Okay, so, today I wanted to try something a little different and maybe, just maybe, get a little closer to owning a piece of that luxury watch world everyone talks about. I decided to go for a remake of the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001. Yeah, I know, it’s a mouthful, but trust me, the watch is a beauty.
First things first, I did some digging around. This Patek Philippe Calatrava, it’s got this guilloched hobnail pattern, or as some folks call it, “Clous de Paris.” Fancy, right? It’s not just about the looks, though. I found out that this model got a bit of a refresh, a little “oomph” as I like to call it, which got me even more excited to try to make something like this on my own.
So, I started gathering materials. I found out that the real deal has a diameter of 39mm and is about 8.08mm thick. It’s water-resistant to 30 meters, too. I tried my best to find stuff that would match these specs. I got this round case, polished it up real nice, just like the original. The case back, I made sure to use a sapphire crystal because that’s what the real one has, and it just looks so darn classy.
Making the Dial and Strap
Next, I went on to make the dial. It was tricky, to say the least. Getting that hobnail pattern right took a few tries, I’m not gonna lie. I used a tool to carefully make the tiny, precise indentations. It was a bit of a learning curve, but I think I got pretty close in the end. Also, I went with a rose gold color for the case, because I found out that 6119R-001 is in rose gold. After I polished the case, it looked pretty good.
- Finding the right case: It took a while, but I managed to get a 39mm round case that looked pretty similar to the original.
- Making the dial: Recreating the “Clous de Paris” pattern was tough, but super satisfying once I got the hang of it.
- Choosing the strap: I opted for a leather strap, tried to match the color and texture as close as possible to what I saw in pictures of the real thing.
Putting it all together, it felt like I was a real watchmaker, even if just for a little while. The final product? Well, it’s not a Patek Philippe, obviously. But it’s got the vibe, the look, and most importantly, it was fun to make. Plus, I learned a ton about watches in the process.
Would I wear it out? Maybe! It’s a conversation starter, for sure. And it’s a reminder that sometimes, diving into a new hobby can be super rewarding. I might not be hitting up any fancy auctions with this on my wrist, but hey, it’s my little piece of that luxury watch world, and that’s pretty cool to me. So there you have it, my little adventure in watchmaking. Hope you guys enjoyed the ride!
Click to consult