Alright, so I’ve been messing around with something pretty wild lately – trying to remake a Patek Philippe Calatrava 5088/100P-001. Yeah, that super fancy watch that’s like, a hundred grand or something. I ain’t rich, but I do love a good challenge. And I thought it’d be fun to share my journey here.
First off, I started by just staring at pictures of this thing online. It’s a 38mm platinum watch, not too big, not too small. But it is the detail that killed me. They made only ten of these. This watch has a sapphire-crystal back, which means you can see all the tiny little gears and stuff moving inside. And the dial? Forget about it. It’s hand-engraved with black enamel. Like, who even does that anymore?
I decided I had to find similar materials. Platinum was obviously out of the question. It would be too expensive. So I searched on the market to find some polished stainless steel that looked kind of like it. I bought a cheap watch case, about the same size, from some random dude online.
The movement was the hardest part. This Patek Philippe has a caliber 240 ultra-thin self-winding movement. That’s a fancy way of saying it’s a really thin automatic movement. You know, the kind that winds itself as you move your wrist. They say it’s got like a 48-hour power reserve. The official one is using the Calatrava cross. I can’t get those. I can only get some movements that were also pretty thin and automatic. It was a start.
Then came the dial. I’m no artist, but I figured I could try to do something similar. Found some black enamel paint and a really, really fine brush. Watched a bunch of videos on how to engrave metal, got myself some cheap tools, and just went for it.
Let me tell you, it was rough. My first few attempts at engraving looked like a toddler had attacked the metal with a fork. And the enamel painting? Don’t even get me started. It’s way harder than it looks. Let’s just say there were a lot of scrapped dials.
But I kept at it. Slowly but surely, I started to get better. The engraving became more controlled, the enamel smoother. I even managed to make a sort of replica of the original design. It wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot, but it was something.
Putting it all together was another adventure. I had to learn how to properly install the movement, attach the hands, and fit the dial. Lots of trial and error, lots of tiny screws lost, and lots of frustration.
The Final Result
After many weeks of work, I finally had something that resembled a watch. It wasn’t a Patek Philippe, that’s for sure. But it was my own creation, something I built with my own two hands. It ticked, it kept time, and it even looked kind of cool, in a rough, handmade sort of way.
Would I wear it? Probably not. It’s not exactly a fashion statement. But I learned a ton, and that’s what matters. Plus, I have a newfound appreciation for those watchmakers who make the real deal. Those guys are seriously talented.
So yeah, that’s my little adventure in watchmaking. It was a fun ride, even if it did drive me a little crazy at times. If you’re thinking about trying something like this, go for it. Just be prepared to fail a lot, and don’t expect to create a masterpiece on your first try. It’s all about the journey, right?
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What I learned
- Watchmaking is hard. Really hard.
- Enamel painting is an art form.
- Cheap tools are better than no tools.
- Patience is key.
- It is not a good idea to make a Patek Philippe.
Maybe next time I’ll try something a bit simpler. Like building a clock out of wood or something. Who knows?
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