Recently, the Patek Philippe factory has been releasing high-jewellery sports watches that showcase a variety of precious gemstones, bright colors and gem-setting techniques. The Aquanaut Luce Haute Joaillerie Reference 5268/461G-001 Replica is one such watch, with its combination of diamonds and sapphires covering almost all of the watch’s surfaces, making it an eye-catcher.
The white gold case of the Aquanaut Luce ref. 5268 measures 38.8 mm in diameter and 9.1 mm thick, and the bezel is set with 40 baguette-cut sapphires in a light to dark blue gradient. The lugs also benefit from some sparkle, eight baguette-cut diamonds to be exact. More suited to parties than pools, this Aquanaut is water-resistant to just 30 meters.
If you’re familiar with the Swiss Patek Philippe Replica design codes, you’ll know that most of the dial is embellished with a checkered pattern. Patek Philippe has kept this detail on this jewellery watch, but recreated it with 20 baguette sapphires and 20 baguette diamonds. Surrounding the central checkered pattern is the hour ring, which is paved with brilliant-cut diamonds that are snow-set. But that’s not all; 12 baguette sapphires serve as hour markers and 10 baguette diamonds adorn the white gold folding clasp.
As is customary with Aquanauts, the Sapphire and Diamond Luce is paired with a chequered relief composite strap, the deep blue of which complements the blue gemstones. Another blue element is the sweeping seconds hand that pairs with the luminescent hour and minute hands. Inside the Cheap Patek Philippe Replica is the Caliber 26-330 S automatic movement, with a power reserve of 45 hours and a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz). Of course, the movement and its 21k gold central rotor are visible through the sapphire caseback.
To sum up the amount of precious gems we’re talking about here, the Aquanaut Luce ref. 5268 includes a total of 72 baguette-cut sapphires (5.29 carats), 38 baguette-cut diamonds (2.03 carats), and 160 brilliant-cut diamonds (0.71 carats). Although this is a high jewelry piece, I found it to be fairly understated compared to some of the other wilder gem-set Patek Philippe super clone models, such as the Rainbow Luce. The blue and white color combination is photogenic, and the checkered dial arrangement of the gems is interesting.
