The Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5164A-001 is the steel Aquanaut Travel Time: a 40.8 mm case with a black embossed dial, a composite strap and a second time zone that is set with two pushers on the left of the case rather than through the crown. It is the version of the Aquanaut built for people who cross time zones, and it sits between the time-and-date 5167A and the flyback chronograph 5968A in the range. This guide covers the specifications, how Travel Time works, how the 5164A compares with the white gold 5164G and with its siblings, how it wears, dated price context and what to check before buying. Bizak & Co. sources the 5164A-001 to order; the Aquanaut collection lists the configurations we can seek.
Last reviewed on September 28, 2026 by Filip Biczak. Prices are dated observations, not quotes.
Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5164A-001 specifications
| Attribute | 5164A-001 |
|---|---|
| Case | Stainless steel, 40.8 mm, rounded octagonal Aquanaut case |
| Dial | Black with the embossed Aquanaut relief pattern |
| Strap | Black composite, Aquanaut tropical pattern |
| Complications | Travel Time dual time zone, date, day/night indicators for local and home time |
| Movement | Self-winding Patek Philippe calibre in the 324 family (324 S C FUS); confirm calibre, reserve and water resistance against Patek's current specification |
| Condition on our listing | See the catalogue entry; condition and documents confirmed before purchase |
Sources: the reference, size and materials come from our catalogue entry, dated September 28, 2026. Patek Philippe's own Aquanaut collection page lists the current models, and its 5164G-001 page shows the white gold Travel Time.
How does Travel Time work on the 5164A?
Two recessed pushers on the left side of the case jump the local-hour hand forward or back one hour at a time, without stopping the movement or disturbing the minutes. Home time stays on a skeletonised hand underneath. Two small apertures show day or night for each zone. You can reset it walking off a plane, one-handed, without looking up a manual. That is the argument for the complication: a Travel Time watch is used every time you travel, where a GMT hand with a rotating bezel asks you to think about which hand shows what. Confirm how the date behaves when the local hour is moved past midnight, since that behaviour is part of the system's design and worth trying on the watch before you buy.
5164A versus 5164G: steel or white gold?
The 5164G-001 is the same watch in 18 ct white gold with a blue dial. To most eyes across a table it looks like the steel one, which is either the joke or the appeal depending on your temperament. On September 28, 2026 our sourced catalogue listed the steel 5164A-001 at US$100,940 and the white gold 5164G-001 at US$177,109, both sourced to order. The steel watch is the practical choice: the composite strap suits the watch's purpose, and steel wears freely. Buy the white gold if you specifically want the quieter precious-metal choice.
5164A versus 5167A versus 5968A: which Aquanaut?
| 5164A-001 | 5167A-001 | 5968A-001 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Function | Travel Time, date, day/night | Time and date | Flyback chronograph |
| Character | The traveller's Aquanaut | The purest, cleanest Aquanaut dial | The loudest of the three, with the orange strap |
| Bizak catalogue listing, 28 Sep 2026 | US$100,940, sourced to order | US$104,500, sourced to order | US$166,320, sourced to order |
The 5167A is the entry point to the line and the best choice if you do not need a second time zone. On our catalogue that day the two steel watches were listed close together, so the premium for the complication is not visible in the listing; listings move with the sourcing market, and it is worth asking for both quotes. The chronograph is the largest step up. See the Aquanaut 5167 guide for the time-and-date reference and the 5167A-001 catalogue entry for the current listing.
What is the Aquanaut, and where does the 5164A fit?
Patek Philippe introduced the Aquanaut in 1997 as a casual, sporting companion to the Nautilus, with a rounded octagonal case, a grid-embossed dial and a rubber-like composite strap. The line has since grown from time-and-date models to a Travel Time, a chronograph and several gold and diamond editions. The 5164A is the mid-priced complication in the steel range: more useful than the time-and-date watch to a frequent traveller, less specialised than the flyback chronograph. Our Nautilus versus Aquanaut comparison explains why many buyers choose the Aquanaut for daily wear.
Is Travel Time better than a GMT for frequent travellers?
It depends on how you travel. A GMT hand with a rotating bezel, as on a Rolex GMT-Master II, lets you track a third zone and keeps home time visible at all times, but it asks you to set the bezel and remember which hand does what. Travel Time keeps two zones only, home and local, and makes the local one trivial to change: press a pusher at the airport and the local hour hand jumps. The day/night apertures answer the question of whether it is morning at home. If you cross zones often and only need two, Travel Time is simpler; if you follow three zones, a GMT watch fits better. See our GMT watches collection for the alternatives.
