Yesterday, I saw a piece of news about a discontinued Patek Philippe Nautilus 5980 on the internet. It was marked as used, in very good condition, produced in 2022, and came with the original box and papers. I’ve always wanted a Patek Philippe, especially the Nautilus series. So, I got this crazy idea to try and remake one myself.
First, I started digging around for more information about this specific model, the 5980. I scoured the web, looking for any details I could find. I found some other listings about it, too. There are a lot of shops on the internet selling watches. I used these listing information for reference.
Then I began to gather all the materials. I already had some basic watchmaking tools from previous tinkering projects. I figured I would need some stainless steel, similar to what the original 5980 is made of. Luckily, I found some scrap metal that would work just fine.
I started by sketching out the design of the Nautilus case. It’s got that iconic porthole shape, so I wanted to get that right. I used a ruler and compass, and after a few tries, I had a decent template. I carefully cut out the basic shape from the stainless steel, using my trusty Dremel.
Next, I worked on the bezel. I carefully shaped it using files and sandpaper, slowly getting it to match the octagon shape of the original. It was tedious, but I took my time, making sure every edge was smooth and even. This step really took a lot of patience.
The dial was a bit trickier. I decided to go with a simple blue gradient, similar to some of the 5980 models I saw online. I mixed some paints until I got the right shade, and then carefully applied it to a thin metal disc. I added some simple hour markers with white paint, I thought it should be fine.
- Sketching the case design
- Cutting the basic shape from steel
- Shaping the bezel with files and sandpaper
- Painting the dial with a blue gradient
- Adding hour markers to the dial
For the movement, well, let’s just say I took some liberties. I didn’t have the skills or tools to create a real chronograph movement. Instead, I used a simple quartz movement from an old watch I had lying around. It wasn’t perfect, but it would keep time.
Finally, I assembled all the pieces. I carefully placed the dial, hands, and movement inside the case. I added a simple stainless steel bracelet that I made from some leftover metal. I pressed in a crystal, and voila, my homemade Nautilus 5980 was complete!
It’s definitely not a real Patek Philippe, and it doesn’t have all the fancy complications of the original 5980. But it looks surprisingly good, at least to me. And I made it myself, which makes it pretty special. It was a fun project, and I learned a lot about watchmaking in the process.
The Result
It actually turned out better than I expected! Sure, it’s rough around the edges, and it’s definitely not fooling anyone into thinking it’s a real Patek. But it’s got that Nautilus vibe, and it tells the time. I’m pretty proud of my little homemade creation. I think I might wear it around for a while, just for kicks.
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