Today, I’m gonna share my little adventure of remaking a Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100R-010. Yeah, you heard that right. It’s a pretty ambitious project, I know, but hey, why not give it a shot?
So, first things first, I started by gathering all the information I could find about this watch. Scoured the internet, read through forums, and basically, I tried to find anything related to “Remake Patek Philippe PP Gondolo 7042/100R-010.” It’s a mouthful, I know. The real deal is like a piece of jewelry, all 18K red gold, gold bracelet, and a dial that’s just dripping in diamonds. It’s a beauty, no doubt about it.
I knew from the get-go that finding parts that even come close to the original was gonna be a challenge. I mean, we’re talking about a high-end, luxury watch here. But, I was determined. I started looking for similar-looking materials. Gold was out of the question, obviously, way too pricey. But I found some decent gold-plated stuff that could at least give the same vibe.
Then came the hardest part – the diamonds. Real diamonds were definitely not an option. So, I went with some good-quality cubic zirconia. They sparkle pretty well, and for someone who’s not a gem expert, they look quite convincing.
Putting it all together was a whole other story. I’m no watchmaker, just a guy with a hobby. I carefully tried to assemble the pieces, using some basic tools and a lot of patience. I tried to follow the design of the Gondolo 7042/100R-010 as closely as I could, using the pictures I found online as a guide.
- The Case: I started with the case, shaping and polishing the gold-plated material until it resembled the original. It wasn’t perfect, but it had the right shape and a nice shine.
- The Bracelet: This was tricky. I found a gold-plated bracelet that was somewhat similar to the one on the Gondolo. Had to adjust it quite a bit to fit the case, but I managed.
- The Dial: The most challenging part. I used a plain, silver-colored dial and painstakingly set the cubic zirconia “diamonds” onto it. Took hours, and a lot of squinting, but I think it turned out pretty well.
- The Movement: I used a simple, quartz movement. Nothing fancy, but it keeps time.
After a lot of trial and error, I finally had something that resembled the Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100R-010. It wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot. But, it was my own creation, and I was pretty proud of it.
The Result
Okay, so it’s not going to fool any watch experts, and it’s definitely not worth thousands of dollars. But, it’s a fun project that I enjoyed. It looks pretty good on the wrist, if I may say so myself. And it’s a great conversation starter. People are always curious when they see it.
Would I recommend doing this? If you’re into watches and like a good challenge, then sure, go for it. Just don’t expect to create a perfect replica of a Patek Philippe. It’s more about the journey and the fun of making something yourself. Plus, you’ll learn a lot about watches in the process. And who knows, maybe you’ll even discover a new hobby. I am happy with what I did, and hope you enjoy my sharing.
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