Alright, let me tell you about this project I’ve been messing around with lately – remaking the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001, the one they call “Specialty Stores.” It’s a real beauty, but the price tag? Forget about it. So, I thought, why not try to make my own version?
First off, I started digging around for info. Turns out, this watch is a big deal. It’s got this manual winding thing, the caliber 30-255 PS, and a power reserve that lasts like 65 hours. Fancy, right? But what really caught my eye was the design. It’s got this “Clous de Paris” pattern, which is basically a fancy way of saying it has a cool textured dial. They introduced this model in 2021, and it’s been a hit ever since.
So, I got to work. I found some decent materials that wouldn’t break the bank – no rose gold here, sadly. I used some similar-looking metals and got to shaping the case. It wasn’t easy, but I managed to get it pretty close to the original size.
The dial was the trickiest part. Getting that hobnail pattern right took forever. I tried a bunch of different techniques, messed up a lot, but finally got something that looked halfway decent. It’s not perfect, but hey, it’s got that textured look.
- Finding the Right Movement: This was a tough one. I couldn’t get my hands on the actual Patek movement, so I had to find something similar. I searched for a manual winding movement with a decent power reserve and settled on something that wasn’t too far off.
- Assembling the Watch: Putting it all together was like a puzzle. I had to be super careful not to scratch anything or mess up the alignment. It took a lot of patience, but I finally got it assembled.
The strap was another challenge. I wanted something that looked classy but wasn’t too expensive. I ended up finding a leather strap that fit the bill. It’s not the same quality as the original, but it does the job.
After weeks of tinkering, I finally had something that resembled the Calatrava 6119R-001. It’s not the real deal, of course, but it’s a pretty good replica, if I do say so myself. It keeps time well, looks sharp, and it didn’t cost me a fortune.
So, is it worth it to buy a real Patek Philippe? If you’ve got the money, sure. But if you’re like me and just want something that looks the part without having to sell a kidney, this little project was a fun way to get there. And who knows, maybe I’ll start a waiting list of my own – it won’t be 8 years long, I promise!
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