ct9653
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Aquanaut
I've gotta say, the Aquanaut strikes me as more stylish, more iconic of the 20th century "modern" look than the Nautilus. I know it's the lower-priced model, but I honestly see it as an improvement in terms of appearance, for the following reasons. The Nautilus has those horizontal lines on its dial, but the Aquanaut reinterprets those lines as latitudes, and adds "longitudes" to create a symbol of the very globe that the 20th century opened up to millions of new world travellers. It fits perfectly with the bezel's "porthole" motif, calling to mind a ship travelling the world. The Nautilus has nice restrained ticks at each hour position, but the Aquanaut adds numerals. The 20th century saw unparallelled advances in mathematics and computing; what more fitting expression of those advances than numbers marking the passage of time? In my opinion, PP actually made the Aquanaut LESS attractive when it took the "3" off the dial a few years after the Aquanaut first came out.
It's all personal preference -- they're both beautiful watches. But for artistic expression, I believe the Aquanaut takes the prize.
Aquanaut: icon or knock-off?
Interesting discussion about whether the Aquanaut stands as an icon in it's own right, or whether it's a merely a good Nautilus knock-off. Anyone care to comment?
My Icon is
Nautilus. I will not get an Aquanaut. A picture from my afternoon walk last Friday wearing the Icon. Best, Kari...
I won't consider it an icon either...
coz it's still too young to become one. I'd say it can only be one new line of Patek, and a good one to start with. If you tell your AD you want to buy your first Patek, he would probably advise you to decide on your budget and the design that appeals to ...
Its as much an icon
as a 15300 is. Actually I had a 15300 for a while and find the 5167 to be better at ahat they do than the 15300. Better legibility, fabulous luminova, better wr, easier to accurately set the time (no jumping minute hand). More comfortable. Was thinking of...
IMHO, its a affordable PP sports watch
and presents good value on its own, but pales when compared to its more robust compeitition fm AP or VC, even its own elder brother . 4 of the last 5 Aquanaut owners i know switched to Nautilus within the first year of ownership. watch either sold or trad...
Aquanaut
I've gotta say, the Aquanaut strikes me as more stylish, more iconic of the 20th century "modern" look than the Nautilus. I know it's the lower-priced model, but I honestly see it as an improvement in terms of appearance, for the following reasons. The Na...
A Well-Considered Opinion, CT
Hi, CT I agree with your interpretive view of the Aqua. It's an elegant product of its times. I think the best design flows from the spirit of its times but avoids period cliches. The Aqua is a good example of an updated, progressive, inviting PP sports w...
2010 as the era of giants?
Thanks, Tim - as you pointed out in your September post about the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor's Art Deco "zing" (spot on), there's an energy to various eras. I think we often see the energy best from a distance of a decade or so. I couldn't agree w...
Era of Insecurity, yes... and Change
CT, I think there's something to be said for the notion that this era in history (and horology) has been marked by uncertainty, but only part of it has been the recent financial crisis. (Note: this will come full circle and return to the Aquanaut!). Since...
Change is good
Agreed, Tim, the current stormy financial climate is only a part of the story of our times. You make an encouraging point about new ideas and styles being the product of tension throughout history. As they say, a lot of squeezing and burning a lump of coa...
solid reply
only a purists can extrapolate horology design from world affairs and trends. i enjoy your post alot, great views.
Wonderful analysis of the times which we live and
the recent past events which pushes and pulls people, industries, economies, etc. and how that relates to even such things as watches. I wonder of the signature that the Aquanaut will leave looking at it 25-30 years from now. But when I think of landmark ...
A Wonderful Exchange
I'm glad that my thoughts on timepieces and their times were well-received; I certainly enjoyed the opportunity to consider the matter. It will be fascinating to see what direction design and style (not to mention the world itself) take from this point fo...
Dear Tim (and others), its and old thread but I have to say...
that I thoroughly enjoyed the exchange on creative forces and their compounding. I firmly believe we are just in another such formative era (or: is it a constant flux?) where society as a whole is confronted with a paradigm change of information technolog...
Neither ;-)
If you ask me, the true icon is the RO, designed some 4 years before the Naut, if I'm not mistaken. You could even say the Naut is a knock-off of the RO, having seen the big success this new concept had. Heresy?
Not so... the true RO 5167 copy arrived in 2010!
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery - as they say. what better proof of the Aquanaut's arrival as the icon of its genre?...
I would not consider the Aquanaut
an icon....yet. The design is relatively new and obviously a derivative of the Nautilus, which I do believe has achieved an icon status, given its ongoing 35 year run and enormous recent success.
Well it seems to be heading that way
1st came out in 1997, it was restyled in 2006 and now there is a rose gold choice. Oh and don't forget the ladies versions
Still Showing Signs of Strength
Well here it is 3 1/2 years later and the Aquanaut has branched out into new lines and metals.
Shaving off edges fr an iconic Nautilus, doesn't make Aquanaut an "icon" .........
The plain, elegance & versatile iconic piece fr PP is: Nautilus 5711/1A An icon resting on another iconic HuangHuaLi mini Hunting Chair...
I read through this thread.......and.....
.....some comments remind me why I am always a little sceptical when I hear some Patek "collectors". Patek used to be a make that won its plaudits from being "under the radar". In the same way that the Porsche Boxter is often described as the poor man's 9...
Agreed 100%
Very well said. It's all about design, functionality and the wearer. A successful Nautilus doesn't make Aquanaut a less watch. My Aquanaut gets much longer wrist time than any other Patek I own including Nautilus.
Thanks.....
. .....I meant every word. I was in an AD yesterday and tried on a Patek minute repeater tourbillon. Retails at over £400k. Now that such a watch has been on my wrist, I am not sure I can ever try on a Nauti again as it would feel so wrong to wear such a ...