Patek Philippe Chronograph Annual Calendar 5960 Watch Review

Patek Philippe Chronograph Annual Calendar 5960 Watch Review

Patek Philippe Chronograph Annual Calendar 5960 Watch Review

THE PATEK PHILIPPE REF. 5960

Patek Philippe Chronograph Annual Calendar 5960 Watch Review

This reference is unquestionably among the most crucial modern Pateks… Whether it happens to be well accepted coupled with always in some way traveled individually distinct, it needs to be advised that, if this came available on the market, the 5960 would be a big first for that brand. Before ref. 5960, at Patek, the calendar associated with a chronograph was always a continuous one (because the 1920s using the famous ref. 1518 towards the actual ref. 5270). However, Patek can also be noted for to be the inventor of another kind of quantième, the annual calendar, a hybrid between your quite simple date and also the costly and complex perpetual calendar.

So, Patek created a brand new idea: a calendar that'll be (nearly) as practical like a QP but safer, simpler, more reliable and mainly, readily available. In 1996, they patented a calendar watch that needed just one correction annually, in the transition from Feb to March, meaning it had become instantly recognizing 30- and 31-day several weeks. This complication was initially proven around the 18k gold ref. 5035.

Later, in the year 2006, Patek added this annual calendar the very first time to a different complication, this time around a chronograph. So that as stated, it had been also the very first time that the chronograph was linked holiday to a calendar than the usual QP. This latest combination was introduced around the Ref. 5960P-001 (platinum version), however, it was only some of the novelty about this watch. Actually, it had been even the first self-winding chronograph developed and produced in-house by Patek. It features a yearly calendar via three home windows for that date, the day and also the month in the upper 1 / 2 of the dial. Also, it provides a day/night indicator positioned inside the monocounter at 6 plus a power reserve indicator at 12.

Several versions, in white-colored gold, rose gold or platinum could be made between 2006 and 2014, after which the valuable metals were substituted with stainless steel… The ref. 5960/1A was indeed eliminating the gold or platinum cases for any more prevalent metal, plus a surprising (unpredicted, questionable) dial, in white-colored and lots of with coloured accents. An extreme alternation in the gathering, and we’d need to watch for 2015 to determine the annual calendar/chronograph combination returning in gold and silver, although with a brand new reference, the 5905p, having a bigger situation of 42mm (rather of 40.5mm). The 5960 ongoing its means by the present collection, by having an additional black dial… until Baselworld 2017, when Patek introduced back white-colored gold around the model, but again a quite surprising design. Which was the 5960/01g, here is our undertake it.

THE 2017 PATEK PHILIPPE CHRONOGRAPH ANNUAL CALENDAR 5960/01G, Using Its SURPRISING VINTAGE TWIST

What exactly will we have with this particular new white-colored gold form of the Patek Philippe Chronograph Annual Calendar? Well, essentially, not new, as all of the general features of the Ref. 5960 have returned within their usual form. The situation, even when now crafted in 18k white-colored gold rather of stainless (following the white-colored gold version was removed… I understand, complex story) is equivalent to you've seen since 2006. Same shape, same convex bezel and same dimensions. The display can also be perfectly like the steel versions from the 5960 and also the movement, as you’ve suspected, can also be exactly the same calibre CH 28-520 IRM QA 24H (seriously, even BMW makes simpler names…) So, actually, this latest 5960/01g is simply a cosmetic update… But one that's quite surprising within the details.

When the comeback of white-colored gold is one thing that many will certainly like - the thought of a rare metal situation quite fits Patek, and a few collectors like the weight of gold rather of steel - the process of Patek with this particular watch is very hard to understand… Launched in platinum, then in white-colored or pink gold, then gold and platinum was stopped and substituted with steel, a bigger version includes platinum again, and today white-colored gold returns around the old reference! It’s more complicated than the usual soap opera. But enough concerning the reasons why… Let’s see this watch out for what it's, as clearly, it's some strong arguments.

The most known change, aside from the white-colored gold situation - again, with similar dimensions as all of the previous editions from the 5960, meaning 40.5mm diameter x 13.5mm thickness - may be the new dial. With this particular 5960/01g, Patek applies exactly the same idea just like the Calatrava Travel Time Pilot 5524G, meaning a fast, grained varnished dial with white-colored gold indexes. All this is coupled with a classic-inspired, brown leather strap, having a pin-buckle rather from the usual deployant clasp.

Patek Philippe Chronograph Annual Calendar 5960 Watch Review

Overall, this latest style constitutes a quite interesting compromise between your very classical early editions of the watch (begin to see the 5960p below, with black dial) and also the possibly too sporty steel versions. In addition, the option of leather befits very well the timepiece and makes this Patek a little more youthful, a little trendier. And That I won’t complain about not getting the fully polished metallic bracelet, as it’s overall quite shiny and too visible.

Despite this slight vintage feel, the white-colored gold 5960 keeps a number of its modern and sporty attributes, namely the highly contrasted white-colored calendar home windows and chronograph scales (at 6), the big, straight and luminous hands, in addition to a couple of touches of red around the central second hands and also the 30-minute counter. Surprisingly, if all this is equivalent to the 2 steel versions, nowhere dial causes it to be more subtle, as all of the colours and contrasts blend better within the global design.

A couple of evolutions is visible around the situation too

Mainly within the mushroom pushers, which include a guilloche pattern, similar to certain vintage watches of the trademark. The remainder, meaning the form (curved lugs, convex bezel), the fully (perfectly) polished finish or even the screwed back are identical. The white-colored gold provides a slightly different balance around the wrist, with increased weight.

Underneath the azure caseback may be the well-known calibre CH 28-520 IRM QA 24H. It was the very first integrated automatic chronograph movement of Patek, and also, since its introduction, it's also made its distance to the Nautilus (although with no calendar indications). This movement includes a modern architecture, using the chronograph and also the self-winding mechanism being fully area of the movement (and never added on the top of the existing movement, inside a modular way). The chronograph includes a flyback function, and it is controlled with a column-wheel along with a vertical clutch. It features a 4Hz frequency also it boasts between 45-55 hrs of power reserve, for the way lengthy the chronograph is stored running.

Patek’s traditional finishing continues to be applied, meaning polished bevelled angles, circular Geneva Stripes, polished screw-heads and slots and circular graining around the primary plate. It's certified through the Patek Philippe Seal, which certifies the precision from the watch (average of -3/ 2 seconds each day). All of the calendar indications, meaning the corrections during the day, the date and also the month, are carried out via recessed pushers put on the left side from the situation.

Overall, this Patek Philippe Chronograph Annual Calendar 5960/01g is certainly not however a revolution - initially. Actually, it needs to be seen included in the “new Patek”, which results in a couple of offset watches that foretells more youthful, more active collectors. When the steel versions were slightly questionable and never adopted by all Patek fans, this latest white-colored gold version with blue dial feels a lot more familiar, also it keeps the typical PP elegance, coupled with a properly-dosed vintage touch and a few modern and casual elements.