Okay, so I got this idea to remake a Patek Philippe Calatrava, specifically the 6119G-001 model. Sounds fancy, right? Well, it kind of is. This whole thing started when I saw the price of the original. Let me tell you, it’s way up there. I thought, “Why not try to make one myself?” A little ambitious, I know, but hey, gotta aim high.
So I started digging around. This Calatrava 6119G-001 is a pretty big deal in the watch world. It’s got that classic look, you know? But it’s also new. It’s like they took something old and made it new again. This watch, it’s a manual winding one, 39mm, and made of white gold. That’s what I gathered from poking around on different watch sites. The original ones are made in 2023, they are unworn, and they have the full set, but they are pretty expensive.
First thing I did was to get a good look at the watch. I looked up a bunch of pictures, trying to get every angle. I needed to see all the details, the little things that make it what it is. Then I started thinking about the materials. White gold, huh? That’s going to be a challenge. I tried to get a hold of this white gold. It wasn’t easy, and it definitely wasn’t cheap. But I managed to get just enough.
Breaking It Down
Next, I had to figure out the size. From what I found, it’s 39mm. So I got to work, trying to shape the white gold into that size. It was tough, I won’t lie. Lots of measuring, cutting, and then measuring again. I messed up a few times, but I kept at it. I mean, they say the first Calatrava came out in 1932, so there’s a lot of history there. I wanted to do it justice.
- Gathering Materials: This was the first big hurdle. White gold isn’t something you find at your local store.
- Sizing and Shaping: Getting the 39mm size right was crucial. I spent a lot of time on this step.
- Detail Work: This watch has a lot of small details. I tried to replicate them as best as I could.
- Putting It All Together: Once I had all the pieces, I started assembling. It was like putting together a very complicated puzzle.
The winding mechanism, that was another story. It’s a manual winding watch, which means no batteries. I had to get all these tiny gears and parts. I spent hours, days even, just trying to get them to fit. There were times I thought about giving up. But I kept picturing the finished watch. I found out that on the market, you can get it for way less money than what the brand is selling it for. But still, it is quite a lot of money. I managed to find a way to remake it cheaper.
After a lot of trial and error, I finally got it all together. It wasn’t perfect, not like the originals, but it was mine. I wore it around, and you know what? It felt pretty good. It’s not just about having a fancy watch. It’s about the work, the effort you put into making something. This Patek Philippe, well, it’s a good-looking watch. Even if it’s not the real deal.
So, there you have it. That’s my story of remaking the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119G-001. It was a heck of a journey. Lots of ups and downs. But in the end, I made something I’m proud of. And that’s what counts, right? It might seem crazy to some, but to me, it was worth it. I learned a lot, and I got a pretty cool watch out of it. Not bad for a little project, huh?
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