Alright, let’s talk about this crazy project I just finished. I wanted to remake the Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100G-010, a watch that is pretty much a piece of art. It’s not just a watch; it’s a statement.
So, where did I start? First, I got obsessed. I spent hours looking at every picture and video of the Gondolo I could find online. I needed to know this watch inside and out. After gathering all information from the official website, some watch forums, and some retailer. The official website of Patek Philippe has detailed descriptions and high-quality images of their watches.
Then, I started drawing. Not just sketching, but really breaking down the watch into its parts. The case, the dial, the hands, the movement. It was like doing a watchmaking course by myself. I used graph paper, rulers, and a whole lot of patience. I found a bunch of tutorials on YouTube and some watchmaking forums. These resources were helpful.
Next up, I had to find the materials. This was the hardest part. I didn’t have gold lying around, and I sure as heck wasn’t going to melt down any family heirlooms. So I got creative. I found some brass sheets that I thought I could make work. For the strap, I got some decent leather from a local craft store. And the movement, well, I decided to use a cheap quartz movement for now. Just to get the look and feel right. Someday I found a watch repair shop in the city, and the owner was kind enough to sell me some old watch parts.
Cutting the case was a nightmare. Brass is tough. I used a jeweler’s saw, which is basically a tiny, very fine saw, and it took forever. I broke a few blades and nearly gave up a couple of times. But, I kept going. Slow and steady, I cut out the shape of the Gondolo case.
- Sanding and polishing were next. I used different grades of sandpaper, starting rough and going finer and finer. This took hours. My fingers were raw, but I wanted that smooth, shiny finish like the real deal.
- The dial was another challenge. I printed out a high-resolution image of the Gondolo dial and used it as a template. I cut out a thin piece of brass, painted it, and then carefully applied the hour markers. Those tiny details are what make the watch look legit.
- Assembling the watch was like putting together a puzzle. A very, very delicate puzzle. I had to be super careful not to scratch anything or mess up the alignment. The hands were especially tricky. I used tweezers and a magnifying glass, and it still took me a few tries to get them on just right.
After what felt like a lifetime, I finally put the last screw in. And there it was. My homemade Gondolo. It wasn’t perfect. It didn’t have the weight of a real gold watch, and the movement was nothing special. But it looked pretty darn close to the real thing.
The Final Touches
I wore it around for a few days, just to see how it felt. I even got a few compliments! People thought it was a real Patek Philippe. That’s when I knew I had done a decent job. This whole project was a huge learning experience. I learned about watchmaking, about materials, and about my own patience and determination. Would I do it again? Maybe. It was a ton of work, but the feeling of accomplishment is pretty amazing.
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