This article delivers a thorough Patek 5164G review focusing on the latest high-grade clone of the Aquanaut Travel Time. Our goal is to inform Patek enthusiasts about this clone’s design, functionality and value. For related products, see the Patek Philippe Super Clone watches category on OUSWATCH. In this review we evaluate a fully functional 5164G-001 clone sample (textually and via video), highlighting how it compares to the genuine Aquanaut Travel Time and where minor trade-offs occur.
Evolution of the Aquanaut 5164G Travel Time and Its Appeal
The Aquanaut line was introduced by Patek Philippe in 1997 as a sporty counterpart to the Nautilus. Its first travel-time (dual time zone) complication appeared in 2011, creating the Reference 5164 “Travel Time” model. In April 2024 Patek launched the 5164G-001, the first white-gold variant of the Travel Time. This new “denim blue” model (40.8mm case, 10.2mm thickness) features an opaline grey-blue dial with embossed grid pattern, white-gold applied numerals, and an integrated rubber strap.
Collectors prize the 5164G for combining elegant aesthetics with practical world-time utility. The skeletonized second-hour hand indicates “home” time, while the solid-hand shows local time; a date wheel (at 6 o’clock) tracks local date, and small day/night indicators for home and local time reside under “HOME” and “LOCAL” apertures. Pushers on the left flank let you advance the local hour by one-hour increments (for jumping time zones) without stopping the movement. These features make the Aquanaut 5164G a versatile companion for travelers, blending a luxury blue-gray (blue face) dial with white-gold case and sporty rubber strap.
However, the genuine 5164G is very expensive, and until recently no replica maker could fully capture its complex mechanism. Earlier 5164 clones (steel models) often lacked true GMT adjustment: reviewers note that on those replicas “the GMT hand cannot be adjusted – the ‘HOME’/’LOCAL’ windows merely simulate day/night shifts”. In other words, past clones only imitated the look of the Travel Time functions (white/blue discs in the windows) rather than replicating the genuine GMT gear train. This technical barrier meant that fans seeking an affordable alternative were “stuck between a rock and a hard place,” wanting the look of a 5164G but finding no fully functional clone available.
Today, that changes. OUSWATCH has obtained a full-featured 5164G-001 clone made by PPF Factory, and we evaluate it in depth (including video demonstrations). The rest of this review covers the origins of the clone and a detailed hands-on assessment of its build and functions.
PPF Factory: Mastering the Aquanaut Travel Time Clone
The PPF Factory is widely recognized in replica-watch circles for producing some of the highest-grade Patek clones. (As a matter of note, PPF is a sister concern of ZF Factory under the same ownership.) PPF specializes in complex Patek sports models like the Nautilus and Aquanaut. For example, its Nautilus Moon Phase 5712 clone is considered best-in-class. Reviews mention that PPF achieved a real working power-reserve indicator on the Nautilus 5712 V2 by redesigning the movement, something earlier versions lacked. In other words, PPF has proven it can engineer difficult complications in replica form.
According to OUSWATCH’s sources, PPF invested significant R&D (around one years) to crack the 5164G. The result is a clone built with CNC-machined components that match the authentic’s dimensions to a hair. The case is crafted to ±0.1mm precision, with satin-brushed surfaces and polished bevels just like the real white-gold Aquanaut. All Travel Time functions – dual hour hands, date, and day/night indicators – are fully implemented, thanks to PPF’s new movement. (For reference, OUSWATCH’s [Aquanaut Super Clone] page showcases other Aquanaut clones with similar quality.)
In summary, PPF’s 5164G clone joins its lineup of top-tier Patek replicas, on par with the factory’s flagships like the Nautilus 5712. The fact that “Aquanaut 5164A and Nautilus 5712 will be two good options” for multi-function Patek clones – with the 5712 coming specifically from PPF – underscores PPF’s reputation. We expected this 5164G clone to finally realize the real GMT travel-time operation, and our tests confirm it largely does.
Detailed Review: Patek 5164G Clone (5164G-001)
Below we break down the clone’s design and performance. Every effort was made to mirror the original:
Case, Dial and Strap
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Case & Material: The clone’s case is polished stainless steel (original is 18k white gold) but finished to a high standard. It measures 40.8mm across by about 12.8mm thick, matching the genuine diameter. (By contrast, Patek’s official spec is 40.8×10.2mm) The clone’s extra ~2.6mm thickness is the biggest visual/body difference. From the front, however, the rounded octagonal bezel with alternating brushed and polished faces looks identical to the real Aquanaut. The screw-down crown and twin pushers on the left appear robust, and as specified they advance the local time hand by exactly one hour per click.
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Dial: The dial color is a faithful opaline blue-gray (a “denim blue” shade) that closely matches the original. It features the trademark stamped checkerboard pattern of the Aquanaut. White gold-plated applied Arabic numerals and baton indices sit on the dial, all filled with white luminous material. (The lume’s glow is a cool blue at night.) The clone even replicates the small details: the “home” time skeletonized hand and “local” time solid hand are both present, and the lettering for “HOME” and “LOCAL” is sharp. A downside: the embossing on the clone’s dial is slightly less deep/three-dimensional than on an authentic dial, so the texture feels marginally flatter than the genuine’s “stamped” pattern.
