Alright, let’s talk about what I did with the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001. This wasn’t just any watch; it was a project, a remake. I wanted to see if I could get that high-end feel without breaking the bank.
So, I started by looking at the original. Man, that thing is pretty. It’s got this classic round case, 39mm across, and it’s super slim at just 8.08mm. They call it the “cream of the crop” for a reason. It’s shiny, it’s polished, and it just screams luxury. But the price? Forget about it. It sells for between 11,000 and 84,000 dollars on the secondary market, with an average price of around 24,000 dollars. Way out of my league.
Then, I started digging into the remake. I got my hands on one and started comparing. The case is still that nice round shape and the same size. I measured it myself to be sure. It felt good on the wrist, not too heavy, not too light. And it was water-resistant to 30 meters, just like the original. I even checked the back – sapphire crystal, just like the real deal.
The movement was the big question. The original has this manual winding caliber 30‑255 PS with a 65-hour power reserve. Of course, the remake wouldn’t have that. But it did have a decent movement that kept time well enough. I wore it for a few days, wound it up, and it didn’t lose more than a few seconds. Good enough for me.
Here are some of the things that I really liked about my remake:
- The Look: It really did look like the original, at least from a distance. The rose gold finish was spot on.
- The Feel: It was comfortable to wear all day. And it had that nice, expensive look to it.
- The Price: This is the best part. I didn’t have to sell a kidney to get it. Way, way cheaper than the original.
Wrapping Up
In the end, I was pretty happy with how my little experiment turned out. I got to wear a watch that looked and felt like a Patek Philippe without spending a fortune. Sure, it wasn’t the real deal, but for the price, it was a darn good substitute. Would I recommend it? If you’re into watches and want that classic Calatrava look without the crazy price tag, then yeah, go for it.
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