Why wasn't the steel Patek 5960 Annual Calendar Chronograph successful?

[doramas]

Why wasn't the steel Patek 5960 Annual Calendar Chronograph successful?
I don't understand. Can you give the reasons for its lack of success?
To me it is a watch that I find attractive both in the case and on the dial. I don't like the bracelet as much, but it's not too ugly either.





Here with black dial

[Russell996]

The same reason the 5085/1A was not a roaring success, too many polished surfaces for most people’s taste. Both are however great pieces.

[doramas]

Originally Posted by Russell996

The same reason the 5085/1A was not a roaring success, too many polished surfaces for most people’s taste. Both are however great pieces.

Indeed, but in my opinion, the 5960 looks better than the 5085.

[HMHM]

For me its the bracelet. It has the same design issue as the odysseus bracelet but due to the case of the odysseus it appears better than the 5960.

[Ichiran]

Because there are 3 other in-house competitors that are more desirable to more people - 5980, 5990 and 5968.

[IBDOC]

Originally Posted by Ichiran

Because there are 3 other in-house competitors that are more desirable to more people - 5980, 5990 and 5968.

Neither of those are annual calendars. Now, if they did make the 5905 in steel with a reasonably hefty steel or rubber bracelet with a deployant (instead of 21/16mm leather with a ridiculously small tang buckle) I think it would have made quite a stir.

[Ichiran]

Originally Posted by IBDOC

Neither of those are annual calendars. Now, if they did make the 5905 in steel with a reasonably hefty steel or rubber bracelet with a deployant (instead of 21/16mm leather with a ridiculously small tang buckle) I think it would have made quite a stir.

You are right - these 3 references do not have AC complication, and the 5726 is AC only without the chrono.

Your suggestion for 5905 could work.

[enjoythemusic]

Perhaps PP lacked having someone popular / with streed cred to promote it? Maybe PP should call John Mayer or Hodinkee and have them do a promo? Does PP have any Asian influencers on their books to help out?

[IBDOC]

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

Perhaps PP lacked having someone popular / with streed cred to promote it? Maybe PP should call John Mayer or Hodinkee and have them do a promo? Does PP have any Asian influencers on their books to help out?

Apparently this is anathema to PPs preferred customer base. Which is probably why the Sterns are not too pleased with Instagram poobahs, footballers and rappers becoming unofficial celebrity ambassadors for the brand either. AP is better at that game in any case.

”When shown pictures of celebrities and famous Patek Philippe owners, potential clients had an almost uniformly negative response. "What about me?" they would remark. “Why do I have to look at other people’s stories and borrow the acclaim of others?” ”

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/un...ising-campaign

[jon_jon]

5960/1A is a nice complicated watch for a reasonable price. Get it if you like it. The SS craze is quite recent. If you go back only a few years, the Aquanauts and many of the Nautilus were selling at a discount off the list price. Who knows if the craze will continue or if it is a bubble. Only time will tell. Perhaps some people will go crazy and start buying up the 5960/1A and its price will skyrocket.

[1665fan]

It’s a steel dress watch, not sports watch.......just like the 5085....same reason steel Cellini are not collectible either

[rdragon]

The bracelet seems to be used in other serious models. 5131P from what I read and appears to be the same or very similar to the bracelet on the 5270/1r. Can anyone who has one or seen the 5270/1r confirm if the bracelets are the same?

Originally Posted by jon_jon

5960/1A is a nice complicated watch for a reasonable price. Get it if you like it. The SS craze is quite recent. If you go back only a few years, the Aquanauts and many of the Nautilus were selling at a discount off the list price. Who knows if the craze will continue or if it is a bubble. Only time will tell. Perhaps some people will go crazy and start buying up the 5960/1A and its price will skyrocket.

+1. Very nice. Aesthetically pleasing, symmetrical, great color variation with white dial under various lighting conditions, looks good with different straps, useful chrono (unlike the 60 min chronos on some models), usable lume, fairly short run due to "lack of success" are a few reasons this could be interesting years down the road.

The lack of success may be similar to the uncool kids that generally become more "successful" 20+ years later.

[tombub2b]

A nautilus is sportier than a 5960a on racing strap ? I don't think...

