Launched in 2006, the Patek Philippe ref. 5960 bears the firm’s very first self-winding in-house chronograph movement, further enhanced with an additional annual calendar complication. Initially introduced in platinum with a grey dial, the reference evolved with various new case materials and dial configurations over time.
It is a piece that merges enormous practicality with elegance and refined savoir-faire. The case lines are clean and simple, obviously inspired by the Calatrava collection. The dial sports a clean-cut layout featuring three apertures indicating the day, date and month at the edge of the dial at 10, 12 and 2 o’ clock and is dominated by the “Bull's Eye” chronograph counter - giving the watch its nickname - which groups chronographic minutes and hours indicated by superimposed hands, and completes the packaged with a discreet day/night indicator. The 12 hour counter offers the longest recording span for a Patek wristwatch - which normally show 30 minutes with examples going as low as one minute (ref. 5975).
In 2011, the ref. 5961P was released featuring a baguette-cut diamond-set bezel, further adorned with diamond indexes and a diamond-set deployant clasp. The present pink gold variant is a later, warmer and subtle evolution of the model. The blue dial has been swapped for a black one - with calendar discs in tone - which beautifully contrasts with the warm rose gold case.


The present example was delivered on November 30, 2022 and is offered with its full set of accessories by its original owner and in practically unworn condition. Given the increased appeal gem-set watches are currently enjoying, and the overall quite restricted production of such models by Patek Philippe, it is more than likely that acquiring an example of 5961 - not to mention one with the present one-owner provenance and perfect condition - will become more and more challenging in the coming years.