Patek Philippe

The Reference 5960 annual calendar, power reserve, chronograph, which was launched in 2006, features the first chronograph movement created by Patek Philippe and produced entirely in-house from start to finish. This modern self-winding movement includes a vertical clutch that is nearly wear-free. The platinum model with a charcoal gray dial was released in 2006, followed by a rose gold version with a dark silvery gray vertically satin-finished dial in 2009.

The 5960 combines a mechanical fly-back chronograph with an annual calendar, two of the most popular complications in watchmaking. The calendar mechanism is based on a patent granted to Patek Philippe in 1996, while the chronograph module uses a traditional column wheel construction to control the start, stop, and reset commands. However, instead of a lever for a horizontal wheel clutch, it uses the clamp of a vertical disk clutch, making it more reliable and eliminating the risk of hand bounce in either direction when the chronograph is switched on. The disk clutch is virtually wear-free, which allows the chronograph hand to be used as a second hand without affecting the rate accuracy of the movement. As a result, the reference 5960 does not have a seconds subdial. The watch has a round case with an anti-reflection coated sapphire-crystal glass and a sapphire-crystal display back.

Since its introduction, the Reference 5960 has hugely appreciated by collectors. The model is now discontinued and is becoming increasingly sought-after, especially in the stunning pink gold gold with black dial configuration, such as the present lot.