So, I got this wild idea to try and remake a Patek Philippe watch. Yeah, I know, it sounds crazy. But I’ve always been into taking things apart and putting them back together. And what better challenge than a fancy watch like the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119G-001? That’s the one I went for – the one everyone’s been talking about. They say it’s a remake, you know, but it’s a big deal in the watch world.
First off, I had to get my hands on some information. I mean, you can’t just start tinkering without knowing what you’re doing, right? I found out this Calatrava 6119G-001, it’s made of white gold. Fancy stuff. And it’s got this charcoal gray dial that looks super classy. I also learned it’s a hand-wound mechanical movement, which is a whole other level of complicated.
Next, I started gathering the parts. This wasn’t easy, let me tell you. I couldn’t exactly go to the store and buy Patek Philippe parts, haha. I had to get creative. I used some parts from other watches, some I made myself. It was a lot of trial and error. I spent hours, days even, just trying to get the tiny pieces to fit together. My work table was a mess, covered in screws and gears and tools. My wife kept asking me if I was building a bomb, not a watch.
Getting Down to the Nitty-Gritty
The movement was the hardest part. I mean, this Patek Philippe, they say it’s a good investment. Like buying land. But land, you can grow things on it. What you gonna grow on a watch? Time? Ha! So, I tried to make something similar. I studied diagrams, watched videos, and basically tried to copy what the real watchmakers do. It wasn’t perfect, but I managed to make something that kind of resembled the real deal.
- Sourcing the White Gold: Now, getting white gold wasn’t easy. I did some digging and found a few places that sell it, but man, it was expensive! I had to think, is this really worth it? In the end, I decided to go for it. I mean, if I’m remaking a Patek Philippe, I might as well go all out, right?
- Crafting the Case: With the white gold in hand, I started working on the case. This Calatrava 6119G, it’s got a round case, 39mm in diameter, they say. I used some tools I had lying around and some I had to buy. It was a lot of shaping and polishing. Took me a while, but I finally got it looking pretty good.
- That Charcoal Gray Dial: The dial was another challenge. I tried a few different materials and techniques. I even tried painting it myself, which was a disaster, haha. But eventually, I found a way to make it look like that charcoal gray dial on the real 6119G-001.
After what felt like forever, I finally put all the pieces together. And you know what? It actually looked like a watch! It wasn’t a Patek Philippe, not really, but it was my version of it. I even managed to get it to tick. Not accurately, of course, but it was moving! Diameter: around 27 mm. Thickness: about 3.3 mm. Number of parts I used: over 200. That’s what I found on the internet.
Now, I’m not saying I’m some kind of master watchmaker. Far from it. My remake of the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119G-001 isn’t perfect, but it’s something I’m really proud of. It was a fun and challenging project, and I learned a lot along the way. Plus, now I have a cool-looking watch that I made myself. It’s not worth thousands of dollars like the real one, but it’s priceless to me.
If you want one of these real Patek Philippe watches, you might have to wait a long time. And pay a lot of money. They say it’s like $33,110 or something. Crazy, right? But hey, if you’re into watches and you’ve got the time and patience, maybe you can try making your own. Just don’t expect it to be easy! This new model, you can find it on the used market, I saw it for $26,278. But you know, buying from those used watch guys, it’s always more expensive. Like 8% more, I read somewhere. And, yeah, this 6119G is still being made, so it’s not like some old, rare thing. Anyway, that’s my story. Hope you enjoyed it!
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