Watch Paparazzi

Golfer Don Scotty Cameron spotted wearing Patek Philippe

Don Scotty Cameron, the California-based putter craftsman whose name has become synonymous with precision on the green, was recently spotted wearing a stainless steel Patek Philippe Aquanaut reference 5167A — a watch that shares more than a little DNA with its owner's design philosophy: functional, refined, and worth considerably more than its listed price.

The Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5167A houses the manufacture's self-winding calibre 324 S C, a 27-jewel movement beating at 28,800 vph with a 45-hour power reserve. The 40mm stainless steel case sits just 8.1mm thick — genuinely wrist-friendly for a sports watch — and is paired with the model's signature embossed black composite dial, whose cross-hatch texture echoes the tropical-inspired aesthetic Patek introduced when the Aquanaut debuted in 1997. The matching black tropical composite strap with deployant clasp completes the ensemble.

The Aquanaut's origin story matters. Patek Philippe launched the reference 5060A at the 1997 Basel fair as a conscious attempt to attract a younger demographic, drawing on the octagonal bezel language of Gerald Genta's Nautilus but building something distinct — lighter, sportier, more wearable. The 5167A, introduced in 2007, refined the concept with a larger case and upgraded movement, becoming the backbone of the Aquanaut line for over a decade. Collectors prize the 5167A as the definitive expression of the reference before complications and exotic materials began to dominate the family.

Scotty Cameron's connection to the watch feels intuitive. His limited-edition putters — particularly Circle T and Cameron & Crown releases — trade on secondary markets at multiples of retail, a dynamic that mirrors exactly what happens to the 5167A in the grey market. Both the man and the watch occupy that rare space where craftsmanship and cult status converge.

On the secondary market, the Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5167A in stainless steel consistently trades above its official retail price. Demand has remained robust even as the broader luxury watch market cooled post-2022, a testament to the reference's enduring appeal among collectors who value wearability alongside pedigree. For a watch that was once considered the Nautilus's casual younger sibling, the 5167A has more than established its own identity.