Hey guys, today I wanna share my little project of remaking the Patek Philippe Nautilus 7010. It’s a gorgeous watch, but let’s be real, not everyone can just drop that kind of cash. So, I thought, why not try to make my own version?
First off, I spent a lot of time just staring at pictures of the 7010. I mean, I really looked at it, trying to get every little detail in my head. I also watched a bunch of videos, you know, those review types where they go over every part of the watch.
Then, I started sketching. I’m no artist, but I tried my best to draw out the watch face, the bracelet, everything. These sketches were my roadmap, helping me figure out the dimensions and how everything should fit together.
Next up, I had to find a base watch. I wasn’t about to destroy a real Patek, no way! I looked around and found a decent automatic watch with a similar shape. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a good starting point.
Now, the fun part – taking it apart! I got myself a set of those tiny screwdrivers and carefully disassembled the watch. I kept all the parts organized, which was super important. Trust me, you don’t want to lose any of those tiny screws.
Getting the Face Right
The dial was the hardest part. I found a place online that could print a custom watch face. I used my sketches and some of the photos I had collected to design a dial that looked like the 7010. It took a few tries to get the color and the font just right.
The hands were another challenge. I ended up buying a few sets of different watch hands online. I mixed and matched until I found a set that looked close enough to the original. It’s not exact, but it works. I used a small hand removing tool to replace the old hands.
Bracelet Time
- The original bracelet is brushed steel with polished center links. My base watch had an all-brushed bracelet.
- So, I got some masking tape and carefully taped off the center links.
- Then, using some polishing compound, I polished those center links until they were nice and shiny.
- It took some time, but it made a huge difference in the overall look.
Putting it all back together was like solving a puzzle. I followed the same steps I took when disassembling, but in reverse. I used a hand setting tool to install the new dial hands. I had to be extra careful not to scratch anything.
And there you have it, my homemade Patek Philippe Nautilus 7010! It’s not a perfect replica, of course. It doesn’t have the same movement or the same materials, and honestly, it was a lot of work. But, it looks pretty darn good, and it was a really fun project. Plus, I saved a ton of money! It might not fool a watch expert, but it definitely turns heads. I’m pretty proud of how it turned out. This whole thing was a bit of a pain, but hey, I’ve got a cool-looking watch now, and I didn’t have to sell a kidney to get it!
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