People don’t know yet how easy the bracelet is to change, and the general public doesn’t know it yet (like nautilus, 16520 and others...), for lack of having seen it in real.


it has already started, and not many are available compared to the nautilus...

[cascavel]

Same reason none of the other 5960s have been successful, because who needs a chronograph combined with an annual calendar? If it had been issued as a straight chronograph/power reserve with thinner case at $40K, it would have been a big seller. Yeah, the bracelet is something of an issue but it could have been changed out for a strap.

[JorgeCCW]

I think patek went too greedy on a watch that is not a grand complication but is more than the average complicated watch. So is in between with a sporty look. Then it tried to save it with the 5905, which works a little bit better but not enough imho.

But also remember that what I said above shouldn’t define the decision of getting the watch or not , because buying what you want should be the main reason of your decision. But obviously that doesn’t mean being blind about it’s market. Take it from me that I had the 5960p twice and the 5960/1a once. Obviously my decisions are more based on the love for the hobby than what the flippers base their decision nowadays. Different goals ,but try to combine them whenever you can, sometimes that happens

Just my 2 cents

Note : I also got at some point 5905P , so I am very persistent...Lol

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SL BRABUS]

For me is the pump pusher.....

If it has the pusher like the 5170, I be all over it.....

[2nastie]

Define success? I think the watch did relatively well as an AC in Patek’s line up. If the definition of success is something that it has to be be sold out and everyone’s wrist or Instagram feed like a Nautilus or Aquanaut then the 5960a would always be a fail.

This steel variant still commands something very close to its PM variants which makes it a good job in its own right.

I would say though... Patek needs to work on their bracelets especially if the intention was to make 5960 more casual or appeal to the casual masses. Completely missed the mark with the beads of rice.

Would have no hesitation adding the current 5960g as a sports watch over something like the PM Daytona’s on Oysterflex that have reached an astronomical rate.

[vitalsigns]

Because it's ugly. There, I said it.

[Pimpsy]

Originally Posted by vitalsigns

Because it's ugly. There, I said it.

Haha! Call it like you see it. :)

To me, it comes across as overwrought and unrefined...like Patek and Breitling had a child. Certainly at that price point there are watches I like a lot more, and that's probably the real problem.

[Oryx]

Originally Posted by Pimpsy

Haha! Call it like you see it. :)

To me, it comes across as overwrought and unrefined...like Patek and Breitling had a child. Certainly at that price point there are watches I like a lot more, and that's probably the real problem.

Have you seen the watch in the flesh and tried it on?

The 5960 in steel is in my opinion one of the best “sportsl” watches released by Patek in recent years alongside the 5740.

The dial layout and use of black (hour markers, minute scale and aperture borders) red (minute hand / first day of the month and blue (day / night) are all perfectly balanced.

I can see this being a future classic once the nautilus hype dies down.

[azizu]

the watch did resonably well, the black dial seems more in demand than the white dial (althought i believe the white dial is more beautiful and legiable than black).

[Bearxj86]

It's still a cult classic :)

[martinr]

[martinr]

[Monty22]

Originally Posted by 1665fan

It’s a steel dress watch, not sports watch.......just like the 5085....same reason steel Cellini are not collectible either

Agreed. For me, it’s the polished surfaces...a lot of them...all of them


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dannyp]

Until recently, Patek treated stainless as its "entry-level" metal, with an entry-level (relatively speaking...) price. Once you add enough complications, I doubt you'll find too many buyers who would decide to go with stainless for price reasons. You also lose the appeal of steel's robustness, since the movement is delicate enough (and water resistance low enough) that one must still treat their watch with kid gloves.

[Yk101]

I love my! I think it is one of the better Pateks out there.

[eanzenberg]

It is beautiful in a striking way. I’m a fan, also, ACs are some of the most useful complications out there

[pb2au]

Originally Posted by eanzenberg

It is beautiful in a striking way. I’m a fan, also, ACs are some of the most useful complications out there

I
I also love mine. I receive more compliments on this than my 5980.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[ganiccus]

It has this vintage 50-60s racing car vibe, it really looks like you are gazing right into a speed meter from that era with the red chronograph hand, the annual calendar apertures and the chronograph subdials. Plus, the retro style pushers, it's really a cool piece that has more of a niche appeal to sports car enthusiasts from the boomer generation.