THE Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time 5164A-001

The recently discontinued Patek Philippe Aquanaut “Travel Time”, reference 5164A-001. My holy grail daily watch. It’s hard to explain how happy I am to have this watch back on my wrist. Letting it go 18 months ago seemed right at the time, given the soaring prices and the buzz around it. Yet, the moment I sold it, I regretted it. As rumors have swirled over the past year about a potential discontinuation and as Patek’s “run out” day —the day they “run out” of certain models and discontinue them—quickly approached, I knew I had to get another one before it was too late.

The Aquanaut’s design gets me fired up way more than any other watch—a mix of its understated elegance, the Travel Time function, and the unique rubber strap. For me, when it comes to watches, it all starts with the shape of the case. If I don’t like the shape of the case nothing else matters. It’s simple. I have to love the shape. After the shape it’s the dial. The dial has to be intriguing without being too loud. For those of you that have seen my sneaker collection, this probably doesn’t come as much of a shock to you. I may have the most neutral collection of AF1s out there. I wouldn’t be caught in something too loud on my feet, and the same holds true when it comes to my wrist. My favorite watches are the ones you probably wouldn’t even notice at first glance but are undeniably special.

What makes the Travel Time, or sometimes referred to as “Dual Time”, stand out against the standard Aquanaut is the ability to display home and local time zones at a single glance, including a day/night indicator. When you’re traveling, simply press the pushers on 9 o’clock side of the case and another hour hand magically appears to track a second time zone. Another element that sets this watch apart from the standard version is the globe style date wheel at 6 o’clock. I love the added complication on the face.

The dial of the Patek Philippe Aquanaut is known for its distinctive pattern, which is not lost on the Travel Time version. It’s a sort of "geometric grid" pattern, resembling a globe, with the lines creating a textured surface that adds some depth to the watch's face. It's a signature feature of the Aquanaut line and maybe my favorite dial design of all time. This textured pattern not only enhances the watch's visual appeal but also aids in readability under various lighting conditions, reinforcing Patek Philippe's commitment to both form and function in their luxury timepieces, another favorite characteristic of mine when it comes to watches.

As Patek’s “run out” day inched closer and closer I knew I had to find another one. About a month ago, prior to discontinuation, my brother Josh found another perfect example of my grail daily driver watch, and I couldn’t be more happy with it.

At this point, I think the only reason this watch would leave my collection is if I can find a Tiffany & Co. stamped Aquanaut Travel Time. Now that watch is my absolute GRAIL grail daily driver.

What’s your holy grail watch?