Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to remake a Patek Philippe watch for a while now, and I finally decided to go for it. I picked the PP Calatrava 5088/100P-001, it’s a real classic, you know? Simple, elegant, but with that intricate detailing on the dial that just screams luxury.
First off, I had to really study the original. I spent hours just looking at pictures, videos, whatever I could find online. That black dial with the white gold accents is just something else. I noticed that this watch is going for, like, 80 to 100 grand online! That’s just crazy, but it gave me a good idea of the kind of quality I was aiming for. I can find this watch is a hot one, the dealer’s price is even 6% more than the pre-owned market, and some models like Nautilus, Aquanaut, and Calatrava are good choices for investment.
Then came the hard part – actually making the thing. I’m not a professional watchmaker, so this was a real challenge. I started with the dial because that’s the most eye-catching part. I found this similar black material, but getting those patterns right was tough, I messed up a couple of times, not gonna lie.
- Finding the right materials: I wanted to get as close as possible to the original, so I spent a lot of time trying to find the right materials. It’s pretty hard. Platinum? Nah, too expensive. I went with a decent stainless steel instead.
- The movement: This was the biggest hurdle. Obviously, I couldn’t make my own watch movement. So, I looked for a reliable automatic movement that wouldn’t break the bank. Found one, but fitting it into the case was a whole other story.
- The case: Speaking of the case, I had to get that custom-made. I drew up some rough sketches based on the dimensions I found online (38mm, it’s a good size), and found a local guy who could make it for me.
- The strap: I could not find the same one, so just bought a regular black alligator one. It is not the same as the original but it still can work.
Putting it all together, man, that was nerve-wracking. I was so scared of breaking something. I watched some videos on putting watch cases together and learned how to connect the strap to it. But I finally managed to assemble the whole thing. It’s not perfect, far from it, but it kinda looks like the real deal from a distance, at least to me.
The Result
Alright, so here it is. My homemade Patek Philippe Calatrava 5088. It’s got the black dial, the white hands, and that classic look. It’s definitely not as refined as the original, and the materials are obviously not the same, but I’m still pretty proud of it. It’s a reminder that you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it, even if it’s just making a knock-off of a super expensive watch.
This whole thing was a real learning experience. I gained a whole new appreciation for watchmakers and the amount of work that goes into these tiny little machines. Would I do it again? Maybe. It was fun, but also super frustrating at times. But hey, at least I have a cool-looking watch now, even if it didn’t cost me a fortune!
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