Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to remake a Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001 for a while now. You know, it’s a pretty cool watch, and I thought it would be a fun project to take on. It’s based on an old watch, the Reference 96, which is a classic, so I figured, why not give it a shot?
First off, I started by doing a ton of research. I looked at all the pictures I could find online, read articles about the watch, and even watched some videos. The official flagship store has all the details, but it’s kinda hard to understand all those fancy words. I just wanted to get a good feel for the watch before I started messing around with it.
Then, I got my hands on the actual watch. This was the tricky part. These things are expensive! But, I managed to find one that was in pretty good shape, so I snapped it up. Once I had it, I carefully took it apart. I mean really carefully. There are 164 little parts inside this thing, and I didn’t want to lose any of them. I laid them all out on a soft cloth, like a surgeon preparing for an operation, haha.
- Disassembled the watch.
- Cleaned each part meticulously.
- Studied the movement.
Next, I started working on the movement. This is the heart of the watch, and it’s super complicated. I cleaned each part really well, oiled all the little gears and springs, and put it all back together. It was like a puzzle, but way more intense. I spent hours just staring at those tiny pieces, trying to figure out how they all fit together. The new Calatrava has a bolder look with the fancy bezel and those 3D hands. I guess that’s what makes it cool to wear every day.
After the movement was done, I moved on to the case. I polished it up so it was nice and shiny, and then I carefully put the movement back inside. It was a tight fit, but I managed to get it in there without breaking anything. Patek Philippe watches, like the Calatrava, Nautilus, and Aquanaut, they’re all great but cost a fortune. I did see some Calatravas for less, though. Still, if you want a watch you can wear with anything, this one’s worth it. It’s like, if this is the only fancy watch you ever own, you’ll wear it so much the cost is nothing in the end, especially if you dress up a lot.
Finally, I put the dial and hands back on, and that was it. The watch was done! It was a long and challenging process, but it was totally worth it. I ended up with a beautiful watch that I’m really proud of. Plus, I learned a ton about watchmaking along the way. I mean, they’ve made tons of Calatrava watches over the years, and the old ones are super collectible.
Now, I’m not saying I’m a master watchmaker or anything, but I’m pretty happy with how this project turned out. It was a lot of fun, and I’d definitely do it again. Maybe next time I’ll try a different model, who knows? But for now, I’m just going to enjoy wearing my newly remade Patek Philippe Calatrava. It feels good to have made something this cool with my own two hands.
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