I got this itch to mess around with a watch, specifically the Patek Philippe Calatrava 5088/100P-001. You know, the classic one. So, I started digging around to see what I could find out about it. Found some info on those watch trading sites, saw some prices, the usual stuff.
First thing I did was to check out what these things were going for. Retail is over a hundred grand, but you can find them used for a bit less. I mean, still crazy expensive, but a little less crazy. Apparently, these watches hold their value pretty well, which is cool if you’re into that sort of thing. I also found that getting a new one of these is a big waiting game. Like, a year of waiting. Who has that kind of time?
Get My Hands Dirty
After getting a feel for the market, I started thinking about how to actually remake this watch. It’s got this fancy bezel, called a “Clous de Paris,” and the hands are all three-dimensional. Looks way more complicated than the older models. I figured I’d start with the bezel since it seemed like the most intricate part. Took a bunch of measurements, drew up some sketches, and tried to figure out how they got that pattern so perfect.
Next up were the hands. These things are tiny, but they’re also super detailed. I spent hours just staring at pictures, trying to wrap my head around how they’re shaped. It took some trial and error, let me tell you, but I eventually got something that looked pretty close to the real thing. A lot of squinting and cursing was involved in this stage, if I’m honest.
Putting It All Together
With the bezel and hands sorted, I moved on to the rest of the watch. The dial, the case, the movement – it’s all a lot more complex than it looks. I tried my best to copy the design, using whatever materials I could get my hands on. It’s definitely not made of platinum like the real one, but hey, you gotta work with what you got, right?
I put in so much time piecing it all together, trying to make everything fit just right. It was a real pain in the neck sometimes, but seeing it slowly come to life was super satisfying. I made a ton of mistakes, had to redo a bunch of parts, but I kept at it. I was determined to make this thing look as good as I possibly could.
The Final Product
After weeks of work, I finally finished my little project. It’s not perfect, not by a long shot. But it’s my own take on the Calatrava 5088, and I’m pretty darn proud of it. It doesn’t have all the fancy bells and whistles of the original, but it captures the essence of it, I think. It’s got that classic look, that elegant simplicity that makes the Calatrava so special. It definitely looks like it belongs to the Calatrava family, if you don’t look too close, haha.
- First Step: Looked up the prices and availability.
- Second Step: Started figuring out the bezel and hands.
- Third Step: Tackled the rest of the watch, piece by piece.
- Fourth Step: Put it all together, cursing and sweating.
- Fifth Step: Stood back and admired my handiwork.
It was a fun little adventure, remaking this watch. Learned a lot, messed up a lot, but in the end, I made something I’m happy with. And that’s what really matters, right? Now, what should I try to copy next? Maybe something with a tourbillon… just kidding. Maybe.
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