Okay, so I’ve been wanting to get into watchmaking for a while now, and I finally took the plunge. I decided to try and remake a classic – the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119G-001. Yeah, I know, pretty ambitious for a first project, but hey, go big or go home, right?
First, I spent hours just staring at pictures of this beauty online. I mean, this watch is a stunner. It’s got this charcoal gray dial, and it’s made of 18K white gold. The case is 39mm, which is a perfect size, in my opinion. Not too big, not too small. I found out that the original one sells for over $28,000! No way I could afford that, so I figured, why not try to make my own?
I started by gathering all the materials and tools I could find. I’m talking about tiny screwdrivers, tweezers, loupes, the whole shebang. I even managed to find some decent white gold for the case, although probably not 18K, haha. My “workshop” was basically my kitchen table. My wife was thrilled, let me tell you.
The hardest part, by far, was the dial. Getting that Clous de Paris, that’s what they call that guilloched hobnail pattern, was a nightmare. I tried so many different methods. I watched countless videos, read forums, I almost gave up. But I kept at it. After messing up a few dials, I finally managed to get something that looked somewhat similar. It’s not perfect, but I’m still pretty proud of it.
Then came the movement. Now, I’m no watchmaker, but I learned that this watch has a special movement. I did the best I could, but obviously, it’s not going to be as refined as the original. Putting all those tiny pieces together was like trying to assemble a puzzle in the dark. I spent many late nights squinting at gears and springs.
After weeks of work, I finally finished it! It’s not an exact replica, but it definitely captures the spirit of the Calatrava 6119G-001. I even made my own leather strap for it. It’s a little rough around the edges, but it works, and it looks pretty good on my wrist if I do say so myself.
- Making a watch, even a simple one, is incredibly hard.
- Those tiny parts are really, really easy to lose.
- Patek Philippe watchmakers are basically wizards.
- The waitlist for the real thing is, like, 9 months to a year.
- This watch is way cheaper than the original, which can go up to $84,000!
- The original Calatrava came out in 1932, called Reference 96. Cool, right?
Key Takeaways From My Adventure:
This whole experience has given me a newfound appreciation for watchmakers. It’s a true art form. I’m definitely going to keep practicing and maybe, just maybe, one day I’ll be able to make something truly special. Until then, I’ll be rocking my homemade Calatrava with pride.
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