Okay, so I tried to remake a Patek Philippe Calatrava 5227J-001. Let me tell you, it was a journey.
First off, I started by gathering all the materials. You know, that shiny yellow gold they use? Yeah, I got some of that. It’s not the real deal, obviously, but it looks pretty close. And the size, I measured it out to be 39 mm, just like the original.
Then, I moved on to the dial. This is where things got tricky. I wanted that “classic” look, so I went with a champagne color. I tried to make it as refined as possible, but it’s tough to match that Patek Philippe craftsmanship.
- I spent hours just trying to get the color right.
- Then I had to work on the little details, like the hour markers.
- Trust me, it’s not as easy as it looks.
After that, I put the whole thing together. This involved carefully placing the hands, making sure the movement worked, and getting the case to close properly. I have to say, it was a bit of a headache. This watch, it’s been around for over 90 years, older than my grandpa! And they say it might take up to 8 years to get one? Or maybe just 12 months, who knows.
And I found some other info. Like, if you want to invest in a Calatrava, it seems like a good idea. They say these watches hold their value, or even go up in price. Because of the, you know, “meticulous craftsmanship.” But for a regular guy like me, it’s a bit too much.
In the end, I did manage to make something that resembles a Patek Philippe Calatrava 5227J-001. It’s not perfect, but I’m pretty proud of it. This whole process taught me a lot about watches, and about how much work goes into making a really good one. I mean, they say it’s a watch you can wear every day, for any occasion. Fancy, huh? They call it a “timepiece to be cherished and passed down for generations.”
So, yeah, that’s my story. It was a fun project, but I don’t think I’ll be making another one anytime soon. It’s a lot of work, and honestly, I’d rather just save up and buy a real one someday. Maybe. Or maybe not.
What do you guys think?
I saw some info about a different model too, the Gondolo 7042/100R-010. It looks pretty cool, but I’m not sure I’d try to remake that one. Anyway, has anyone else tried making their own watch? Let me know in the comments!
Click to consult