Watch Paparazzi

Entrepreneur Talal Al-Ajmi spotted wearing Patek Philippe

Talal Alajmi, founder and CEO of the trading platform VIMarkets, was recently spotted wearing the Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Chronograph reference 5960/1G — an 18-karat white gold piece that sits at the serious end of the Geneva manufacture's sporting complications lineup. The sighting underscores how this reference has become a go-to statement piece among entrepreneurs and financiers who want technical depth without overt ostentation.

The ref. 5960/1G houses caliber CH 28-520 IRM QA 24H, a manufacture movement that Patek Philippe introduced with the original 5960 series in 2006. It was a landmark: the first Patek to combine a flyback chronograph with an annual calendar on a single movement architecture developed entirely in-house, replacing earlier ébauche-based solutions. The movement beats at 28,800 vph, offers a power reserve of approximately 55 hours, and incorporates an instantaneous date jump. The 40.5mm white gold case on the 1G variant pairs with a rich blue dial, white gold applied hour markers, and signature red chronograph seconds and minutes hands — a restrained but visually precise color scheme. A brown calfskin strap completes the ensemble.

Among collectors, the 5960 family occupies a well-defined niche: it is the functional, slightly sportier answer to the dress-oriented 5270 perpetual calendar chronograph, appreciated for its legibility and the real-world utility of the annual calendar — a mechanism that requires manual correction only once per year, at the end of February. The white gold blue-dial variant has consistently attracted premium attention, combining metal rarity with a dial color that photographs exceptionally well.

Alajmi's choice aligns with a profile common to serious watch collectors in the Gulf financial sector — a preference for horologically significant references from top-tier Swiss manufactures over flashier, more logo-forward alternatives. The 5960/1G communicates expertise to those in the know without demanding attention from those who are not.

At an official retail price of $59,000 USD, the ref. 5960/1G sits in the upper tier of the Patek Philippe catalogue. On the secondary market, demand for the white gold blue-dial configuration remains firm, with grey-market prices frequently running above list — reflecting the persistent difficulty of acquiring Patek Philippe complications through authorized dealer channels.