Alright, folks, gather ’round, let me tell you about this little project I’ve been working on. I’ve always been a fan of fancy watches, especially those Patek Philippe ones. But let’s be real, they’re way out of my price range. So, I thought, why not try to make my own version? I decided to take on the Patek Philippe Calatrava 5088/100P-001, that one with the black enamel and all those fancy engravings. It looked like a fun challenge.
First things first, I started to gather up all the bits and pieces I’d need. I found a decent watch case online that looked similar to the real deal, and then I ordered some black enamel paint and some engraving tools. I’m not gonna lie, I was pretty clueless about how to engrave, but hey, how hard could it be, right? I went to check the prices of the original one and oh my god! That’s a lot of money. So I figured why not try to remake it?
I started by sketching out the designs from the original watch onto the dial plate. I had to look at a ton of pictures online to get it just right. That took some time. Then I began to paint the dial with the black enamel. Let me tell you, that stuff is tricky to work with! It took a few tries to get a smooth, even coat. I ruined the first plate.
Next up was the engraving. Oh boy, was that a learning curve. I watched a bunch of videos online and practiced on some scrap metal first. It’s way harder than it looks! But, after a lot of trial and error, and a few choice words, I started to get the hang of it. I engraved those swirly designs onto the dial plate, trying to make it look as close to the original as possible. I also engraved the buckle.
After the engraving, I started to put the whole thing together. I carefully placed the hands on the dial, and then I put the movement into the case, then put the glass, after that I connected the strap and the buckle I engraved. Seeing it all come together was pretty satisfying, I gotta say. That’s a long way to go.
- Collected the stuff: Got a watch case, enamel paint, engraving tools, and other watch parts.
- Painted the dial: Applied that tricky black enamel paint, messed it up once, but got it right eventually.
- Engraved like crazy: Learned how to engrave, practiced a lot, and then engraved the dial plate and the buckle.
- Put it all together: Assembled the watch, putting the dial, hands, movement, and strap all in their places.
Here’s a little breakdown of what I did:
After all that work, I finally had my own version of the Patek Philippe Calatrava 5088/100P-001. It’s not perfect, of course, there are definitely some rough edges, and the engraving isn’t as neat as the original. But you know what? I made it myself, and that’s pretty cool. It’s a nice reminder that sometimes, you can make things happen if you just put your mind to it, even if it’s a bit rough around the edges. Plus, I saved a ton of money!
I wore it the other day, and a buddy of mine actually thought it was a real Patek Philippe for a second! Made all that effort feel worth it.
Anyway, that’s my little watchmaking adventure. It was a fun, sometimes frustrating, but ultimately rewarding experience. Maybe I’ll try another model sometime. Who knows?
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