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The ref. 5960 is one of the most significant watches of the last 20 years. It combines Patek’s chronograph expertise with a true Patek innovation, the annual calendar.Forget about the Nautilus, the thing that Patek is really known for is its grand complication watches that combine a chronograph functionality with a perpetual calendar. However, Patek is also known for its invention of the annual calendar complication. This unique calendar mechanism, which only requires adjustment once a year, was introduced by Patek in 1996 as a slightly simpler alternative to the expensive perpetual calendar. The marriage of the classic chronograph—a flyback one at that—with the hyper modern annual calendar makes the ref. 5960 one of the most important watches in recent years.But the 5960 isn’t revolutionary only for mechanical reasons but also due to its aesthetics. Patek could have gone with the traditional three-register dial but instead opted for a decidedly modern reinterpretation with three large apertures at the 10:30, 12, and 1:30 positions displaying the day, date, and month functions, together with a single multi-tier sub-register at the 6 o’clock position.This ref. 5960/01G-001 from 2017 is housed in a large 40.5 mm 18k white gold case with a bold concave polished bezel. Meanwhile, a sapphire see-through case back gives full view to the expertly finished automatic movement with a 21k yellow gold rotor.The lovely blue-grained dial is set against the three white calendar windows with contrasting colored text. At the 12 o’clock position, right below the date window, Patek has incorporated a discreet power reserve indicator. Besides the bright red central chronograph hand, all the other functions of the watch are concentrated neatly in the charming sub-register at the bottom half of the dial. There we find a 12-hour and 30-minute chronograph totalizers on the two outer rings, while a running seconds hand sits within the inner circle. WIthin this inner ring also sits a small aperture for the day/night indicator.The white gold ref. 5960/01G was the last remaining annual calendar chronograph after the discontinuation of the stainless steel version in 2018. Unfortunately, Patek announced early 2021 that it would retire the white gold version as well, making this reference the last in a pioneering line of watches.This 5960/01G dates back to 2018 and comes on its original vintage brown calfskin with contrasting stitching and an 18k gold Patek buckle. The watch is in excellent condition and comes as a full set with the original box and papers.