Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5167 Caliber 324 Macro

w220 · 2019-09-24T07:51:46Z

Dive into macro photos of Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5167 Caliber 324 movement. See detailed finishing and collector insights on quality.

w220

WPS member · Patek Philippe forum

41 replies15889 views10 photos

W220 provides an extraordinary close-up examination of the Patek Philippe Aquanaut Ref. 5167's Caliber 324 movement, captured by removing the case back prior to service. This detailed photo essay offers a rare, magnified view of the movement's finishing, including the Silinvar Spiromax balance spring, and invites a deeper discussion into Patek Philippe's manufacturing quality at the entry level.

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Recently my Aquanaut 5167 was sent in for service, but before doing so I removed the back crystal to try to get some better macro pictures of the movement.

Notice the blue/violet hue on the Silinvar Spiromax balance spring.

Notice some bad scratches between the hole and the writing, it came like this from the factory when the watch was new.

About the Patek Philippe Aquanaut Ref. 5167

Patek Philippe Aquanaut Reference 5167

The Reference 5167 represents the 40mm stainless steel iteration within Patek Philippe's Aquanaut model line. Introduced in 2007 and remaining in current production, this reference features a black dial and establishes the standard sizing for the steel Aquanaut offering.

The 40mm stainless steel case houses the automatic Caliber 324 S C movement, providing 45 hours of power reserve. The watch incorporates a sapphire crystal and smooth bezel configuration. Water resistance extends to 120 meters, while the distinctive composite rubber strap displays an embossed check pattern that complements the case design.

This reference appeals to collectors seeking contemporary Patek Philippe sports watch execution in stainless steel. The 5167 offers entry into the Aquanaut model range while maintaining the manufacturing standards associated with the Geneva manufacture. Its ongoing production status ensures availability through authorized channels for both new collectors and those expanding existing collections.

Specifications

Caliber: 324 S C

Case: Stainless Steel

Diameter: 40 mm

Dial: Black

Water Resist.: 120m

Crystal: Sapphire

Key Points from the Discussion

The Caliber 324 is considered a well-finished movement for Patek Philippe's entry-level, featuring both machining and hand-finishing, despite having thinner plates which are harder to finish.
Given its mass-produced nature and entry-level pricing for Patek, the movement's execution holds up well under magnification, surpassing many other brands in its price segment that show more pronounced milling marks.
The presence of scratches between a hole and writing on the movement, noted as factory-original, raises questions about quality control, though other owners report no such marks on their Caliber 324 movements.
A humorous perspective suggests that examining watch finishing under extreme magnification, much like loved ones, can reveal imperfections not intended for casual viewing.
The blue/violet hue of the Silinvar Spiromax balance spring is highlighted as a notable feature, visible in the macro shots.

The Discussion

nwk00

Sep 24, 2019

Your dedication is impressive [nt]

Abu Alex

Sep 24, 2019

On some of the anglage it almost looks like there are milling machine marks (horizontal marks) but I know that the anglage was done by hand. Does anyone have an explanation for this? [nt]

Other than that, I am very happy with this movement's performance and looks from my own experience.

Pour le Mérite

Sep 24, 2019

Because it is done with a machine! To remove them you have to use wooden sticks, which they only do in the upper bracket since quite some time. [nt]

Spangles - Dr. Tabby

Sep 24, 2019

Yes, we've seen machine finishing marks on PP annual calendar movements as well in past discussions, iirc.

Pateks are finely machine finished at their lower and mid-levels.

Abu Alex

Sep 25, 2019

Thank you for the explanation....but

...I looked again at my own 324s pre and post PP seal and they do not show such milling marks under very high magnification. So, now I am even more intrigued whether there might be something else going on with this particular movement that was photographed.

amanico

Sep 24, 2019

Very nice and interesting pictures. Thanks for allowing us to have an idea on the level of finishings. [nt]