Alright, let’s dive into this little adventure I had, trying to recreate a classic watch – the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001. It’s a beauty, no doubt, but let me tell you, it wasn’t a walk in the park.
So, I started by gathering all the information I could find about this watch. Scoured the internet, read forums, and watched videos. It’s a 39mm diameter watch, only 8.08mm thick. It has a round case, and it’s water-resistant up to 30 meters. This is really important, because, you know, I gotta make sure I get the dimensions right.
Finding the Right Materials
Next up was finding the materials. This was tough. I mean, where do you even start looking for parts to remake such a fancy watch? I hit up some specialty stores, talked to a few watchmakers, and even browsed through some online marketplaces. Finally, I managed to source most of the stuff I needed, but boy, did it cost me some serious money.
- First thing I did, got myself a decent movement. It wasn’t a real Patek Philippe movement, obviously, but it was a good one, similar in size and function.
- Then came the case. Found a rose gold-plated case that was pretty close to the original. Polished it up real nice.
- The dial was a bit tricky, but I found a place that could custom-make one for me. Took a few tries to get the color and the markers right.
Putting it all together
Then came the assembly. This was the most nerve-wracking part. I had to be super careful not to mess anything up. It’s like building a tiny little machine. You gotta have steady hands and a lot of patience.
- Started with the movement, fixed it into the case. That was the easy part.
- Then I attached the dial and the hands. Let me tell you, those hands are tiny! Almost lost one a couple of times.
- Finally, I put on the sapphire crystal case back, and the strap.
After many days and nights, a lot of sweat, and maybe a few curse words, I finally finished it. And you know what? It looked pretty darn good! Of course, it’s not a real Patek Philippe, but it’s a pretty decent remake, if I do say so myself.
Was it worth it? Well, it was a fun project, and I learned a lot. But it was also a lot of work and quite expensive. Would I do it again? Probably not. But hey, at least I can say I tried, right?
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