Alright, so I’ve been tinkering away at this project for a while now, and let me tell you, it’s been a journey. I wanted to remake that Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119G-001, you know, the one they call the “original order.” Fancy, right?
First, I did my homework. Patek Philippe, that’s a big name in watches. Family-owned, Geneva-based, the whole shebang. This Calatrava model, it’s a classic, but this 6119G-001 is their latest. Fresh out of the oven, as they say.
I started by sketching it out. I’m no artist, but it helped me get a feel for the thing. This watch, it’s simple but classy. White gold case, that charcoal gray dial with the vertical satin finish, and those hands and markers, super sharp. I spent a good few days just staring at pictures of it, trying to memorize every little detail.
Then came the hard part: finding the parts. I didn’t have much luck in my local stores and had to search online. Let me tell you, these parts are not easy to come by. Also, they’re not cheap. But, I was determined. I hunted high and low, and eventually, I had a decent pile of bits and pieces that sort of looked like they belonged to a watch.
- The case: Took me ages to find one that was the right size and had that white gold look. 39mm, that’s the magic number.
- The dial: This was a tough one. That specific shade of gray, with the textured finish, it’s not something you see every day. Found a guy who makes custom dials, not cheap, but he did a decent job.
- The movement: Now, I’m not a watchmaker. So, I used a reliable automatic movement. It’s not a Patek Philippe movement, but it gets the job done. 31mm diameter and 2.55mm thickness.
Assembling it was another story. I got myself a set of those tiny screwdrivers and a magnifying glass, and I felt like a real watchmaker. Putting it all together was like doing a jigsaw puzzle, except if you mess up, you might scratch something expensive. It took me a few evenings, and a lot of patience, but I did it.
The final step was the strap. I found a nice black leather strap, similar to the original. It’s not alligator, but it looks the part. Attached it to the case, and there it was, my homemade Calatrava.
The Result
It’s not perfect, I know. But it’s mine. It looks pretty darn close to the real deal, at least to my untrained eye. And the best part? I made it. There’s something special about wearing a watch that you’ve put together yourself. It’s not just a timepiece; it’s a story. It won’t fool an expert, but that’s not the point. I had fun, I learned a lot, and I’ve got a unique watch to show for it. That’s a win in my book.
If anyone’s thinking of doing something similar, I’d say go for it. It’s a challenge, but it’s worth it. Just be prepared to spend some time, and maybe a bit of money, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. That’s how you learn. And who knows, you might end up with something you’re really proud of.
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