The Patek Philippe ref. 5167G-001 is an Aquanaut with an 18K white gold case. It measures 40 mm across and 8.1 mm thick. The caliber 324 S C runs inside, an automatic movement with a 45-hour power reserve and a 21,600 vph balance. Counterfeit versions exist. Most copy the dial and the case shape. Few copy the metal, the finishing, or the movement.
Genuine 5167G: the numbers
- Reference: 5167G-001, white gold. The 5167A is the steel version.
- Case: 18K white gold, 40 mm wide, 8.1 mm thick.
- Water resistance: 120 m.
- Movement: caliber 324 S C, automatic, 45-hour power reserve, 21,600 vph, 29 jewels.
- Dial: embossed Aquanaut grid, applied white gold numerals, luminous fill, date at 3 o'clock.
- Strap: black Tropical composite with a white gold fold-over clasp.
- Crystal: sapphire, front and display back.
- Seal: Patek Philippe Seal. Patek replaced the Geneva Seal with its own seal in 2009.
Production years and dial variants changed during the model run. Confirm the reference with Patek Philippe before you buy.
Where counterfeits fail
1. Weight and metal
18K white gold has a density near 15 to 19 g/cm3, based on the alloy. 316L steel sits near 8 g/cm3. A gold case weighs about twice what a steel case of the same volume weighs. Most replicas use steel with rhodium plating, or brass with a plated finish. The watch feels light. Plating also wears at the lug edges and the crown.
2. Hallmarks and engravings
Look at the caseback with a loupe. A genuine Patek carries the 750 fineness mark, the Swiss precious metal hallmark, the maker's mark, the reference number and the movement number. Engraving is cut into the metal. Replica engraving is often laser printed and shallow, or stamped with letters at the wrong angle. Compare the spacing and the font.
3. The movement
The 324 S C has Cotes de Geneve stripes on the bridges, circular graining on the mainplate, chamfered and polished edges, and a 21K gold rotor with the Calatrava cross. Counterfeiters use Miyota, Seagull or ETA clones and add decorative plates. Telltales: flat bevels, printed stripes, a steel-colored rotor, a rotor that rattles, and text that is too large. The date change on a real 324 S C snaps at midnight.
4. Dial and strap
The embossed grid on a genuine dial has uniform depth and sharp edges. Replica dials show shallow relief and soft corners. Applied numerals on a real 5167G are white gold. Check the lume under a UV light. Print on "Patek Philippe" and "SWISS MADE" is crisp. Replica straps use silicone or rubber with a different texture and a plated buckle.
Checks before you buy
- Weigh the watch. Compare with a known genuine example.
- Read the caseback stamps with a 10x loupe.
- Measure the case: 40 mm wide, 8.1 mm thick.
- Study the movement through the display back.
- Check the dial relief, the print, and the date window.
- Ask for the Extract from the Archives, the box, and the papers.
- Take the watch to an authorized Patek Philippe service center.
Price and service
Genuine 5167G-001 watches trade on the secondary market in the middle five figures to low six figures in US dollars. Condition, box, and papers move the number. Replica versions sell for $200 to $1,000, and some sellers ask more for "super clone" builds. No replica passes a Patek Philippe service inspection. A service center will refuse the watch and will not issue the Extract from the Archives.
What a photo cannot show
Weight, metal content, hallmark depth, and movement finishing do not appear in a listing photo. Buy from a seller who allows an in-person inspection or a return window. Auction houses and authorized dealers authenticate before sale. If you cannot inspect the watch, ask for an Extract from the Archives and a service record.