Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to get into watchmaking for a while, and what better way to start than to remake a classic, right? I decided to tackle the Patek Philippe Calatrava 5088/100P-001, which is, let me tell you, a real beauty. It’s got this sleek, classy look that just screams “I know what I’m doing.” You know?
First, I tried to understand the watch’s size and specs. I found that it’s a 38mm platinum case. That’s not too big, not too small, just right for my wrist. And it’s pretty thin, too, at 8.3mm. I spent some time researching these details online, but it was worth it.
- Gathering the Materials: This was the first real hurdle. Getting my hands on platinum wasn’t easy, and it definitely wasn’t cheap. I searched for ref.5088/100P-001 watches on and compare deals. I looked around different places, asked a few people, and finally found a supplier who could get me a small sheet of it. Then there was the enamel for the dial. Black enamel, to be precise. That took some doing, too.
Replicating the Design:
Now, the dial is where this watch really shines. It’s hand-engraved with this intricate pattern, and then they put black enamel over it. It’s a complicated process. I got some special engraving tools. Nothing fancy, just the basic stuff. Started practicing on some scrap metal. It was rough at first, my hands were all over the place, but I got the hang of it after a while. I started by sketching the design on paper, over and over again. Then when I was a bit confident, I moved to some practice metal sheets.
Making the case was a whole other story. I had to shape the platinum into that perfect 38mm circle. I used a small hammer and some shaping tools, working slowly, bit by bit. It was nerve-wracking, I’m not gonna lie. One wrong move and I could’ve ruined the whole thing. I heard that the original uses a Caliber 240 ultra-thin self-winding movement and I don’t have access to that kind of thing, I picked a simpler, but reliable, movement that I could actually work with. Fitting it into the case was tricky, but I managed. I saw that the original has about 48 hours of power reserve, but mine has a little less, which is fine by me.
The Finishing Touches:
Once I had the dial and the case, it was time to put it all together. I carefully placed the hands on the movement, making sure they were aligned just right. It took some searching but I found a set of hands that were pretty close to the original. Then, I fitted the movement into the case, attached the strap, and there it was. My very own, handmade Patek Philippe Calatrava.
It’s not perfect, of course. There are a few rough edges, and it doesn’t have that same level of polish as the real thing. But, you know what? I made it. With my own two hands. And that’s something. It’s a reminder that with enough patience and determination, you can create something beautiful. And maybe, just maybe, it’s the start of something bigger. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll be making watches that rival the originals. A guy can dream, right?
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