Patek Philippe 5960P Annual Calendar Chronograph
Introduced in 2006, the reference 5960P Annual Calendar Chronograph ushered in a new era for Patek Philippe. The Patek Philippe 5960P Annual Calendar Chronograph was the first to house an entirely new self-winding chronograph movement developed and manufactured by Patek Philippe. What’s more, aside from the flyback chronograph, the 5960P also benefits from the ultra-practical annual calendar complication.
More than a decade later, this exquisite high-end chronograph platinum watch by Patek Philippe is still a favorite among watch collectors and enthusiasts, beloved for its striking looks and mechanical perfection. Read on for everything you need to know about the Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Chronograph ref. 5960P.
Platinum Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Chronograph
Although Patek eventually made the reference 5960 in other metals, the very first model to launch the collection was the 5960P in 950 platinum. The elegant yet prominent case measures 40.5 millimeters in diameter and 13.55 mm thick, while the space in between the lugs measures 21mm wide. Like all platinum Patek watches, the case of this platinum Annual Calendar Chronograph features a small diamond between the lugs at the 6 o’clock position. This discreet diamond helps to differentiate platinum Patek Philippe watches from other white metal models in stainless steel or white gold.
The case of the Patek Philippe 5960P Annual Calendar Chronograph is fitted with a pair of vintage-style chronograph pump pushers flanking the large knurled crown on the right side. Furthermore, the left side of the case is furnished with three recessed correction push pieces to adjust the calendar displays. Both sides of the case (dial-side and caseback) include scratch-resistant sapphire crystals, which are antireflection-coated.
To complement the lustrous platinum case, Patek Philippe opted for a two-tone charcoal and silvery gray dial with pops of red for a touch of sportiness. When a watch combines both a chronograph and an annual calendar, keeping the dial balanced and legible is no easy feat. However, Patek Philippe achieved just that with the Annual Calendar Chronograph ref. 5960 thanks in part to the mono-counter at 6 o’clock.
Chronographs traditionally have three counters; so, by combining the minute and hour totalizer on one counter, Patek saved a lot of space on the dial of reference 5960. The longer red hand serves to track the minutes on the two exterior concentric scales while the shorter blue hand measures the elapsed hours (up to 12 hours) on the innermost scale. The mono-counter is also home to a day-night indicator, which flips from white (for daytime) to dark blue (for nighttime) throughout a 24-hour period.
The upper portion of the dial is devoted to the calendar windows: the day of the week between 10 and 11, the date at 12, and the month between 1 and 2. Given that the Patek Philippe 5960 is an annual calendar, the windows will automatically adjust to display the correct day, date, and month, only needing one correction all year — on March 1st (due to February’s unconventional and changing days.) Also on the dial is the power reserve indicator, positioned just below the white gold–framed date window.
Around the periphery is a fractional seconds scale for the central chronograph hand. Finishing off the sleek dial design are eight slim white gold applied hour markers, 11 luminous dots, leaf-shaped hour and minute hands, and an extra-long and slender chronograph hand. The Patek Philippe 5960P is paired with a brown alligator strap with a platinum fold-over single deployant clasp.
Patek Philippe Caliber CH 28-520 IRM QA 24H
The Patek Philippe 5960P Annual Calendar Chronograph watch debuted the Caliber CH 28-520 IRM QA 24H, which was the company’s first automatic chronograph movement made in-house.
This movement boasts a flyback column-wheel chronograph, a power-reserve indicator, an annual Calendar, and a day/night display, which is nothing less than we’d expect from a renowned Swiss watchmaker such as Patek Philippe.
A flyback chronograph is much more complex to build than a regular chronograph as the user can use the reset function without the need to first stop the chronograph. Caliber CH 28-520 IRM QA 24H beats at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 hertz) while its power reserve is about 55 hours.
The winding power is supplied by a unidirectional central rotor, which is crafted from 21k yellow gold and decorated with the famed Patek Philippe Calatrava cross emblem. The fine finishing and intricate decoration of the movement are visible via the sapphire crystal exhibition caseback.
Owning The Patek Philippe 5960P Annual Calendar Chronograph
Patek Philippe discontinued the Annual Calendar Chronograph ref. 5960P in 2014, which means this reference in platinum was only in production for eight years. Its short-lived manufacturing run, precious metal platinum case, first-of-its-kind in-house complicated movement, and impressive design and performance make the 5960P a very special Patek Philippe watch to own.
Gray & Sons is proud to have the elegant yet sporty Patek Philippe 5960P Annual Calendar Chronograph in stock, ready to ship to the next lucky owner of this ultra-luxurious timepiece.
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