Okay, so let me tell you about this little project I got into. I’ve always been into watches, you know, the classy, sophisticated kind. And Patek Philippe? That’s like the holy grail. So, I decided to try and remake a Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001. Yeah, I know, ambitious, right?
First off, I started digging around for info. Not just any info, mind you, I needed the real nitty-gritty details about this watch. I found some stuff about it. It’s a pretty big deal in the watch world. Apparently, getting your hands on one of these is tough, even for loyal customers. They mentioned the address, “Gerbergasse 89, Basel” a few times, so I guess that’s where the magic happens for Patek Philippe.
Then I dug a little deeper. This Calatrava model, it’s got this cool textured pattern, they call it “hobnail” or something, “Clous de Paris” is another name I saw. Fancy, huh? And they made it a bit bigger recently, which is interesting. I started to jot down everything, making sure I didn’t miss any detail.
I read a lot of text and grabbed some measurements. It says the watch is 39mm wide and 8.08mm thick. Not too big, not too small, just right. It’s water-resistant up to 30 meters, which is good to know, though I don’t plan on swimming with it. Oh, and it has a sapphire crystal case back, so you can see all the intricate workings inside. The case itself is all polished and round, very classic Patek Philippe, from what I could tell. I decided to use these parameters.
Next, I needed to figure out the materials. I got the idea, I mean, this is a top-tier watch, so I figured I couldn’t just use any old stuff. I started looking into high-quality metals and things like that.
- Sourcing the Movement: This was a headache, let me tell you. I searched high and low for a movement that would be a good fit, both in terms of size and function. I spent days looking. Finally, I found something that was close enough. It was not easy, I searched many places and websites.
- Crafting the Case: Using the measurements I found, I started working on the case. I opted for stainless steel because it’s durable and looks similar. I used a small lathe and some other tools to shape it. This part took forever, to be honest. I spent almost two weeks only for this.
- The Dial and Hands: Okay, this was tricky. I wanted to replicate that “Clous de Paris” pattern. I ended up using a tiny engraving tool and a magnifying glass. It took many hours, making mistakes. My eyes were killing me, but I think I did a decent job. The hands were easier, I managed to find some that were pretty close to the original.
- Putting It All Together: This was the most nerve-wracking part. I carefully assembled everything, making sure not to scratch anything. I followed the images and videos I found online. I held my breath when I finally wound it up and… it worked! I observed it for a while. I checked every detail and I can tell, it worked well!
In the end, I made it! My very own, handmade version of the Patek Philippe Calatrava. It’s not perfect, of course, but I’m pretty proud of it. It took me a good while, and there were definitely some frustrating moments, but I learned a ton along the way. This project took me more than one month.
My Takeaway
This whole experience taught me a lot about watchmaking and, you know, just how much work goes into these little pieces of art. It’s definitely given me a new appreciation for the real deal. Would I do it again? Maybe. It was a lot of work, but also really rewarding. I think I will do another one in the future!
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