Patek Philippe Ladies Aquanaut 4960A Quartz
Debuting in 1997, the Patek Philippe Aquanaut was released to engage with a newly minted clientele with money in their pocket during the stock market explosion. Released under the same premise as the Nautilus when it was released in 1976, the Aquanaut was a trendy watch that broke from traditional Patek Philippe aesthetic stylings. Featuring a first for Patek with its composite strap, the Aquanaut needed to be delicately launched. So it was first released as a limited-edition offering of 1000 pieces with the ref. 5060A. Thanks to its success, in 1998, the year following, Patek launched a slew of new variants of the Aquanaut, one of them being the ref. 4960A, which is what we have here. Featuring a smaller 29.5mm stainless steel case and a quartz movement, the ref. 4960A is aesthetically similar to its predecessor, but shrunken down to appeal to women as a stylish sports watch. Boasting the same dial design and case shape as its larger models, the ref. 4960A’s only distinguishable difference is its smaller size, which enabled women to embrace the watch and Patek’s efforts to embrace a new style of watch.
THE DIAL Featuring tritium indexes atop its black grenade-textured dial, this example's Arabic numerals have aged to contain a golden hue, giving the watch a decidedly vintage flair.
THE CONSTRUCTION Measuring 29.5mm in diameter, the ref. 4960A features the same rounded octagonal stainless steel case design as the more typically-sized Aquanaut references, making it perfectly suited for women who want a sporty watch without the bulk of the larger models.
THE PROFILE Powered by a quartz movement, the ref. 4960A features a flat profile that matches its smaller diameter, making it a wonderfully svelte ensemble across all of its dimensions.
