Hey folks, it’s your boy back again with another project. This time, I got my hands dirty with remaking the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001. You know, the one with the rose gold case and that classic, clean look. Let me tell you, it wasn’t a walk in the park, but it was sure as heck satisfying.
First off, I started by gathering all the info I could. I’m talking pictures, specs, whatever I could find online about this beauty. Then, I got myself a decent base watch – something with a similar size and shape. Didn’t want to break the bank, but also didn’t want to use some cheap knock-off.
The real fun began with taking the base watch apart. Carefully, I removed the original dial, hands, and movement. This was like surgery, man! I used a bunch of tiny screwdrivers and tweezers. I had to be super careful not to scratch anything. My hands were shaking a bit, I won’t lie.
Next up was creating the new dial. I found some high-quality material that looked similar to the original. It took me a few tries to get it just right. Then, I printed the Patek Philippe logo and the hour markers. This was a real test of patience. Printing such small details was a pain, but I eventually got it done. I used a special kind of paper that’s used for watch dials, so it looked pretty legit.
Then came the hands. Man, those tiny things are delicate! I had to buy a set of new hands that matched the style of the Calatrava. I spent hours looking online for the perfect ones, and finally found a seller that had something close enough. I carefully painted them to match the rose gold color I was going for. It was like painting a miniature model, super fiddly work.
After that, I had to put the whole thing back together. I cleaned the movement, carefully placed the new dial, and then painstakingly attached those tiny hands. I almost lost one of the hands when it slipped from my tweezers. My heart stopped for a second there! But I found it and managed to get it on the watch. I popped in a new crystal, and voila, the watch was almost done.
For the strap, I decided to go with a brown alligator leather one. I found a guy online who makes custom straps, and he did a fantastic job. The chocolate brown color matches perfectly with the rose gold case. Getting the strap attached was a breeze compared to the rest of the project.
Here are the parts I used:
- Base watch with a similar case size and shape
- High-quality material for the new dial
- Special paper for printing the dial details
- A new set of watch hands
- Rose gold paint for the hands
- Brown alligator leather strap
- New watch crystal
Finally, I put it all together and took a step back to admire my work. It wasn’t a perfect replica, but it sure looked like a million bucks. All in all, it took me about a month to complete this project, working on and off. I spent many late nights hunched over my workbench, squinting at tiny parts. But you know what? It was totally worth it.
The Results
To be honest, the watch looks pretty darn good. I was even able to find information saying the watch uses a 30-255 PS Caliber, so I made sure to engrave that on the back. It has that classic Calatrava vibe, with the clean dial and elegant hands. The rose gold color really pops, and the brown strap complements it perfectly. I’ve been wearing it for a few days now, and I’ve gotten a ton of compliments. It feels great to wear something that I made with my own two hands. It’s not the real deal, but it’s close enough for me. And it’s definitely a conversation starter. I’ve told a few people about the project, and they’re always amazed that I was able to pull it off.
So, there you have it, my journey of remaking the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001. It was a challenging but rewarding experience. If you’re thinking about doing something similar, just be prepared to put in the time and effort. And remember, patience is key! Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for my next project!
Click to consult