Alright, folks, gather ’round. Today, I’m gonna walk you through my latest project: remaking a Patek Philippe Calatrava 5227R-001. Yeah, you heard that right, the classic one. Now, I ain’t no professional watchmaker, just a guy who loves a good challenge and has a decent set of tools. So, let’s dive in, shall we?
Getting Started
First things first, I needed to get my hands on some reference material. Luckily, the internet is a treasure trove of information. I spent hours looking at pictures, reading articles, and watching videos about the 5227R-001. I saw this watch is about 39mm wide and 9.24mm thick. It’s not too bulky. I found the size is up from 37mm. Man, this thing is sleek. And that “Savonette” caseback? Pure class. I was a bit worried it might look too thick, but from the pictures, it seemed just perfect.
The Planning Phase
Once I had a good feel for the watch, I started planning. I knew this wasn’t gonna be a walk in the park. I decided to break it down into smaller, manageable steps. First up, the case. The original is 18K rose gold, which, let’s be honest, is way out of my budget. I decided to go with a high-quality stainless steel case with a rose gold PVD coating. It wouldn’t be the real deal, but it’d give me that same luxurious look without breaking the bank.
The Case
- Sourcing the Case: I started looking for the stainless steel case.
- Coating: Then I started to find a way to coat the case with rose gold PVD coating.
- Sizing: I made sure the case was the right size, 39mm, just like the original. It turned out great, not too bulky at all.
The Dial
Next up, the dial. The 5227R-001 has this beautiful ivory dial that just screams elegance. I found a supplier online that makes replica dials, and I ordered one that looked pretty darn close to the original. The quality wasn’t half bad, either. It had that same creamy color and the markers were spot on.
The Movement
Now, for the heart of the watch—the movement. This is where things got tricky. Patek Philippe movements are works of art, and there’s no way I could replicate that. I opted for a decent automatic movement that I found online. It wouldn’t have the same prestige, but it would keep time reliably and give the watch that smooth sweeping second hand.
- Finding a Movement: I looked for a reliable automatic movement online.
- Fitting: I fitted the movement into the case, which was a bit fiddly but satisfying.
The Hands and Strap
For the hands, I found a set that closely resembled the ones on the 5227R-001. They were the right shape and size, and they fit the movement perfectly. As for the strap, I went with a genuine leather strap in a rich brown color. It complemented the rose gold case beautifully.
- Hands: I found a set of hands that matched the original ones.
- Strap: I chose a nice brown leather strap.
Putting It All Together
With all the parts in hand, it was time to assemble the watch. This was the most nerve-wracking part. I carefully fitted the dial, hands, and movement into the case. Then, I attached the strap. And there it was, my very own homemade Patek Philippe Calatrava 5227R-001.
The Final Product
I gotta say, I was pretty proud of how it turned out. Sure, it wasn’t a genuine Patek Philippe, but it looked the part. And most importantly, I made it myself. It was a challenging project, but the feeling of accomplishment was totally worth it. It’s a nice piece. I think it’s a good addition to any collection.
So, there you have it, folks. My journey of remaking a classic timepiece. Hope you enjoyed the ride. Until next time, keep tinkering!
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