The Patek Philippe 5960A is one of the famous anomalies in the Maison’s history, and as we all know, collectors love or eventually come to love anomalies in any brand. When it first debuted in 2014, the watch created a huge stir, as it marked a bold departure for Patek Philippe—releasing a sports watch (outside of the Nautilus and Aquanaut collections) in steel was a daring move. At the time, reactions were mixed, but it’s clear that the 5960A was part of Patek’s strategy to appeal to a younger audience. What’s even more surprising is the decision to discontinue the reference just 4 years later. While the exact reasons remain unclear, rumours suggest that Patek didn't want to use steel outside of the Nautilus and Aquanaut lines. Irrespective of this, what we ended up with is a short production-run watch that is radically and aesthetically different from the brand’s usual offering. To me, this combination of rarity, design, and boldness makes it a recipe for success.
Putting speculation aside, I’ve always appreciated the aesthetics of the 5960A. These days, I’m drawn to bracelet watches, especially since I live in the tropics. In such a humid environment, I find Patek Philippe's bracelets to be among some of the most comfortable to wear. The silvery-white dial with its red accents is a perfect touch, and the 40.5mm x 13.5mm stainless steel case sits comfortably on the wrist.
For those who are unaware, the 5960 is not a new reference. It was first released in 2006 as a dress watch in precious metals and was the first in-house self-winding chronograph made by Patek Philippe. Featuring 3 separate apertures at the top side of the dial displaying the day, date and month and a subdial at 6:00 displaying the chronograph counters and a day/night indicator, it is, in my opinion, the platonic ideal of an everyday watch.
At the end of the day, the 5960A is special in design and complicated enough to keep any watch enthusiast interested. Yet, it’s not so extravagant to the extent that you’d feel uncomfortable wearing it daily. This very idea is why I think it made logical sense for Patek to release a sportier version of the 5960. It is a shame that they did eventually discontinue this line, as collectors are now starting to realize that it was indeed a special reference. That being said, only time will tell if Patek ever decides to bring it back, but I have a sneaking suspicion this variant of the 5960A will also continue to increase in popularity and desirability as time goes on.
