Alright, folks, gather ’round. Today, I’m gonna share my little adventure of remaking a Patek Philippe, specifically the Calatrava 6119R-001, the original order. Now, I ain’t no fancy watchmaker, just a regular guy who likes to tinker. This whole thing started when I saw the price tag on one of these beauties. My jaw dropped, let me tell ya.
First thing I did was hit the internet. I spent days, maybe weeks, just reading about this watch. Forums, articles, you name it. I soaked up everything I could. I learned about the movement, the materials, all the fancy stuff that makes it so expensive.
Then came the hard part – finding the parts. This was a real scavenger hunt. I contacted various suppliers and even find some original used parts from my friend. Some were easy to find, others… not so much. I scoured online marketplaces, and even reached out to some watch forums for help. Let me tell you, it was a wild ride.
- Sourcing the movement: This was probably the biggest hurdle. I managed to find a similar movement that was the same type, but it needed some work.
- Finding the case: I got lucky and found a decent quality replica case that was pretty close to the original. It wasn’t perfect, but it would do.
- Dial and hands: This was surprisingly easy. There are a bunch of places online that sell replica dials and hands.
- Strap: This is a common part. I just picked up a nice leather strap that looked the part.
Once I had all the parts, the real fun began. I started assembling the watch. Now, I’ve messed around with watches before, but this was a whole different ball game. Every little screw, every tiny gear, it all had to be perfect. There were a few close calls, I won’t lie. I nearly lost a tiny screw, and I almost messed up the movement a couple of times. But hey, that’s part of the fun, right?
After many hours of painstaking work, I finally did it. I had my very own “Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001.” It wasn’t perfect, of course. There were some minor differences from the original, and some parts were not that good quality. I guess. But I was proud of myself. I had taken a bunch of parts and turned them into something special.
Final Thoughts
Was it worth it? Well, that depends. I spent a good chunk of money and a whole lot of time on this project. But I learned a lot, and I had a blast doing it. Plus, now I have a cool watch that looks a lot like a Patek Philippe, but only cost me a fraction of the price. It’s a little rough around the edges, sure, but it’s mine. And that’s all that matters. Would I recommend it? If you’re up for a challenge and you’re not afraid to get your hands dirty, then go for it. But if you’re looking for perfection, maybe just save up and buy the real thing. Or a cow. I don’t know.
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