I’ve been messing around with watches for a while, and I gotta say, Patek Philippe always catches my eye. Those things are crazy expensive, though! So, I thought, why not try to remake one? I picked the Gondolo 7041R-001 ’cause it looked pretty slick.
First off, I spent days just staring at pictures of this watch. I found some info online, like one place selling it for $25,838. Geez! I dug into the details, like it’s 18K rose gold, 30 x 33.8 mm, and has a silver dial. I even found a review from some guy named ldsf125303 from January 5, 2025. Future guy, huh? Anyway, that gave me a good starting point.
Getting Started
I needed to get my hands on some materials. Rose gold was out of the question, way too pricey. I opted for some cheaper metal that I could plate later. I found a supplier online, and ordered a bunch of stuff like metal sheets, tiny screws, and some basic watch parts.
Making the Case
- Shaping the Metal: This was the hardest part. I used some basic tools I had lying around – a hammer, some files, and a small saw. I tried my best to copy the shape of the Gondolo case from the pictures. It was rough, let me tell you. Took me days of hammering and filing to get it somewhat right.
- Polishing: After I got the basic shape, I spent hours polishing the metal. I wanted it to be smooth and shiny, just like the real deal. I used different grades of sandpaper and a polishing cloth. My hands were sore, but it started to look pretty decent.
The Dial and Hands
- Finding the Right Parts: I couldn’t make these from scratch, so I had to find similar-looking parts online. I ordered a few different dials and sets of hands, hoping one would match the Gondolo. It was a bit of a gamble, but I managed to find some that were pretty close.
- Putting it Together: Assembling the dial and hands was tricky. Those things are tiny! I used tweezers and a magnifying glass, and I still messed up a few times. But eventually, I got it all together.
The Movement
This was the part I was dreading the most. I knew I couldn’t make a real watch movement, so I bought a cheap quartz movement online. It wasn’t the same as the Patek Philippe, but at least it would make the watch tick.
Final Touches
- Plating: I wanted to get that rose gold look, so I took the case to a local jeweler and had them plate it. It wasn’t real rose gold, but it looked pretty close.
- Putting it All Together: Finally, I assembled the whole watch. I put the movement in the case, attached the dial and hands, and added a leather strap.
The Result
It wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot. But it kinda looked like a Patek Philippe Gondolo. It wasn’t a $25,000 watch, but I made it myself, and that’s something. It was a fun project, and I learned a lot about watches in the process. Maybe I’ll try another one someday. It was a headache, but hey, I did it!
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