Okay, so I wanted to remake a Patek Philippe Nautilus 7011/1. You know, that super fancy watch everyone’s always talking about. I’m not a watchmaker, but I thought, “Why not give it a shot?” So, I started digging around.
First thing, I needed to understand what makes this watch tick. I mean, literally. So I started looking up stuff about the movement number and caliber. Patek Philippe keeps records of all their watches in their archives, and apparently, you can get something called an “Extract” from them. They say you can only request one every 12 months per watch. That’s some serious exclusivity right there.
Next, I needed to find the serial number. I read somewhere that these numbers are super important for collectors to check if a watch is real and when it was made. There’s a whole guide on how to find them. Who knew, right?
Then I went down a rabbit hole of Patek Philippe’s FAQs. They have answers for everything – how to register your watch, how to get extracts from their archives, what they do with your personal data, and of course, how to tell if your watch is the real deal. It’s a lot of info, but hey, better to be prepared.
I started looking at pictures of the Nautilus 7011/1. Man, that watch is a beauty. Patek Philippe calls their watches “masterpieces,” and I can see why. They’re made by these skilled artisans and watchmakers. They have all these famous collections like the Calatrava, Nautilus, and Aquanaut. Each one is like a tiny work of art.
I knew I couldn’t make a perfect copy, but I wanted to get as close as possible. So, I started looking at the parts. The screws are interesting. I found some info about “orthodox” screws with threads on the outside and how they fit into the barrel part. There are so many shapes, and one of the famous ones is called “Lip Point”. Also, I was reading something about a special edition dart set made for some champion player named Phil Taylor, It seems that the 10th generation of the collaboration model with Phil Taylor, the x16 world champion, is a commemorative model produced for participation in SUPER DARTS 2024, with the same cuts as the current POWER 9FIVE G10 model.
I also found these special soft tips for darts. They’re made from this stuff called Dupont Delrin. They use CAD CAM computer design to make them strong and durable. It is said that this particular tip is made from Dupont Delrin and designed by Dart Masters CAD CAM computer to be one of the strongest and most durable soft tips on the market, and features lock-down holes for a secure fit. These are details that I never would have thought of.
So, I started gathering materials. I found some similar-looking screws and some metal parts that I thought I could use. I even found some soft tips that looked like they could work for the tiny details. It was like a scavenger hunt, but for watch parts.
I started putting things together, and let me tell you, it was tough. It looked nothing like the real one, but I learned a lot about how these watches are made and the parts involved. It’s definitely not something you can just do in an afternoon.
In the end, my “remake” was far from perfect. But it was a fun experiment, and I have a whole new appreciation for the craftsmanship that goes into these watches. It’s like a whole different world.
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