So, I got this itch to mess around with watches, you know, like really get into it. Decided to give it a shot, try to remake one. Not just any watch though, I went for a Patek Philippe. Yeah, those fancy ones. Picked out this model, the Gondolo 7041R-001. It’s a looker, that’s for sure. Mostly see these in those high-end shops.
Started off by staring at a bunch of pictures online. Just trying to get a feel for it, how it’s put together. This Gondolo, it’s got this cool shape, kind of like an octagon but round, you know? And it’s all rose gold, shiny in some parts, not so much in others. Looked pretty neat, so I thought, why not?
First thing I did was get my hands on some materials. I needed some gold-colored metal, not real gold of course, just something that looks like it. Then I started shaping it. It was tough, let me tell you. Lots of bending and hammering, trying to get that octagon-ish shape right. I messed up a few times, but that’s okay, it’s part of the fun, right?
- Figured out the size, had to make it small, like those ladies’ watches.
- Spent hours just shaping that metal.
- Got some tools, nothing fancy, just what I had around the house.
After I got the case sorted, I moved on to the inside. Now, I’m no watchmaker, so I didn’t even try to make all those tiny gears and stuff. I just found an old watch, took out the insides, and tried to fit it in my new case. It was a bit of a squeeze, but I managed it somehow.
Then came the face. I printed out a picture of the real Gondolo’s face, cut it out, and glued it on. Not perfect, but hey, it looks the part, right? And the hands, I just used the ones from the old watch. They fit okay, not exactly like the original, but close enough.
The Final Touch
Last thing was the strap. I didn’t have any fancy leather, so I just used a bit of black cloth I found. Sewed it up, attached it to the case, and bam! Done. My own little homemade Patek Philippe Gondolo. It’s rough around the edges, doesn’t even tell time right, but I made it. And that’s what counts, right? It was a fun little project, kept me busy for a few days. Maybe I’ll try another one sometime, who knows.
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