This is the Patek Philippe Aquanaut reference 5066J. Founded in 1839, Patek Philippe is a name synonymous with high horology. A company that has always been privately owned, Patek has been manufacturing watches for almost two centuries without interruption. The company is currently owned by the Stern family, whose heritage dates back to when they were supplying dials to Patek in the 1920s.

The first Aquanaut was introduced by the brand in 1997 with the mid-sized 5060A as an offshoot of the highly popular Nautilus collection. Running on a 330SC movement, the very first Aquanaut reference with a closed caseback then gave rise to the aforementioned 5066A which was introduced a year later alongside the battery-powered 5064 and the larger-sized 5065 with open sapphire casebacks that displayed the 330 SC self-winding movements.

With a similar silhouette as the Nautilus, the Aquanaut replaced the integrated bracelet with a tropical rubber strap that was as key to the reference as the design itself. Though a steel bracelet was available, the rubber strap and the grenade-style dial came to characterize the model. Produced over a period of 8 years, the 5066 differs from the 5060 with its open sapphire caseback and later, modern luminous material. Still, the reference 5066 remains the closest to the original Aquanaut that the brand envisioned in terms of proportions.

Though the brand may be well-known for its complicated and dress watches, the attention on Patek Philippe’s sports watches have risen exponentially in popularity. The Aquanaut, since its founding only two decades ago, has been a mainstay in Patek Philippe’s catalogue and is representative of the brand’s first true foray into an accessible sports timepiece.