Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to try my hand at remaking a classic watch for a while now. And not just any watch, but the Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100R-010. It’s a real beauty, you know. I saw it once in their official flagship store, and I just couldn’t get it out of my head. The way it shines and all that, it’s just… wow.
First off, I started by looking at a bunch of pictures of the watch online. I mean, I stared at those pictures for hours, trying to get every little detail in my head. The Gondolo 7042/100R-010 has this unique cushion shape, and let me tell you, it wasn’t easy to replicate. But I was determined to get it right.
Next, I gathered all the stuff I needed. I used some simple tools and just went at it. Nothing too fancy, just some basic tools that you’d find in any workshop. I got some metal sheets, some tiny screws, and a magnifying glass – that was a real lifesaver, by the way. You can’t do this kind of stuff without a magnifying glass, trust me.
Getting to Work
I started with the watch case. I took a piece of metal and slowly started shaping it into that cushion form. It took a lot of time and a lot of patience. I messed up a few times, not gonna lie. Had to start over more than once. But eventually, I got it looking pretty close to the original. It wasn’t perfect, but it was mine.
- Shaping the case: This was the hardest part. Took me days to get it right.
- Adding the details: The little engravings and such, I did those with a tiny needle.
- Putting it all together: Screwing everything in place, making sure it all fit.
Then came the dial. Man, that was a whole other challenge. I painted it by hand, trying to match the color and the texture of the real one. It wasn’t easy, but I think I did a decent job. At least, it looked good to me.
The Final Touches
After the dial, I worked on the hands. Those were super tricky because they’re so small. I made them out of thin pieces of metal, and let me tell you, it was a pain to get them to the right size and shape. But I managed. And when I finally put them on the dial, it all started to come together.
The last step was the strap. I didn’t make that one myself, to be honest. I just bought a leather strap that looked similar to the original. I’m not that good, haha. But once I attached the strap to the watch, it was done. My very own Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100R-010 remake.
It’s not perfect, of course. There are a few things here and there that aren’t quite right. But you know what? I’m proud of it. I made it with my own two hands, and it’s something I’ll always treasure. It’s not just a watch; it’s a reminder that I can do anything I set my mind to, even if it’s as crazy as remaking a fancy watch like this.
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