So, I was looking to make a replica of the Patek Philippe Nautilus 7010, just like the ones you see on the official flagship store. Man, it was a journey, let me tell you!
First off, I started by gathering all the info I could find about this watch. I dug through forums, read articles, and watched videos. I mean, everything I could get my hands on. The Patek Philippe 7010/1R-013 is a variant of the Patek Philippe 7010/1R, a watch model from the Patek Philippe brand and Nautilus collection. I found some stuff on some watch forum sites, but it wasn’t much. Just some basic info, like that it’s a luxury watch and all that jazz.
The Research Phase
I started by compiling a bunch of pictures, trying to get every angle of this beauty. Then, I broke down the design. I looked at the bezel, the case, the bracelet – you name it. It’s a pretty slick design, I gotta say. I even tried to understand the movement inside, but that’s a whole other beast. There were like 35 different models of the 7010/1R-013. They all looked pretty similar, but I wanted to get mine as close to the original as possible.
Gathering Materials
Next, I had to find the right materials. This was a pain. I needed a good quality stainless steel for the case and bracelet. I spent days searching online, contacting suppliers, and comparing prices. Finally, I found a supplier that seemed reliable. It wasn’t cheap, but hey, quality matters, right?
The Crafting Process
This is where the real fun began. I started by shaping the case. I used a small milling machine I have in my workshop. It took a lot of time and patience. I had to make sure every curve and edge was just right. Then, I worked on the bezel, which is pretty iconic on this watch. I carefully replicated the brushed and polished finishes, which was tricky. I messed up a couple of times, but eventually, I got it right.
- Shaping the Case: Used a milling machine, took forever.
- Crafting the Bezel: Replicated the brushed and polished finishes.
- Assembling the Bracelet: Each link was individually crafted and polished.
- Dial and Hands: Used high-quality materials, painted meticulously.
- Movement: Used a decent automatic movement I found online.
The Bracelet and Dial
The bracelet was another challenge. Each link had to be individually crafted and polished. I spent hours making sure they fit together perfectly. It was tedious, but the end result was worth it. For the dial, I used a high-quality material and painted it meticulously. The hands were also tricky, but I managed to get them pretty close to the original.
The Movement
For the movement, I decided to use a decent automatic movement I found online. It’s not a Patek Philippe movement, obviously, but it does the job. I assembled it carefully, making sure everything was aligned correctly. It was a bit of a learning curve, but I managed to get it working.
Final Touches
After assembling everything, I did some final polishing and adjustments. I wanted to make sure the watch looked and felt as close to the original as possible. I compared it to the pictures I had gathered, and I was pretty happy with the result. It’s not perfect, but it’s pretty darn close.
Finally, after all that hard work, I finished my Patek Philippe Nautilus 7010 replica. It was a challenging project, but I learned a lot along the way. I’m pretty proud of how it turned out. It’s not something I’d wear every day, but it’s a nice piece to have in my collection. It’s a testament to what you can do with some patience, research, and a lot of elbow grease. The whole thing took me weeks, but I’m stoked with how it turned out. It’s not a real Patek, but it’s close enough for me!
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