Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Flyback Chronograph

In 1996, Patek Philippe made one of its most brilliant strategic moves — the introduction and development of the Annual Calendar complication. Patek recognized a gap in offerings between the simple and (relatively) accessible Calatrava classic dress watches, and the complicated — and, in turn, highly expensive — Grand Complications. The so called “Annual Calendar,” which needs adjusting just once per year, bridged the gap between these two price points, offering a natural progression for collectors looking to access a Patek complication. This change allows the movement to be far more economical to produce and easier to service. The inaugural Reference 5035 Annual Calendar of 1996 was a tremendous success, and ever since, Patek’s Annual Calendars have been popular favorites. These watches represent the bread and butter of the brand — perfectly executed, complicated dress watches that any collector would be proud to own. In 2006, Patek Philippe released the Reference 5960P, a platinum annual calendar coupled with a flyback chronograph. Distinguished from the other annual calendars due to its decidedly sporty look, it immediately stood out from the crowd. This watch wasn't only noteworthy for its flyback complication, however — it also featured a modern annual calendar layout: Instead of displaying the annual calendar in subsidiary dials, Patek instead used aperture displays. While apertures have been used by Patek throughout history — take the Reference 3448 perpetual calendar, for example — these are  typically displayed in-line. For the 5960, Patek instead made vaulted, framed apertures that follow the curve of the case. This made for a modern take on the annual calendar and breathed new life into the collection. This particular Reference 5960R-001 is executed in rose gold, with a cool grey dial with red and blue accents for the chronograph counters. The calendar complications and power reserve sit at the top of the dial, while the minute and hour totalizers are placed at 6 o’clock within a single oversized sub-register. A day/night indicator is cleverly integrated within this subdial, while the entire dial is topped with a sapphire crystal. A number of other stylistic choices were made that separates the 5960 from previous references: Unlike the 5035 and 5146 annual calendars, it has a concave bezel that helps reinforce its modern look. Additionally, the 5960 is sized at a comfortable 40.5mm — sporty dimensions for a complicated Patek, but ones that suit it well. Finally, the 5960 is finished with a signed crown and engraved pump pushers. Dating to 2009, this example is presented on a signed brown alligator strap with a signed rose gold clasp and comes with its inner box, hangtags, setting tool, leather folio, booklets, and Certificate of Origin. An excellent entry point in to complicated Patek, its unique configuration helps it stand out from the much more commonplace white gold execution of the 5960.  Snap up this example before someone beats you to it!