but this will not affect your credit score, nor will it go into collections. This is just one of the reasons why a pawn shop loan is preferable to a bank loan. Pawn shop loans tend to also offer lower rates than banks and they don’t run credit checks and can provide payments faster than a bank can.

Why Boca Raton Pawn is a Great Option for Your Loan

Despite the fact that pawn shop loans seem like a more attractive option than a bank, many are still reluctant to go this route. This is understandable as pawn shops have gotten a bad rap over the years. That’s why it’s important to make sure you are dealing with a reputable company who will give you a fair deal and respect you and your items.
Boca Raton Pawn is a respected business that has been working with the South Florida community for many years. They specialize in luxury items and are familiar with how much these items should appraise for. They treat the items in their shop with the utmost care, making sure they will be returned to you in the same condition they were received.
BRP also understands that your financial matters need to be handled discreetly. That’s why they offer their customers the utmost in discretion. You can even schedule a private consultation in advance.
But the best part of Boca Raton Pawn is that they offer the lowest interest rates and highest values on your luxury items. You will always get a fair price for your item and terms that will allow you to pay off your loan without experiencing any further financial burden. And with Boca Raton Pawn’s high level of service, the loan process is simple, and you can walk away with cash in hand within minutes.

More About BRP

If you are interested in getting a loan with Boca Raton Pawn, it is best to do a bit of research in advance. The company specializes in luxury items, specifically the buying and selling of high end handbags, watches and jewelry. There are certain brands they are more likely to buy then others which are all listed on their web site. Items should also be in good condition to be considered for a sale or loan.
Of course, the Patek Aquanaut is a highly sought after model which is always in demand at Boca Raton Pawn!
And Boca Raton Pawn isn’t just a great place to sell or get a loan; it’s also a great place to shop! Stop by their location or check out their web site to find out about the luxury items they have available at discount prices. With their high level of service, excellent deals and exceptional reputation, it is little wonder why they are one of the most highly respected pawn shops in the South Florida area.