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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The Patek Philippe Aquanaut Chronograph 5968A-001 pairs a 42.2 mm steel case with a flyback chronograph, a charcoal-gray patterned dial, and two composite straps—one black and one orange. Patek Philippe introduced it in 2018 as the first chronograph in the men’s Aquanaut collection. This guide covers the verified design and specifications; it does not claim a physical inspection or wear test.
What is the Aquanaut Chronograph 5968A?
The full reference is 5968A-001, the steel version commonly shortened to 5968A. Patek Philippe identifies it as the first chronograph in the men’s Aquanaut collection, introduced in 2018. The manufacturer describes the complication as “the sportiest of complications”; that is its marketing language, rather than an independent assessment.
The 5968A-001 should not be confused with the later white-gold Aquanaut Chronograph references. In a 2021 release, Patek Philippe introduced the 5968G-001 with a midnight-blue dial and the 5968G-010 with a khaki-green dial. Those references differ in case material and color; the available manufacturer material does not establish a complete side-by-side comparison of their specifications.
How big is the 5968A-001?
Patek Philippe’s current product page lists a 42.2 mm case diameter measured from 10 to 4 o’clock and a thickness of 11.9 mm. Its 2018 release gives additional dimensions: 45 mm across including the crown, 50.2 mm from lug to lug, and 22 mm between the lugs. The 45 mm figure includes the crown, so it is not the same measurement as the 42.2 mm case diameter.
The Tool Desk
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- - length : 110mm + 110mm
- - Width: 21mmx18mm at buckle
- - Metal pin connection for watch side
- - will send the free tools to replace your old strap, if you mind, please dont order
- - Send spring bars and free tools
The case is steel, with a screw-down crown and a sapphire-crystal caseback. Patek Philippe rates water resistance to 30 m. That rating is a stated specification, not a recommendation to use the watch for swimming or diving.
What do the dial and chronograph display look like?
The dial is sunburst charcoal gray with a black-gradient rim and an embossed Aquanaut pattern. Applied white-gold numerals and baton-style hands have white luminescent coating. Orange chronograph indications add a high-contrast accent, though their real-world legibility against the dial has not been independently assessed here.
Rank #2
- - length : 110mm + 110mm
- - Width: 21mmx18mm at buckle
- - Metal pin connection for watch side
- - will send the free tools to replace your old strap, if you mind, please dont order
- - Send spring bars and free tools
The chronograph uses a central chronograph hand and a 60-minute counter at 6 o’clock; the date aperture sits at 3 o’clock. This keeps elapsed-time reading on the main dial, with the minute totalizer below center. Whether the display is easy to read at a glance depends on the wearer and conditions and requires direct inspection.
How does the flyback chronograph work?
The automatic CH 28-520 C movement combines a vertical clutch with a flyback chronograph. A flyback lets the wearer reset and immediately restart timing in one sequence, rather than stopping the chronograph first, resetting it, and then starting again. That function is useful when timing successive events, such as consecutive laps or stages, without adding separate button presses between intervals.
Rank #3
- - length : 110mm + 110mm
- - Width: 21mmx18mm at buckle
- - Metal pin connection for watch side
- - will send the free tools to replace your old strap, if you mind, please dont order
- - Send spring bars and free tools
The vertical clutch is part of the chronograph’s coupling system. The manufacturer lists the technical construction, but the supplied specifications do not establish subjective details such as pusher feel, hand behavior, or practical timing accuracy.
What straps come with the Aquanaut 5968A?
The watch is supplied with a black composite strap and an additional orange composite strap. Patek Philippe’s 2018 release describes the black strap as waterproof and resistant to abrasion and UV radiation, with checkerboard embossing matched to the dial; it says the orange strap is interchangeable. The clasp is steel, patented, fold-over, and secured by four independent catches.
Rank #4
- - length : 110mm + 110mm
- - Width: 21mmx18mm at buckle
- - Metal pin connection for watch side
- - will send the free tools to replace your old strap, if you mind, please dont order
- - Send spring bars and free tools
The two color options let the owner change the watch’s visual emphasis without changing the steel case or dial. Fit, comfort, and the ease of changing straps are wearer-specific and have not been tested for this guide.
CH 28-520 C movement specifications
| Specification | Patek Philippe listing |
|---|---|
| Caliber | CH 28-520 C, self-winding |
| Chronograph | Flyback; vertical clutch; central chronograph hand; 60-minute counter |
| Movement diameter and thickness | 30 mm diameter; 6.63 mm thick |
| Parts and jewels | 308 parts; 32 jewels |
| Power reserve | 45–55 hours |
| Frequency | 28,800 semi-oscillations per hour (4 Hz) |
| Other listed features | 21K gold central rotor, Gyromax balance, Spiromax balance spring, Patek Philippe Seal |
These are manufacturer specifications from Patek Philippe’s current product page, not results from independent testing.
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Best Value
- - length : 110mm + 110mm
- - Width: 21mmx18mm at buckle
- - Metal pin connection for watch side
- - will send the free tools to replace your old strap, if you mind, please dont order
- - Send spring bars and free tools
Price and market context
Patek Philippe’s product page currently displays $61,766, but the page information available here does not establish the price’s geographic scope, effective date, or whether it represents an active offer. Check the live manufacturer page and a local authorized retailer before relying on it as a purchase price.
Phillips catalogued one example as circa 2018 and reported that it sold for $152,400 at The New York Watch Auction: EIGHT. That is a single auction result for a specific watch, not a current valuation or a representative market price for all 5968A-001 examples.
What a hands-on review still needs to establish
Specifications explain the watch’s dimensions and functions, but they cannot establish how it wears or operates in practice. A genuine hands-on assessment would need to examine case presence on different wrists, strap fit and changeover, dial legibility in varied lighting, pusher operation, and comfort during extended wear. No conclusions on those points should be mistaken for firsthand observations here.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
