Two Time Zones, One Perfect Travel Watch
The Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time (Ref. 5164A) combines the Aquanaut’s sporty rubber-strap DNA with a dual time zone complication — making it Patek’s most practical travel watch. Two pushers at 8 and 10 o’clock advance or retard the local hour hand in 1-hour jumps, while the home time is displayed via a small 24-hour aperture. A day/night indicator at 6 o’clock distinguishes AM/PM for the home timezone. It’s elegant, functional, and wears like butter on the Tropical composite strap.
How the Travel Time Works
- Pusher at 10 o’clock: Advances local time by 1 hour (for eastbound travel)
- Pusher at 8 o’clock: Retards local time by 1 hour (for westbound travel)
- Home time: 24-hour disc visible through an aperture at 6 o’clock (doesn’t change when you adjust local time)
- Day/night: Two windows — one for local (near 3), one for home (near 9) — showing black (night) or white (day)
- Date: Linked to local time — advances automatically when the local hour hand crosses midnight
The beauty of the Travel Time: when you land in a new city, press the 10 o’clock pusher the appropriate number of times (e.g., 6 presses for GMT+6) and your local time, date, and day/night indicator all update instantly. No crown manipulation, no multiple positions. It’s the fastest timezone-change mechanism in any luxury watch.
Specifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Case | 40.8mm × 11.1mm, 904-grade steel |
| Movement | Cal. 324 S C FUS (automatic, 45h reserve) |
| Complications | Dual time zone, date, day/night × 2 |
| Crystal | Sapphire, flat |
| Strap | Tropical composite (rubber) with fold-over clasp |
| WR | 120m |
| Retail | ~$35,000 |
| Secondary | $60,000-$80,000 |
5164 vs Rolex GMT-Master II
| Factor | Aquanaut Travel Time | GMT-Master II |
|---|---|---|
| Timezone Change | Push-button (instant) | Crown pull + rotate |
| Day/Night Indicator | Yes (both zones) | Via 24h hand on bezel |
| Third Timezone | No | Yes (rotating bezel) |
| Strap | Tropical rubber (included) | Steel bracelet |
| Case Material | Steel | 904L Steel |
| Price | $35,000 retail / $70K secondary | $10,900 retail / $16K secondary |
The Aquanaut wins on timezone-change speed (pushers vs crown), day/night indication (explicit windows vs implied by 24h hand), and travel comfort (rubber strap in heat). The GMT wins on third-timezone capability, price (3x cheaper), and bracelet durability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Aquanaut Travel Time worth 3x a GMT-Master?
On pure travel-watch functionality: arguably no — both track two timezones. On horology: the Patek Cal. 324 S C FUS is a more refined, better-finished movement with the Patek Seal. On exclusivity: the 5164A is produced in far smaller quantities than the GMT. On emotional value: that’s personal.
Steel Aquanaut vs gold?
The 5164A (steel) is the practical choice — rubber strap + steel handles travel abuse. The 5164R (rose gold) is the luxury choice — beautiful but heavier and more cautious to wear while traveling. Most buyers choose steel.
Do you carry Aquanaut?
Yes — our Patek Philippe collection at DR.WATCH includes Aquanaut and Travel Time references. Swiss automatic movements, Tropical-style rubber straps, and correct case proportions. Free worldwide shipping + 1-year warranty.
