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Patek Philippe Complications Flyback Chronograph Annual Calendar 42mm Stainless Steel 5905/1A-001
Ref. 5905/1A-001
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Stepping up in Patek Philippe's range
The 5905 family was drawn up as the successor to the 5960, and this reference carries that brief into an unusual place for Patek: stainless steel. Complicated pieces from Geneva almost always arrive in gold first, with steel an afterthought or an omission altogether. Here the choice sharpens the watch considerably — the olive sunburst dial reads with more contrast against the brushed and polished three-link bracelet than it ever would in yellow gold, and the whole thing sits closer to a sports watch in intention than the 5905's precious-metal siblings would suggest. The CH 28-520 QA 24H is the engineering achievement the dial exists to display. It binds a flyback chronograph to an annual calendar through a column wheel and vertical disc clutch, an arrangement that lets the central seconds hand sweep continuously rather than jumping to zero on demand — the chronograph resets and restarts from that running baseline. Fifty-five hours of reserve means a weekend off the wrist is not a problem. At 14.13mm the case is not slim, but 50.5mm lug-to-lug keeps it from pushing too far up the forearm, and the concave bezel with its recessed flanks gives the profile a purposeful rather than bloated quality. The bracelet rewards closer attention: alternating polished outer links and satin-brushed inner links, secured by a fold-over clasp with four independent catches. That clasp is overengineered in the way Patek tends to overbuild things that will be opened daily — firm to release, solid under the wrist, and notably more considered than the equivalent on any watch nearby.
- Reference
- 5905/1A-001
- Brand
- Patek Philippe
- Case size
- 42mm
- Case thickness
- 14.13mm
- Lug width
- 22mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Green
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- CH 28-520 QA 24H
- Functions
- Chronograph, Day-date
- Water resistance
- 30m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Pre-owned
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 50.5mm
- Power reserve
- 55 hours
Learn more about Patek Philippe
Antoine Norbert de Patek, a Polish cavalry officer exiled after the November Uprising, founded a watch business in Geneva in 1839 with his countryman François Czapek. The partnership dissolved after six years, and in 1845 Patek took on the French watchmaker Adrien Philippe, inventor of the keyless winding crown. The firm became Patek Philippe in 1851.
That single invention mattered more than any other in the company's early history: it removed the winding key, and every modern watch descends from it. Queen Victoria bought a Patek pendant watch at the Great Exhibition the same year, establishing the royal patronage the house has traded on ever since.
The Stern family, dial manufacturers and long-standing suppliers, bought the company in 1932 during the Depression. Four generations later it remains in their hands — the last independent family-owned manufacture in Geneva, currently led by Thierry Stern.
Patek's reputation rests on complications: the Calibre 89 of 1989 carried thirty-three of them, and the Grandmaster Chime remains among the most complicated wristwatches made. The Nautilus, drawn by Gérald Genta in 1976 as a steel luxury sports watch, became an unlikely commercial phenomenon four decades after launch.
Production stays deliberately modest, in the tens of thousands annually, and every watch carries the Patek Philippe Seal, an in-house standard the company adopted in 2009 after abandoning the Geneva Seal as insufficiently strict.
- 1839
- Antoine Norbert de Patek and François Czapek found the firm in Geneva.
- 1845
- Adrien Philippe joins, bringing the keyless winding crown.
- 1851
- The company is renamed Patek Philippe; Queen Victoria buys a watch.
- 1932
- The Stern family acquires the company.
- 1976
- The Nautilus debuts, designed by Gérald Genta.
- 2009
- The Patek Philippe Seal replaces the Geneva Seal.
Also in 5 collections
This watch appears in Stainless Steel Watches (2,484), Automatic Watches (1,370), Chronograph Watches (961), Green Dial Watches (346) and Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (254).
2-year Goldsmiths warranty
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Sits in the lower half of Patek Philippe's range as we list it
Worth knowing
- 30m means keeping it away from water
- 14.13mm thick, so it will not disappear under a cuff
Compare alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 5905/1A-001 | 26331ST.OO.1220ST.03 | 4500V/110R-B705 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £48,850 | £45,950 | £50,950 |
| Case size | 42mm | 41mm | 41mm |
| Water resistance | 30m | 50m | 150m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet | Leather strap |
| Power reserve | 55 hours | 40 hours | 60 hours |
| This watch |
|
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
No. At 30m it will survive rain and handwashing, but not submersion of any kind.
Will the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Does it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
How long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 55 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
What size strap does it take?
22mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 50.5mm, which suits wrists from roughly 17.5cm (7 inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
Goldsmiths at £48,850, pre-owned. No UK retailer we track lists this reference new.
Is this available new?
Not from the UK retailers we track. This reference is listed as pre-owned only, at £48,850 from Goldsmiths. Goldsmiths test every pre-owned watch for authenticity, timekeeping and water resistance, and warrant it for 2 years — the same term they give on a new watch.
Who are Goldsmiths?
Goldsmiths has been selling watches in Britain since 1778 and is part of the Watches of Switzerland Group, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. They are an authorised dealer, so a watch comes with the manufacturer’s own warranty.
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