Okay, so I’ve been itching to get my hands on a Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001, but, you know, that price tag is just… ouch. So, I thought, why not try making my own? I mean, I’m pretty handy, and it seemed like a fun challenge. And since this is a specialty store remake, it’s not just the regular model either. This is gonna be awesome.
First, I gathered all the stuff I needed. I’m talking about the tiny screws, gears, you name it. I managed to find most of the parts online, but some of them were a real pain to track down. I swear, finding a proper-looking dial was like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Then, the real work began. I started by carefully taking apart an old watch I had lying around. Just to get a feel for how everything fits together, you know? It’s way more complicated than it looks, let me tell you.
- I followed some online tutorials, which were kinda helpful, but not really for this specific model.
- I messed up a few times, that’s for sure. Bent a few springs, scratched a few plates. Ugh, it was frustrating.
- But I kept at it. I mean, I wasn’t about to give up after spending all that time and money on parts.
After countless hours of fiddling, and let’s be honest, a fair share of swearing, I finally got the movement working. It wasn’t perfect, but hey, it was ticking! That was a big win in my book.
The Case and Dial
Making the case was a whole other beast. I opted for rose gold, ’cause, well, it’s a Patek, gotta have that rose gold, right? I tried shaping the metal myself, but that was a disaster. Ended up finding a local craftsman who helped me out with that.
The dial was tricky too. I wanted it to look as close to the original as possible, so I spent hours just staring at pictures online, trying to get the details right. I printed out a template and painstakingly painted it by hand. It’s not perfect, but it’s got that homemade charm, I guess.
The Final Touches
Finally, I put everything together. The movement, the case, the dial, the hands. It was like watching it all come to life. I even managed to find a decent leather strap that kinda matches the original.
So, there you have it. My very own, homemade, not-quite-a-Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001. It doesn’t keep perfect time, and it’s definitely not gonna fool any watch experts, but I made it, and that’s what counts. It was a wild ride, and I learned a ton along the way. Might try a different model next time, who knows? Maybe one that’s a bit less complicated. Or maybe I’ll just stick to buying them. We’ll see!