Alright, folks, gather ’round. Today, I’m gonna share with you my little adventure of trying to remake a Patek Philippe Gondolo watch, specifically the 7042/100R-010 model. Yeah, it’s a mouthful, but stick with me here.
So, first things first, I started by doing some serious digging. I mean, I scoured the internet, looked at every picture, every video I could find of this watch. This Gondolo 7042, it’s not just a watch, it’s like a piece of jewelry. I got this, it’s all about that 18K red gold and the diamonds on the dial.
Then, I got down to business. I gathered all the materials I thought I’d need. We’re talking different types of metals, trying to get that red gold look just right. And the diamonds? Well, I found some pretty convincing fakes, I gotta admit.
Next up, the tricky part. I started crafting the watch case, the bracelet, every little detail. Let me tell you, it was a pain. I spent hours, days even, just trying to get the shape right, the feel right. I used tweezers, magnifying glasses, the whole shebang. It was like being a real watchmaker, only without the fancy tools and the years of training.
- Figured out the basic shape of the case.
- Tried to mimic the bracelet links.
- Struggled with setting the faux diamonds.
After a lot of trial and error, I finally had something that resembled the Gondolo 7042. It wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot. But, you know what? It looked pretty darn good, if I do say so myself. The red gold color was a bit off, and the diamonds were obviously not real, but the overall shape, the feel of it, it was there.
Finally, I put the whole thing together. I carefully placed the movement inside the case, attached the bracelet, and set the hands. And there it was, my very own homemade Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100R-010. Well, not quite, it will take me much longer to be able to complete the 7042/100R-010. But I think I’m on the right way now.
My Takeaway
Was it worth it? You bet. Would I do it again? Probably not. But hey, I learned a heck of a lot about watches, about craftsmanship, and about my own patience. And I got a pretty cool story to tell, right?
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