Patek Philippe’s Aquanaut was released at Baselworld in 1997, with the reference 5065A "Jumbo", a limited edition watch of 1,000 timepieces, sold in both stainless steel and yellow gold. The watch had a sporty appeal, designed for more casual lifestyles – it was the first Patek Philippe wristwatch to be released with a rubber strap. The Aquanaut was meant to speak to a younger audience, thus somewhat shifting the overall perception of the company from extremely high-end and targeted to “old school” collectors, to a more contemporary, “all around” brand focused on unparalleled watchmaking but which also has more casual offerings. Though drawing some design cues from the Nautilus released 20 years earlier, the Aquanaut established an entirely separate product line. The model quickly became a strong seller, and has been released in a variety of sizes and models with additional complications in the intervening years.

Released in 2018 in a stainless steel case measuring 42mm in diameter, the Aquanaut ref. 5968A-001 stands out with a remarkable aesthetic appeal. Typified by its striking orange chronograph hands gliding over the small 60-minute register and across the black dial, the contrast is youthful and dynamic. An incredibly sought-after model in recent times, the present timepiece is offered by the original owner and is in like new condition fitted on an orange rubber strap, and accompanied with its full set of accessories.