Alright, let’s talk about this project I’ve been messing with – remaking the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5980. Yeah, the fancy one. I saw somewhere that Patek Philippe kind of phased out the stainless steel 5980 and replaced it with the 5990. The new one has a second time-zone thing, which is cool and all, but I wanted to have a crack at making the classic.
Getting Started
First thing I did was gather all the parts. This wasn’t easy, let me tell you. I searched high and low, online and in some, let’s say, “less reputable” places, to find bits that looked like they belonged in a 5980.
- I grabbed a case that seemed decent enough.
- Then I got a movement, which is basically the heart of the watch. It wasn’t a genuine Patek movement, obviously, but it was a good quality substitute.
- Next, the dial. This had to look right, so I spent a lot of time trying to find one that had the right color and texture.
- Hands, of course. These were tricky because they had to be just the right size and shape.
- And finally, the bracelet. This had to be stainless steel and feel hefty, just like the original.
Putting It All Together
Once I had all the pieces, it was time to put them together. I started by fitting the movement into the case. This took a bit of fiddling because I wanted it to sit just right. After that, I attached the dial to the movement. This was delicate work, and I had to be careful not to scratch it. Placing the hands was next. I used a tiny tool to set them on their posts, making sure they were aligned correctly. Last but not least, I connected the bracelet to the case. This was pretty straightforward, but I had to make sure the links were tight and secure.
The Finishing Touches
After everything was assembled, I took a step back to admire my work. It looked pretty good, but something was missing. I realized that the original 5980 had a certain sheen to it, so I decided to polish the case and bracelet. I used a soft cloth and some polishing compound and worked on it until it had a nice, subtle shine. Then, I cleaned the whole thing with a watch cleaning solution to get rid of any fingerprints or smudges.
The Final Result
Looking at the finished product, I have to say, I’m pretty chuffed. It’s not a genuine Patek Philippe, but it captures the look and feel of the 5980 pretty well. It’s got a good weight to it, and the details are spot on. I’ve been wearing it around, and it feels great on the wrist. It’s a nice little project that I’m proud to show off. It’s not perfect, but hey, it’s my own little piece of watchmaking history, and that’s good enough for me.
And you know what? It was a hell of a lot cheaper than buying the real thing!
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