Today, I decided to take on a fun little project: remaking the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001. You know, that classic, super elegant watch that just screams good taste. It’s not something you see every day, so I thought, why not give it a shot myself?
First thing I did was gather all my materials. I had an old watch lying around that I figured could be the base. It wasn’t a Patek, obviously, but it had a nice, round face that I thought would work. I also got some basic watchmaking tools – nothing too fancy, just enough to take the watch apart and put it back together again.
Getting Started
- Took apart the old watch.
- Cleaned all the parts.
I started by carefully taking apart the old watch. This was a bit tricky, since I’m not exactly a pro at this. I just took my time, making sure not to lose any of those tiny screws. Once I had it all apart, I gave everything a good clean. You’d be surprised how much gunk can build up in those things!
Next, I focused on the watch face. The Calatrava 6119R-001 has a really distinctive look, with those Roman numerals and the little seconds dial at the bottom. I found a picture of the real deal online and used that as my guide. I tried printing it, but that didn’t go very well. So I just drew it myself, making it as close as possible to the original. It wasn’t perfect, but I think it captured the vibe.
The Details
- Painted the watch face.
- Added the Roman numerals and seconds dial.
Then came the painting. I used some model paints I had, mixing colors to get that creamy, off-white shade that the Calatrava has. I painted the numerals and the seconds dial by hand. This was probably the hardest part. My hands were shaking, and those numbers are tiny! But after a few tries, I got something I was pretty happy with.
Once the paint was dry, I started putting the watch back together. I carefully placed the new face onto the movement, making sure everything lined up. Then I put the hands back on, which was also a bit fiddly. But eventually, I got it all assembled.
Finishing Up
- Put the watch back together.
- Added a new strap.
The last step was the strap. The original Calatrava has a beautiful leather strap, but I didn’t have anything like that on hand. So, I just used a simple, black leather strap I had from another watch. It did the job, I guess.
And that was it! My very own, homemade version of the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001. It’s definitely not a perfect replica. The paint job is a bit rough, and it’s not exactly going to fool any watch experts. But I had a blast making it, and it’s kind of cool to have a unique piece like this. It’s a reminder that you don’t need a ton of money or fancy tools to create something interesting. Just a bit of patience, some creativity, and a willingness to give it a go!
I’m wearing it now, and I gotta say, it feels pretty good. Who knows, maybe this will inspire me to tackle another watch project. There’s something really satisfying about taking something old and turning it into something new and kind of special. It’s not a real Patek Philippe, but it’s mine, and that’s what counts. Maybe I did a good job, or maybe I didn’t. But I like it and I will wear it, and that’s all that matters.
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