Hello everyone, I am purewatches. Today I want to talk to you all about the latest version of the Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5167A “Black Grenade” from the BBF factory – this version equipped with an integrated 324 movement + SW disk. To be honest, after a week of actual testing, I felt a bit complicated: it was so beautiful that people couldn’t take their eyes away, but there was a “flaw” that made me reluctant to recommend it to all my cousins.
Let’s talk about the advantages first. The most amazing thing about this watch is definitely theDisk. BBF used SW replacement plates this time, which are not cheap spray-painted products, but truly restore the three-dimensional light and shadow feeling of the original silver-gray background + radial pattern. Turn the dial under natural light, and the light will flow like water waves, with clear layers and almost no difference from the original. Only under strong side light, the reflection area is slightly smaller, but in daily wearing scenarios, 99% of people can’t tell the difference at all.
The calendar window has also been improved. BBF specially customized the calendar font for 5167A. The font thickness, height, and three-dimensionality are all consistent with the original version. It is unlike some factories that use general templates, which are flat and blurry when printed. The calendar of this watch looks “quality” at first glance.
In terms of movement, BBF uses the self-developed integrated 324 movement. The plywood is laser-engraved, not printed, which is much better than the 3K factory. The automatic rotor has been gilded. Although the polishing is slightly grainy, the running time is stable and the power reserve is sufficient. But I have to be honest: all replicas of the integrated 324 movements currently on the market, including BBF and 3K, are not yet “fake and real” in the eyes of experienced players – details such as balance wheel position, card structure, and shock absorber layout are still far behind the genuine 324 or the top-level “Super 324”. If you are pursuing 100% movement simulation, you may have to wait for a more mature solution.
But what really makes me hesitate is thatfatal shortcoming：The head is too big and convex！
The handle of the original 5167A is completely embedded in the shoulder pad, with clean lines and elegance in movement. The BBF version of the handle is not only too large in diameter, but also has a length that clearly protrudes beyond the shoulder pads. It is particularly abrupt when viewed from the side, seriously damaging the “hard and soft” design language of the Aquanaut series. I compared it with the actual pictures of the genuine product, and the difference is clear at a glance. This detail is precisely where Patek Philippe’s most exquisite proportional aesthetics lies.
To make matters worse, the quality control of recent batches of BBF is not stable. My friend received a piece of calendar font that was crooked. Although the font itself was fine, the position was offset and looked awkward. This is most likely caused by improper calibration of the SW calendar module during batch assembly. So if you really want to buy it, be sure to find a channel like me that can provide strict quality inspection to avoid stepping into the trap.
To summarize my honest advice:
✅ suitable for you: If you are an advanced player who pays attention to the texture of the disk, can accept small flaws in the handle, and is even willing to make fine adjustments later (such as changing the handle or optimizing the case), then this watch is definitely worth considering.
❌ not suitable for you: If you pursue 100% appearance matching, are extremely sensitive to the overall proportion, or have a limited budget and don’t want to bother with modifications, then I advise you to wait a little longer, or look at other more mature versions.
The 5167A produced by BBF Factory this time is an attempt to “drive high and go low” – it achieved the ultimate in the most easily visible place, but stumbled on the structural details that should be least likely to go wrong. As someone who works with watches every day, I not only appreciate its intentions, but I must also point out its shortcomings. After all, playing watches is not about blindly following the trend, but about finding the one that really suits you.