The replica Patek Philippe 5167A is a counterfeit copy of the Aquanaut ref. 5167A-001, a 40 mm stainless steel watch. Copies sell from about $60 to $1,000 or more. Patek Philippe does not make them, does not sell them, and does not service them. Import and sale are illegal in the United States.
counterfeit patek philippe aquanaut 5167a
What the genuine 5167A-001 is
- Case: stainless steel, 40 mm wide, 8.1 mm thick.
- Movement: caliber 324 S C, automatic winding, 45 hour power reserve, 29 jewels, 28,800 vibrations per hour.
- Dial: black, embossed pattern, applied numerals, luminescent coating.
- Strap: black composite, trimmed to wrist size, steel fold-over clasp.
- Water resistance: 120 m.
- Caseback: sapphire crystal.
The Aquanaut line arrived in 1997. Reference 5167A-001 joined the catalog in 2007. Patek Philippe also builds the reference 5167/1A with a steel bracelet. Secondary market prices for the 5167A moved between $40,000 and $70,000 in recent years. Retail sat near $24,000 when the steel model left the catalog. Prices change with the market.
Replica price tiers
Replica sellers sort stock by price and parts. The tier names come from sellers, not from a standard.
imitation patek philippe aquanaut 5167a
- Budget, $40 to $120. Quartz movement, mineral glass, printed dial, plated case. The watch is light. Date font and case profile differ from the original.
- Mid range, $150 to $400. Automatic movement from Miyota or Seiko, 316L steel case, sapphire crystal. Dial emboss is shallow.
- High tier, $500 to $1,000 and above. Sellers call these 1:1 or super clone. Makers copy the 324 S C layout, fit a decorated rotor, and use anti-reflective sapphire. Some use a cloned movement built in China.
No tier matches Patek Philippe finishing. The term 1:1 is a seller claim. No replica matches the original in every dimension.
counterfeit patek philippe aquanaut 5167a
Tells that separate a copy from the original
- Date window position and date font.
- Depth of the dial emboss and how it lines up with the strap pattern.
- Crown shape and crown guard profile.
- Engraving depth on the caseback and rotor.
- Movement finish and part count.
- Strap texture and hardness.
Legal status in the United States
18 U.S.C. § 2320 makes trafficking in counterfeit goods a federal crime. Penalties include prison terms and fines. 19 U.S.C. § 1526 allows US Customs and Border Protection to seize and destroy counterfeit imports. One watch shipped from abroad can be detained. The buyer loses the item and the money. The Lanham Act adds civil liability for sellers.
Patek Philippe tracks counterfeits and treats them as trademark infringement. The company offers an Extract from the Archives for genuine watches, keyed to the case number.
Checks for any 5167A
- Case number and movement number, both recorded in Patek Philippe files.
- Extract from the Archives from Patek Philippe.
- Service records from an authorized service center.
- Hands-on inspection of finish, lume color, and movement.
Photos hide surface finish and movement detail. No remote check confirms a watch. Buy from an authorized dealer or a seller who provides documented history.