Alright, let’s talk about this project I just finished, a remake of the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001. I’ve always been a fan of classic style watches, and this one is a real beauty.
First off, I got started by gathering all the info I could find. Scouring the internet, reading everything, and trying to grasp all the details of the design. This watch is 39mm in diameter and 8.08mm thick, and the case is fully polished, giving it a really slick look.
Then, I started working on the case. The round shape is pretty straightforward, but getting that perfect polish was a real challenge. I spent hours just making sure the finish was spotless. It’s made of 18k rose gold, so I had to find some material that could match that color and shine.
- Finding the right materials was a bit of a hassle.
- Used some gold-colored metal alloy to mimic the rose gold.
- Polished the heck out of it to get that glossy finish.
Next up were the hour markers and hands. These are faceted and applied, also in rose gold, with a dauphine style for the hour and minute hands. I decided to use some thin metal pieces for the markers, shaping and polishing them to catch the light just right. For the hands, I carefully cut and shaped them to match the classic dauphine look. It was a bit of detailed work, but I think it turned out pretty nice.
The dial has this cool “Clous de Paris” pattern, which is a kind of guilloche hobnail design. I tried to recreate this by scoring the dial with a tiny tool, making a bunch of tiny pyramid shapes. It’s not perfect, but it gives the dial some texture and depth.
For the strap, I opted for a simple leather one with a tang buckle. I wanted to keep it classic and not too flashy. The original uses an 18k rose gold buckle, but I just used a regular gold-colored buckle to match the case.
Putting it all together was a blast. I carefully assembled all the parts, making sure everything fit just right. The final piece isn’t a perfect replica, but it captures the essence of the Calatrava 6119R-001. Plus, it only cost me around $30 to make, which is a steal compared to the real deal!
Final Touches
I added a simple clear back to the case, kind of like the sapphire crystal case back on the original. It lets you see the simple mechanism inside, which I think is a nice touch. Overall, I’m pretty happy with how this remake turned out. It was a fun project, and I learned a lot about watch design and crafting along the way.
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