Patek Philippe Aquanaut Chronograph · Reference 5968A-001
Patek Philippe Aquanaut Chronograph 5968A-001
Known as Aquanaut Chrono, the steel 5968
The 5968A-001 is the watch that put a flyback chronograph inside the Aquanaut case for the first time. Patek launched it in 2018, and for its first three years it was the only 5968 you could buy: steel case, black gradient dial with orange chronograph accents, black composite strap in the box with a second orange strap alongside it. The proportions run large by Patek standards at 42.2mm across and 11.9mm thick, which is part of why it wears like a sports watch and not a dress piece pretending to be one. The octagonal Aquanaut bezel gets the mix of polished and satin finishing that the line is known for, and the crown screws down. This is the reference collectors reach for when they want a steel Patek complication they can actually wear in the water and on the wrist every day. We see it cross the counter on 47th Street regularly, and it moves.
Produced: Introduced 2018. The steel 5968A-001 was the only Aquanaut Chronograph offered for its first three years; Patek added white gold versions (5968G) in 2021 with blue and khaki green dials. The steel reference has remained in the collection.
In stock at Ultimate Diamond
3 pieces on the counter right now.
Specifications
- Reference
- 5968A-001
- Collection
- Aquanaut Chronograph
- Case Material
- Stainless steel
- Case Diameter
- 42.2mm
- Case Thickness
- 11.9mm
- Bezel
- Octagonal Aquanaut bezel, polished and satin finishing
- Crown
- Screw-down
- Caseback
- Sapphire crystal display back
- Water Resistance
- 120 meters
- Dial
- Sunburst black with black-gradient rim, embossed Aquanaut pattern, orange chronograph accents
- Hour Markers
- Applied white gold Arabic numerals with luminescent coating
- Hands
- White gold baton-style with luminescent coating
- Complications
- Flyback chronograph, 60-minute counter at 6 o'clock, date aperture at 3 o'clock
- Caliber
- CH 28-520 C
- Movement Type
- Self-winding flyback chronograph with vertical clutch
- Movement Diameter
- 30mm
- Movement Thickness
- 6.63mm
- Parts
- 308
- Jewels
- 32
- Frequency
- 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
- Power Reserve
- 45 to 55 hours
- Rotor
- 21K gold central rotor
- Balance
- Gyromax
- Hairspring
- Spiromax
- Strap
- Black composite strap standard, orange composite strap included, steel fold-over clasp
Market & Value
MSRP on the steel 5968A-001 sits around $61,766, but you have never been able to walk into a boutique and buy one at that number. It has been a waitlist watch since day one, and the secondary market reflects it. As of mid-2026 the reference trades around $130,000, roughly double retail, with individual asking prices on the open market running from the high $130,000s into the $150,000s depending on condition, box, papers, and how fresh the straps are. Prices have held firm over the last year rather than sliding, which is the pattern you want to see on a watch you are buying to keep. The demand is real: this is the only steel Aquanaut with a chronograph, the orange-on-black colorway is the one everyone recognizes, and Patek does not flood the market with them. We buy these every week, so we price off actual transactions, not aspirational listings. If someone is quoting you a number, ask whether it is a real trade or a wish.
What to Know Before You Buy
Three things matter on a 5968A-001. First, the straps. The watch ships with both black and orange composite straps, and a complete set with both, unworn or lightly worn, is worth more than a watch missing one. Straps are consumable, so factor replacement into any purchase. Second, box and papers. Full set with the original certificate and the extract from the archives brings a premium and moves faster; a naked watch discounts. Third, service history. The CH 28-520 C is a flyback with a vertical clutch, a robust movement, but a Patek service is not cheap, so a recent service from Patek or a documented specialist adds real value. Verify the reference and case number match the papers, check the caseback engraving, and make sure the dial reads sunburst black with clean orange accents and sharp lume on the white gold numerals. On a watch trading north of $130,000, authentication is not optional. Bring it to a bench that has actually handled the reference before.
Buying or selling a Patek Philippe Aquanaut Chronograph 5968A-001?
Ultimate Watch buys and sells the 5968A-001 on 47th Street. We have been at 19 W 47th Street since 1959, and steel Patek sports watches are exactly the kind of piece that comes across our counter every week. If you own one and want to sell, we write checks on the spot after authentication, and we pay off real trade numbers, not lowball chart quotes. If you are looking to buy, we source complete sets with both straps and full papers. Bring it in for an in-person offer, call us, or request an offer online and we will get you a number the same day.