Watchmaker Thierry Stern spotted wearing a Patek Philippe

Thierry Stern, the fourth-generation CEO of Patek Philippe and a principal architect of the manufacture's contemporary direction, appears in this portrait wearing a stainless steel Aquanaut Travel Time Ref. 5164A—a watch that encapsulates both the brand's technical innovation and Stern's personal philosophy on accessible luxury timepieces. Seated in formal business attire, the 42.2mm case sits prominently on his left wrist, its black rubber strap and brushed steel case forming a deliberate contrast to the tailored suit.

The Ref. 5164A houses Patek Philippe's Caliber 324 S C FUS movement, a self-winding mechanical calibre produced entirely in-house and developed specifically for this model. The movement features a 72-hour power reserve, date display, and dual time-zone indication via a 24-hour subdial at 6 o'clock, allowing independent adjustment of a second time zone without interfering with the main time. The dial layout—with applied hour markers, Mercedes-style hands, and a distinctive Aquanaut tapisserie pattern—maintains legibility across two simultaneous time readings. Water resistance reaches 300 metres, befitting the Aquanaut line's sport-watch heritage.

Introduced in 2019 as a companion to the smaller Aquanaut Travel Time Ref. 5164G (white gold), the stainless steel variant democratised access to Patek Philippe's travel-time complications. The Ref. 5164A has become a modern collector favourite precisely because it bridges the brand's haute horlogerie standards with relative affordability in stainless steel—a positioning that appeals to serious horologers and contemporary watch professionals alike. Production remains limited, and waitlists for grey-market examples typically span 18–24 months.

Stern's choice to wear this reference is not incidental. As CEO since 2009, he has positioned Patek Philippe as a manufacture that innovates in sports watches without abandoning classical values—a philosophy the Ref. 5164A embodies. His visible advocacy for contemporary designs signals confidence in the model's technical merit and cultural significance within the manufacture's portfolio.

Retail pricing for the Aquanaut Travel Time Ref. 5164A stands at approximately 43,960 USD at official Patek Philippe retailers. Secondary-market examples trade between 52,000 and 65,000 USD depending on condition and provenance, reflecting sustained collector demand and limited supply.