To many, Patek Philippe represents the cream of the crop when it comes to Swiss luxury watches. Since the company was founded in 1852, the Swiss ultra-luxury watch manufacturer has been responsible for creating some of the most exquisite and complicated mechanical watches in the world.

Unfortunately, ultra-luxury and sky-high prices are inseparable – so most high end watch collectors might go a lifetime without being able to get within 10 feet of a Patek Philippe. But all is not lost!

As watch expert Eric Rivera demonstrates on his latest video review, the price of a Patek Philippe 5167 Aquanaut puts the brand within arm's reach of many watch lovers. Even though “poor” and “Patek Philippe” seldom go together in the same sentence, the Aquanaut 5167A is a great and affordable way to break the ice in the Patek universe.

Please do not misinterpret the “Poor Man's” part of the title above. The Patek Philippe Aquanaut is not an inferior watch by any means. It is still superior to many watch models from other luxury brands out there. It is simply a great entry-level Patek timepiece for collectors who may want to dabble in the brand.

Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5167 – Specifications & General Info

In his video, Eric provides ample information about the Patek 5167A design. He explains that the automatic 5167A comes in stainless steel, with a 40-mm case and a see-through sapphire-crystal back that provides a glimpse into the stunning movement of the watch.

The timepiece is equipped with a black, rubber strap plus a deployment clasp. The case of the 5167 Aquanaut has a relatively low profile, which makes it a very comfortable everyday casual watch to wear. As Eric explains...

“The case comes with a contrasting textures of satin and polish and it's a little bit thin, very comfortable to wear. At times you forget it's even there.”

The Price of the Aquanaut 5167 Watch

Finding a modern Patek Philippe watch priced at less than $20,000 is not a trivial task. Fortunately, buying a pre owned 5167 Aquanaut in great condition is very possible.

Even though the 5167A has a retail price of $20,300, our customers know that when it comes to luxury watches, pre owned typically makes a much better buy (read our blog post New vs Used Watches – Which is the Better Buy?).

As Eric mentions...

“Now, you can hope to pick one of these up pre owned anywhere from 16.5 to 18.5, which puts this watch in my opinion in the entry-level Patek Philippe, obviously because of the price.”

After that, Eric goes on to explain that the difference in price between a new and used Patek Philippe watch might not be as wide as for other brands because Pateks “preserve their value really well.” Nevertheless, an attempt to buy the Aquanaut 5167A pre-owned might still provide the smart connoisseur with a 10 to 20% savings.

NATO and Calf Straps – Enhancing the Cool Factor of the Patek 5167A

The strap of the Patek 5167A is the only thing that Eric is not too thrilled about. He mentions...

“I don't really like the strap on this watch and is only simply because I tend to not like watches that bring the strap that hug the case like this one.”

To avoid this shortcoming and make the watch look a lot cooler, Eric recommends the use of a NATO strap, which he displays on the video.

Even though the Patek Aquanaut 5167 is more of a “jeans-and-t-shirt type of watch” (as Eric explains), varying the strap is also a great way to make the watch dressier. He says...

“It can be also dressed up a bit with perhaps maybe like a calf strap.”

Therefore, the use of a nice calf strap with the 5167 Patek will definitely make the watch a more versatile part of a man's wardrobe.

So Who is the 5167 Patek For Then?

For those of you who follow Eric's Watch Your Style video series, you know that he's all about the Watch Game (a phrase Eric himself coined). The purpose of the videos are not to get overly technical or complicated (many other YouTubers do that already). Instead, Eric aims to blend practical watch information with no-nonsense, fashion applicable to men.

With the following quote, Eric sheds some light into who the Patek 5167 should be for...

“This particular watch is very subtle and understated. Not recommended for the type with the inferiority complex. I mean, if you're looking to make some noise, then you might want to probably just go with an AP Offshore or something like that.”

Consequently, the 5167's subtle look might not make it a good fit for men who like to make their wrists stand out with yellow gold and diamonds at parties. It is more for the watch guys who don't care what the world thinks – and are simply content with the sophisticated level and depth of luxury on their wrists.

Eric concludes...

“It's something different and exquisite, something out of the ordinary. It's a watch guy's watch.”

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