Okay, so today I wanted to try my hand at remaking something really fancy – a Patek Philippe Calatrava watch, specifically the 6119R-001 model. These things are seriously expensive, like, we’re talking tens of thousands of dollars expensive.
First off, I started by looking up everything I could about this watch. I mean, I wanted to get as close to the real thing as possible, even though I knew I probably wouldn’t be able to make it like for like. I found out that the case is 39mm across and just over 8mm thick. It’s supposed to be water-resistant to 30 meters, but, uh, I didn’t really test that part out with my version.
I spent a good chunk of time just staring at pictures of this watch, trying to figure out how I could recreate that “Clous de Paris” guilloché thing on the bezel. It’s like this really intricate pattern, and it’s one of the things that makes this watch stand out.
Getting My Hands Dirty
So, I grabbed some materials I thought would work. I didn’t use any precious metals or anything, just some stuff I had lying around that looked kinda similar. I started by shaping the case. I tried to get that perfectly round shape, but man, it’s harder than it looks. I used some tools to get the dimensions close to the 39mm and 8.08mm I read about online.
- Shaped the watch case
- Tried to get it perfectly round
- Got the dimensions close to 39mm and 8.08mm
Then came the hard part: the “Clous de Paris” pattern. I tried a few different techniques, using some tools to make the tiny indentations. It took forever, and honestly, it didn’t come out exactly like the real thing. But hey, I think I got the general idea across. It’s more like a, uh, “inspired by” version, let’s say.
- Attempted the “Clous de Paris” pattern
- Used different tools to make the indentations
- It took a long time
- Didn’t come out perfect, but close enough
Putting It All Together
After that, I made a watch face, again, not a perfect replica, but something that looked somewhat like the real thing. And I put in some watch hands, just some simple ones. I didn’t even bother trying to make a working movement – that’s way beyond my skill level. I just wanted something that looked the part, you know?
Finally, I put it all together. It took me a few tries to get everything to fit just right. When I was done, I stepped back and looked at my creation. It wasn’t a Patek Philippe, not by a long shot. But I thought it looked pretty decent for something made out of scrap materials in my spare time.
- Made a watch face
- Put in some simple watch hands
- Didn’t make a working movement
- Just wanted something that looked similar
- Took a few tries to assemble it
The Final Result
I wore it around for a day, just to see how it felt. It was kind of funny, pretending to wear a super expensive watch. I even got a couple of comments from people who didn’t know any better. They probably thought I was loaded!
Would I say I successfully “remade” a Patek Philippe Calatrava? Not really. But did I have fun trying? Absolutely. It was a cool little project, and I learned a lot. Maybe one day I’ll try it again, with better materials and more time. But for now, I’m pretty happy with my little knock-off. And who knows, maybe it’s worth at least a few bucks, right?
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