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Strap and Clasp: Like the original, the clone comes with an integrated rubber strap in matching blue-gray color, with the Aquanaut’s signature textured pattern. It has a white-gold–style fold-over clasp (in steel) that is solid and closes securely. The strap hugs the wrist comfortably and continues the “blue face” aesthetic from dial to wrist.
In sum, the clone nails the Aquanaut’s look: blue-gray dial, lumed white indices, and sporty rubber strap are all present. The main compromises are the case thickness (taller by 2.6mm) and a slightly softer emboss on the dial. But on the wrist the clone looks very convincing, especially at normal viewing distances.
GMT Function and Day/Night Operation
We then tested the Travel Time complications, which are the heart of the 5164:
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GMT Adjustment: As with the original, the clone has two correctors on the left side of the case. A quick tap on the top pusher advances the local hour hand forward by one hour (for travel east), and the bottom pusher moves it backward by one hour. We confirmed each click reliably shifts the time zone without affecting minutes or seconds – just like a true Travel Time mechanism. This behavior matches Patek’s description (pushers adjust the local hour in one-hour steps). Because of this, the clone’s GMT adjustment feels natural and precise, whereas older clones required fiddling with the crown or lacked full independence of the hands.
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Home & Local Display: The smaller skeleton hand continues to indicate home time, and the bold hand shows the new local time. We noticed that as local time moves past midnight, the date window at 6 o’clock advances accordingly, just like the genuine movement would.
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Day/Night Indicators: There are two small circular windows for AM/PM indication (one under “HOME”, one under “LOCAL”). We rotated the hands through 12-hour cycles and observed the colors flip (blue to white) in both windows. This shows the clone’s day/night discs function correctly for each time zone. In short, unlike past replicas that only simulated day/night, this clone’s discs change properly with the time change. The clone thus achieves the real GMT/travel-time function that reviewers note was missing on earlier models.
Overall, the PPF clone replicates the Travel Time complications very accurately. Adjusting the time zones works just as Patek intended, and all visual indicators (hands, date, day/night) behave correctly. We encountered no errors in timing or display. This means the clone fulfills the Aquanaut’s core purpose for travelers: easy switching between time zones with visible reference to home time.
Summary of Findings
The Patek 5164G clone delivers an impressive recreation of the genuine Aquanaut Travel Time, with only minor caveats. Key takeaways:
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Authentic Styling: The blue-gray (almost “blue face”) opaline dial, white indices, and embossed pattern match the real model. The integrated rubber strap and polished/brush case finish are convincing.
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Correct Dimensions: It preserves the original’s 40.8mm width. Only the thickness is slightly greater (12.8mm vs. 10.2mm spec) due to movement space.
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Full Functionality: The GMT dual-time mechanism works correctly – pushers adjust local time by one hour, date updates, and both day/night indicators shift (blue/white) as intended. Earlier clones lacked this fidelity, but PPF’s version gets it right.
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Minor Flaws: The case back and finishing details are not easily visible, but the dial embossing and hand printing are a bit less crisp than genuine. These are hardly noticeable on wrist but prevent a true replica-grade classification.
Considering its craftsmanship and complete Travel Time features, this clone is a strong value proposition. For enthusiasts seeking the Aquanaut experience at a fraction of retail cost, it outperforms earlier “basic” clones. Paired with references like the 5164R rose-gold clone or 5261R Luce (blue) in our collection, it represents the new standard of clone quality. (See also OUSWATCH’s Aquanaut Luce 5261R Blue clone and Aquanaut 5164R clone for other examples.)
Quick Summary of 5164G Clone:
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Opaline blue-gray dial with embossed pattern and lumed white markers.
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Dual time-zone display (home/local) with functioning day/night windows.
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40.8×12.8mm stainless steel case (vs. 40.8×10.2mm white gold original).
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Local hour adjusted by left-side pushers (1-hour steps).
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Integrated blue rubber strap with fold-over clasp.
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Flaws: slightly thicker case, less pronounced dial texture.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5164G clone from PPF sets a new benchmark among 1:1 replicas. It faithfully reproduces the look of the white-gold Aquanaut – including the distinctive blue-gray face and rubber strap – and crucially it actually works as a Travel Time watch. The comprehensive testing above shows that GMT adjustments and day/night indicators function correctly, addressing the main shortcomings of earlier replicas. For collectors on a budget who appreciate Patek’s design, this clone allows hands-on enjoyment of the 5164’s complications.
As always, enthusiasts should consider their needs: if even minor thickness differences or imperfections are acceptable, this clone is an excellent option. Otherwise, the genuine 5164G remains unmatched in refinement. Regardless, OUSWATCH is pleased to offer this full-featured clone review for those interested in the latest Patek Super Clone technology. For more Patek Aquanaut clones and related models, browse the Aquanaut Super Clone collection on our site.