Okay, let’s talk about this watch project I did. I decided to remake a Patek Philippe Gondolo 7041R-001, the one they made for specialty stores. It was a real challenge, let me tell you.
First off, I spent a ton of time just looking at pictures and any info I could find about the real 7041R-001. I mean, this thing is rare, so there wasn’t a whole lot out there. I zoomed in on every detail I could find. The hands, the numbers, the way the case curves – everything. I wanted to get this remake right.
Next, I started gathering materials. I knew I couldn’t use the exact same stuff Patek uses. But I wanted to get as close as possible within my budget. I found a decent rose gold-colored case that had a similar shape. Not perfect, but pretty good. Then I found some watch hands, the closest to what I was trying to achieve.
The Dial
- Then came the dial. Oh boy, the dial. That was the hardest part.
- I tried a few different ways to recreate it.
- I printed out a bunch of designs I made on my computer, trying to match the original’s font and layout.
- None of them looked quite right. They were either too blurry or the colors were off.
Finally, I decided to hand-paint it. Yeah, I know, sounds crazy. But I figured it was the only way to get the detail I wanted. I got some really fine brushes and some special paint that would stick to the metal dial blank I had. It took forever, and my hand was cramping like crazy, but I kept at it.
Once the dial was done, I started putting the whole thing together. I carefully placed the hands on the movement, which was another tricky part. Then I fitted the movement into the case and added the strap. I used some leather that I had that looked fairly similar to the original.
The end result? Well, it’s not a real Patek, obviously. But I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. It definitely captures the look and feel of the Gondolo 7041R-001, at least in my opinion. It was a fun project, even though it was super challenging at times. And hey, I learned a lot about watchmaking along the way. Maybe I’ll try another remake sometime. But for now, I’m just going to enjoy wearing this one.
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