How does the Aquanaut 5164A wear?
At 40.8 mm the case is a little larger than the 5167A's, and the Travel Time mechanism generally makes a watch of this kind sit higher on the wrist than a time-and-date model; try both if the profile matters to you. The rounded octagonal shape and the flexible composite strap keep it comfortable, and the strap is light, which is much of the reason the Aquanaut is one of the easier Patek references to wear every day. Wrists from about 16 cm (6.3 inches) upward carry it comfortably. The composite strap is not a bracelet, so the watch does not dress up as easily as a Nautilus, but it goes under a cuff and into water without worry.
How much is a Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5164A-001?
- Retail. Patek.com showed no page for the steel 5164A-001 on November 2, 2026, though it lists the 5164G-001 and 5164R-001. Ask an authorised retailer whether one is still possible.
- Bizak catalogue listing. On September 28, 2026 our sourced catalogue listed the 5164A-001 at US$100,940, sourced to order. The 5164A-001 entry holds the current listing.
- Secondary market. Steel Patek sports references have generally been asked above retail in 2025 and 2026, though the Travel Time is less hyped than the Nautilus. Ask for a dated comparable.
Those figures describe what we saw and will move. Our Patek Philippe price guide and the watch price checker explain how to compare quotes.
Is the Aquanaut 5164A a good buy?
It is a good buy if you cross time zones more than a few times a year and want one serious watch. Steel Patek sports watches have been among the more reliably in-demand references in the market for a decade, and the 5164A benefits from that while being less hyped than the Nautilus. The main argument against it is the same as for any complicated watch: if you will not use the second time zone, the 5167A is simpler. As with any watch, ask for a written cash-buy assessment before you commit if resale value is a priority.
Buying a 5164A-001: what to check
- Identify the watch. Request dated photographs, the full reference, the stated year and the condition. Catalogue images alone are insufficient.
- Travel Time function. Press each pusher and confirm the local hour jumps by one hour in both directions, the minutes are undisturbed, and the day/night apertures change with the zones.
- Strap and case. The composite strap should be supple with no cracks; check for scratches on the case edges and any disclosed polishing.
- Documents. Establish exactly which certificate, box and service records are included and that the numbers match; our serial number check guide explains how.
- Water resistance. Ask for service and pressure-test records before any water exposure; seals age regardless of the stated rating.
- Price basis. Match currency, tax treatment, fees and delivery terms before comparing quotes.
Our authentication process describes what we inspect before dispatch.
Quick answers
How much does a Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5164A-001 cost?
Bizak's sourced catalogue listed it at US$100,940 on September 28, 2026, sourced to order. Retail prices vary by market, so ask an authorised retailer for the current figure.
What is Travel Time on the Patek Philippe 5164A?
It is Patek's dual time zone system. Two pushers move the local hour hand in one-hour jumps without stopping the movement, while home time stays on a separate hand and two apertures show day or night for each zone.
Should I buy the Aquanaut 5164A or the 5167A?
Buy the 5164A if you regularly cross time zones and will use Travel Time. Buy the 5167A if you do not: it is the simpler time-and-date Aquanaut with a cleaner dial.
What is the difference between the 5164A and the 5164G?
The 5164A is stainless steel with a black embossed dial and the 5164G is 18 ct white gold with a blue dial. They share the Travel Time function; the white gold version is listed well above the steel one in our catalogue.
How big is the Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5164A?
The 5164A-001 measures 40.8 mm in diameter in the rounded octagonal Aquanaut case. The composite strap keeps the weight down, so it wears easily every day.
Request a 5164A-001 sourcing quote
Tell us the reference, condition, whether the certificate and box are required, plus your budget and timing, through our sourcing enquiry form. Catalogue entries: Aquanaut 5164A-001, Aquanaut 5167A-001, Aquanaut 5164G-001; browse the Aquanaut collection, all Patek Philippe watches, or sell or trade your watch.
Related reading: cheapest Patek Philippe watches · Aquanaut 5167 guide · Aquanaut orange strap guide · Nautilus vs Aquanaut · Patek Philippe price guide.
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