Okay, so, I’ve been messing around with watches lately, and I got this crazy idea to try and remake a super fancy one. You know, the kind that costs more than a car. Specifically, I set my sights on the Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100R-010. Man, that thing is a beauty. It’s got this warm rose gold case, and it’s just dripping in diamonds and pearls. I saw it online, and I was like, “I gotta try making that.”
First off, I started by gathering all the materials I could. Now, I couldn’t exactly get my hands on real diamonds and solid rose gold, you know, budget and all that. So, I had to get creative. I found some pretty convincing cubic zirconia that sparkle almost like the real deal. For the case, I used a rose gold-plated base that I polished up real nice. It doesn’t have that same heft, but it sure looks the part.
Then came the tricky part – setting all those stones. I got myself a jeweler’s loupe, some tweezers, and a whole lot of patience. I started with the Akoya pearls, placing them carefully around the case, just like the original. Let me tell you, my back was killing me after a few hours, but it was worth it. Next up, I began setting the cubic zirconia. The original Gondolo has diamonds all over, and I mean all over. I spent days, painstakingly gluing each tiny stone into place, following the pattern of the real 7042/100R-010.
The Dial and the Strap
The dial was another challenge. I managed to find a similar-looking dial online, but it wasn’t quite right. So, I took it apart and added some custom touches to make it resemble the Patek Philippe’s one. I even printed out a tiny Patek Philippe logo and stuck it on. Not exactly genuine, but hey, it’s the thought that counts, right?
I also added the “Patek Philippe & Co.” inscription, to give it a more authentic look. It’s all about the details, you know?
- Found a rose gold-plated case
- Got some sparkly cubic zirconia
- Sourced Akoya-like pearls
- Spent days setting stones
- Customized a similar dial
- Added a faux Patek Philippe logo
- Found a matching strap
For the strap, I found a nice leather one that matched the color scheme of the watch. It’s not the same quality as the original, obviously, but it looks pretty good and feels comfortable on the wrist. It is a real looker.
After weeks of work, I finally finished my little project. And you know what? It turned out way better than I expected. Sure, it’s not a real Patek Philippe, and it’s definitely not worth $26,000 or $37,000, but it’s my own little piece of art. Plus, I learned a ton about watches and jewelry making in the process.
So, there you have it. My adventure in trying to remake a Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100R-010. It was a fun, challenging, and ultimately rewarding experience. Would I do it again? Maybe. But next time, I might pick a simpler model.
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