Okay, here is my sharing about how I imitated the Richard Mille RM 11-03 Classic Style, based on my own experience.
So, I got this idea to try and make a watch that looks like the Richard Mille RM 11-03. You know, the one that’s super expensive and all that? Yeah, that one. I’m no expert watchmaker, but I figured, why not give it a shot? Just for fun, you know?
First off, I spent a ton of time just staring at pictures of the RM 11-03 online. I looked up close at the details, the shape, the way the parts fit together. I even watched some videos of people showing off their real ones, just to get a better feel for it.
Then, I started sketching. I’m not the best artist, but I drew out what I thought the watch should look like, based on what I had seen. I made sure to get the main shapes right, like that curved case and the skeletonized look. This part took a while, lots of erasing and starting over.
Gathering the Materials
Next, I had to figure out what to use to actually make this thing. I decided to go with stainless steel for the case, because it seemed like a good, sturdy material. I found a supplier online, and ordered a few small sheets.
- Case: I used 44mm x 34mm stainless steel, I know it’s not the same size as the real one, but it is what I can get. I have no tools, so I ordered a few small sheets from a supplier.
- Movement: The original used automatic movement. I have no idea where to get it, so I chose to use a simple quartz movement.
- Strap: I tried to make a rubber strap with what I have, but I failed. Luckily I bought a black rubber strap.
- Others: I bought some other stuff I needed, such as glue, screws, and a small watch hands.
The hard part
Okay, now came the hard part. I don’t have any fancy watchmaking tools, so I had to get creative. I used a small saw to cut the stainless steel into the basic shape of the case. It was rough, but it was a start. I filed down the edges to make them smoother and started to get that curved shape. I’m not gonna lie, this part was super frustrating. Steel is tough! After that, I used a drill to make holes for the screws and the crown.
I bought a cheap quartz movement online, it is not as good as an automatic movement, but that’s all I could find. I designed the dial and glued it to the movement. I also added the watch hands.
Putting It All Together
With the main parts ready, I started assembling the watch. I carefully put the movement inside the case and screwed everything together. It was a bit fiddly, but I managed to get it all in there. Then, I attached a black rubber strap that I bought. It’s not exactly like the one on the real RM 11-03, but it’s close enough.
And there you have it! My homemade version of the Richard Mille RM 11-03. It’s definitely not perfect, and it doesn’t have all the fancy features of the real one. But, it looks pretty cool, and it actually tells the time! I’m pretty proud of myself for pulling this off. It was a fun project, and I learned a lot along the way. Maybe I’ll try making another watch someday, who knows?
It is a long journey and full of challenges. It is not easy to do, especially when you do not have the right tools. But I am happy that I tried and finally get it done!
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