A Rare Fusion

Patek Philippe’s Ref. 5960/1A Annual Calendar Chronograph

Emanating the cool sheen of stainless steel, the Ref. 5960/1A Annual Calendar Chronograph is one of Patek Philippe’s classically elegant timepieces that feature the rare combination of a complicated movement in a stainless steel case. With few exceptions, all other Patek Philippe men’s wristwatches are systematically cased in gold or platinum. First launched in 2006, the Ref. 5960 in platinum won instant acclaim for its unique style. It was Patek Philippe’s first self-winding chronograph and quickly established itself as one of the most coveted timepieces in their portfolio. The success story continued with further versions in platinum and rose gold. Representing a paradigm change, the Ref. 5960/1A in stainless steel is the latest release in its lineage and has replaced all gold and platinum versions of the Ref. 5960.

Dynamic Elegance

Melding classic elegance with masculine sportiness, the new 40.5mm stainless steel case is superbly finished and features gently rounded case contours. The elegance of the case has a sublime transition into a signature bracelet with five rows of drop links. First introduced in 1997 for the Ref. 5036/1 Annual Calendar, the bracelet now celebrates its debut in stainless steel. The new silvery opaline dial is styled with striking red accents, interesting bright-dark contrasts and a prominent monocounter positioned at six o’clock. Distinctively contoured to produce an expressive three-dimensional effect, the black oxidized gold hour markers and calendar apertures are a wonderful contrast to the light dial. The redesigned hour and minute hands in black oxidized gold feature three facets to match the hour markers and have a luminescent coating to improve legibility at night.

Mechanical Masterpiece

At the heart of the Ref. 5690/1A is one of Patek Philippe’s in-house automatic movements featuring an annual calendar function as well as a self-winding chronograph. Displaying the first day of the month in red, the annual calendar function automatically recognizes months with 30 and 31 days so it only needs to be manually adjusted once each year. The movement is a prime example of tradition paired with innovation. It combines the classic column-wheel control concept with a modern vertical disk clutch that eliminates the risk of hand jump or recoil when the stopwatch function is activated. The clutch is practically friction-free, so that the chronograph hand can be used as a permanently running seconds hand if desired. Patek Philippe’s stainless steel models have always ranked among the most desirable timepieces because they are only crafted in very limited numbers. With its dynamic elegance and technical bravado, the Ref. 5960/1A will undoubtedly capture the attention of collectors and the hearts of brand aficionados.

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