After it was launched in January 2006, the Annual Calendar Chronograph Ref. 5960 instantly became a bestseller among Patek Philippe’s complications.
With its patented Annual Calendar and Patek Philippe’s proprietary self-winding chronograph movement, it offers functions that are very useful in everyday situations. Now, this technical opus, previously available only in platinum (reference 5960P), also comes in a case made of 18K rose gold.
Developed and manufactured in-house, the self-winding CH 28-520 IRM QA 24H chronograph caliber addressed an expectation long harbored by many aficionados and collectors of Patek Philippe timepieces. In addition to the normal time indication, the movement stands out with numerous features.
It has a flyback column-wheel chronograph, a power-reserve indicator, an Annual Calendar with day, date, and month, and a day/night indicator. Beating at 28,800 semi-oscillations per hour (4 hertz), it maintains an extremely constant balance amplitude and high rate accuracy. The winding power is generated by a unidirectional central rotor in solid 21K gold.
With its classic column wheel and a vertical disk clutch, the movement combines the traditional chronograph control concept with a modern power transmission solution. It offers high functional reliability and eliminates the danger of hand bounce when the chronograph is activated. Because of its low-wear design and the absence of any negative influence on the rate accuracy of the watch, the chronograph hand can be used as a continuously running seconds hand without hesitation.
The patented Patek Philippe Annual Calendar is a full-function calendar that automatically recognizes months with 30 and 31 days and when kept running only needs to be corrected by hand once a year on March 1. It displays the day, date, and month in three apertures and controls the day/night indicator at 6 o’clock.
The new rose gold case adds an attractive and contemporary touch of nostalgia to this impressive instrument. The same warm hue of 18K rose gold ennobles the luminescent hands, the applied hour markers, and the polished frame of the date aperture. They contrast well with the dark silvery gray of the vertically satin-finished dial that in its bottom half showcases the brighter zone of the delicately snailed minute and hour counter.
On three concentric scales, it indicates elapsed minutes and hours while the chronograph is running. On the two outer scales, the longer red hand counts the minutes from 0 to 30 (red numerals) and from 30 to 60 (blue numerals) while the shorter blue hand keeps track of as many as 12 elapsed hours along the innermost scale.
The day/night (am/pm) indication is a small round aperture that progressively changes its color from white (day) to dark blue (night) and vice-versa. This function is also significant when the time and calendar indications need to be readjusted after a longer standstill period and an am/pm differentiation is required.
The day, date, and month apertures are arranged along an arc at the upper periphery of the dial. The date at 12 o’clock is particularly prominent, forming a visual balance with the monocounter that dominates the bottom half of the dial. The small power-reserve indicator hand beneath the date aperture moves between the plus and minus signs to indicate the state of wind of the mainspring.
With a diameter of 40.5 millimeters, the Ref. 5960R Annual Calendar Chronograph is a stately timepiece without violating the rules that apply to timelessly elegant watches.
It is worn on a brown large-scaled alligator strap with an 18K rose gold clasp that assures a snug and secure fit on the wrist.
Technical details
Model: Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Chronograph Ref. 5960R in 18K rose gold
Movement
Caliber CH 28-520 IRM QA 24H
Self-winding mechanical movement, column wheel-chronograph with flyback, Annual Calendar, power-reserve indicator, 24-hour display, sweep seconds (chronograph hand)
Diameter: 33 mm (basic movement 30 mm, calendar module 33 mm)
Height: 7.68 mm (movement 5.20 mm, calendar module 2.48 mm)
Number of parts: 456 (movement 302, calendar module 154)
Number of jewels: 40 (movement 35, calendar module 5)
Power reserve: Max. 55 hours
Winding rotor: Central rotor in 21K gold, unidirectional winding; oil-free ball bearing with zirconium balls
Balance: Four-arm Gyromax with four inertia blocks
Frequency: 28,800 semi-oscillations/hour (4 Hz)
Balance spring: Breguet
Functions
Two-position crown:
Pulled out: Setting the time
Pushed in: Winding
Displays
Center hour and minute hands
Sweep chrono/seconds hand
Power-reserve indicator at 12 o’clock
Dual subsidiary counter dial at 6 o’clock with
– 60-minute counter (counts elapsed minutes on 2 concentric scales from 0 to 30 in red and from 30 to 60 in blue)
– 12-hour counter
Display apertures:
Day of week between 10 and 11 o’clock
Date at 12 o’clock in a blanked and diamond-polished white-gold frame
Month between 1 and 2 o’clock
24-hour display (am/pm) at 6 o’clock
Function buttons:
Chronograph start and stop at 2 o’clock
Chronograph hand reset and flyback at 4 o’clock
Corrector push pieces:
Day-of-week correction at 9 o’clock
Date correction between 9 and 10 o’clock
Month correction at 10 o’clock
Case
18K rose gold, crystal (antireflection coated) and sapphire-crystal case back
Water-resistant to 25 meters
Case dimensions: Diameter: 40.5 mm
Diameter including crown: 43.25 mm
Overall height: 13.80 mm (crystal to lugs)
Height: 13.55 mm (crystal to back)
Width between lugs: 21 mm
Dial
Two-tone: Dark gray satin-finished and silvery gray snailed
Eight hour markers in 18K rose gold
Eleven Superluminova luminescent dots
Leaf-shaped hour and minute hands in 18K rose gold with Superluminova luminescent coating
Baton-style chronograph hand, and blasted, rhodiumed steel with counterweight
Power-reserve indicator with baton-style hand in 18K rose gold, sandblasted and rhodiumed
Silvery gray snailed subsidiary dial
Baton-style hour-counter hand with counterweight, blue-lacquered brass
Baton-style minute counter hand with counterweight, red-lacquered brass
Strap
Hand-stitched, large-scaled, brown alligator with Calatrava fold-over clasp in 18K rose gold
