Answer: "replica Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5060A" is a search term, not a product line. It labels an unlicensed copy of a watch Patek Philippe made in 1997 and 1998. The real reference is the first Aquanaut. Most watches sold under this keyword are copies of a later reference and do not match the 5060A case size, movement, or caseback. US law bars import and sale of these copies.

What the 5060A is

The reference 5060A is a stainless steel Aquanaut. Patek Philippe launched the Aquanaut line in 1997. The 5060A holds the first position in that line. The letter A in the reference code marks steel.

  • Case: stainless steel, 35.6 mm diameter.
  • Movement: calibre 330 SC, automatic winding.
  • Dial: black with a raised grid pattern and Arabic numerals.
  • Strap: black composite rubber, cut to fit the case.
  • Caseback: solid steel, no display window.
  • Production: 1997 to 1998. Patek replaced it with the 5065A, a 38 mm version.

Patek Philippe does not publish unit counts for the 5060A. Auction records list steel 5060A watches as scarce next to the 5065A and the 5167A.

What listings under this keyword contain

Sellers attach the 5060A name to copies of other references. Points to check:

  • Case size. Copies measure 40 mm or 42 mm. The 5060A measures 35.6 mm.
  • Movement. Copies use Miyota 8215, Seiko NH35, ETA 2824 clones, or quartz. The 5060A uses calibre 330 SC.
  • Caseback. Copies with a sapphire display back do not match a solid steel back.
  • Strap. The original strap carries Patek markings on the underside. Copies carry none or a mismatched number.

Legal status in the United States

19 U.S.C. § 1526(e) prohibits import of goods that carry a counterfeit mark. CBP may seize and forfeit such goods, including a single watch held for personal use. 18 U.S.C. § 2320 makes trafficking in counterfeit goods a federal crime. Civil claims fall under the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1114.

Watches and jewelry sit among the top categories in CBP intellectual property seizures. Buyers who ship a copy from China face seizure, loss of the payment, and in some cases a penalty claim.

How to confirm a 5060A

  1. Measure the case. A 35.6 mm reading matches the reference.
  2. Request an Extract from the Archives from Patek Philippe. The record ties a serial number to a reference and a production year.
  3. Send the watch to a Patek Philippe authorized service center. The center verifies the movement and the case.
  4. Compare the serial and movement numbers with the archive document.

No document from a seller replaces these steps. Copies ship with printed papers that carry numbers from another watch.