The Aquanaut has always been a highly popular model, and the black version is significantly more sought-after than this blue one. The black model is the 5167, while this blue version is the 5168G.

In the genuine watch world, the black model is made of stainless steel, whereas the blue 5168G is crafted from white gold. As a result, there is a noticeable difference in weight between this replica 5168G in blue and the authentic piece.

In today’s blog post, I’ll briefly go over which factories are currently producing replicas of this blue Aquanaut, how their versions compare, and ultimately which factory offers the best option. Of course, the purpose of this article is not to promote or encourage the purchase of replica watches, but simply to share some personal insights and observations.

There are several factories producing the blue Aquanaut on the market, including 3KF, BBF, VF, DDF, APW, as well as some smaller, lesser-known makers. The earliest to produce this model was 3KF, and they have likely made the most profit from manufacturing replica Patek Philippe watches. Both the 5711 and the Aquanaut are considered their signature pieces.

Other factories such as BBF, VF, DDF, and APW have only emerged in the past two years. Why did they only enter the market around 2024 or 2025? This is mainly because the super clone 324 movement had been exclusively supplied to 3KF prior to 2024. Once these factories gained access to the super clone 324 movement in 2024, combined with ongoing customer feedback on 3KF’s Aquanaut, they were able to improve their products. As a result, many of their current versions are now better than those produced by 3KF.

3KF

Their Aquanaut is still being purchased today, and it does retain a few advantages – for example, the case shape is closer to the original, and the integration between the dial and the hour markers is more refined.

BBF

This is a factory that has been widely discussed in the industry recently. It initially promoted itself as collaborating with ZF on Hublot Unico models, and later seized the opportunity to enter the Patek Philippe segment with Nautilus and Aquanaut models, gradually building a solid reputation.

Their blue Aquanaut 5168G has been selling quite well. One of its strengths is that the blue tone is not as dark as 3KF’s, making it closer to the original. The sunburst effect on the dial is also more pronounced than on the 3KF version. Additionally, the engravings on the movement are deeper, giving a more defined look. The date font at the 3 o’clock position has finally been corrected – it’s noticeably thicker, whereas 3KF’s remains relatively thin.

Of course, this model from BBF also has its flaws. If you look closely at the “6” on the dial, the shape of the tip differs slightly from the genuine version. The gold plating on the rotor of the movement also appears a bit too light, in my opinion.

DDF

Unlike 3KF and BBF, the blue Aquanaut from DDF is a “weighted version”, meaning the overall watch weight is close to the genuine piece. However, the clasp is not weighted, so there is still a noticeable difference compared to the original. On top of that, its price is significantly higher than both 3KF and BBF, so personally, I wouldn’t recommend choosing it.

VF

This is a relatively new factory, mainly focused on Rolex models. They claim that their components are produced to the same standard as the former Clean Factory.

Two weeks ago, they released weighted versions of the blue and green Aquanaut models. In my opinion, it’s better to wait and observe for now rather than rushing to order the Aquanaut from them. Of course, their Rolex replicas are still quite good.

APW

Their 5168G Blue Aquanaut replica is “weighted” version, whose weight is about 120 grams, the same as the one made by DDF. Although it has a high price, but I do recommend this weighted version from APW. Its dial finish is as good as the one made by BBF, besides, the engravings on the back of the lugs are better and look neater.

Conclusion:

If you want a regular weight version of the replica Aquanaut 5168G blue, choose from BBF. If you want a weighted version, then APW is a great choice.