Alright, folks, gather ’round. Today, I’m gonna tell you about my little project here. So, I got this itch to try and remake something fancy, and what’s fancier than a Patek Philippe, right? Specifically, I went for the Calatrava 6119G-001. Yeah, that one. Heard it first came out way back in 1932, inspired by that Bauhaus thing. Classy stuff.
First thing I did was look up everything I could about this watch. Found out it’s made of white gold. It’s not just any watch; it’s a symbol, a “Calatrava cross” they call it. Been around since the 19th century, standing for perfection and all that jazz. Medieval roots, can you believe it? Anyway, this watch is the real deal. Simple, classic, designed by a guy named David Penney.
Now, I got my hands on some materials, not white gold because, let’s be real, I’m not made of money. But I found some decent substitutes. Started by sketching out the design. I studied pictures, looked at every little detail, the hands, the dial, the case, everything. It was like putting together a puzzle, a really, really expensive puzzle that I definitely couldn’t afford to mess up.
I spent days, maybe weeks, just working on the case. I tried to get that same shape, that same feel. Then came the dial. I tried to recreate the classic look of the Calatrava. But, man, it was tough. It was all about patience. One wrong move and you gotta start over.
The movement, that’s the heart of the watch, right? I couldn’t exactly make one of those from scratch, not with my skills anyway. So, I had to find something that would fit, something that would keep time. It’s not the same, not that precise Patek Philippe movement, but it works. It tells the time, and that’s something.
Putting it all together, that was another story. Tiny screws, delicate parts, you need a steady hand for that. I almost lost it a couple of times, ngl. But I kept at it, kept pushing. Finally, after what felt like forever, I had something that looked like a watch, something that resembled the Calatrava 6119G-001.
Now, let me tell you, my remake isn’t perfect. Far from it. It’s got its flaws, its imperfections. It doesn’t have that Patek Philippe magic, that history, that craftsmanship. It is rough around the edges, for sure. But you know what? I made it. With my own two hands, I created something. And there’s pride in that, a whole lot of it.
It is not about fooling anyone into thinking this is a real Patek Philippe. No, sir. It’s about the journey, the challenge, the learning. I learned a lot about watches, about craftsmanship, about patience. And I learned a lot about myself, too. If you put your mind to it, you can create something, and be proud of the journey.
Things I used:
- A cheap watch movement I found online
- Some metal scraps for the case
- A steady hand (most of the time)
- A whole lot of patience
The Result
Well, it’s a watch. It ticks. It’s got a strap. It’s not a Patek Philippe, but it’s mine. And I’m damn proud of it. I can wear it every day and it tells the time. Not a bad deal for something made in my garage.
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