Okay, so, I’ve been working on this project for a while now, and I’m pretty stoked to share the whole process with you guys. Today, I tried to remake the Patek Philippe Calatrava 5088/100P-001, and let me tell you, it was quite the ride.
I started by looking around for what I need. This watch is a beauty with its black enamel dial and those intricate volutes and arabesques designs. I found the watch was about 38mm in diameter and 8.3mm in height. I wanted to get as close to these dimensions as possible.
The first thing I did was to check for some basic info. I grabbed some tools and carefully disassembled a watch I had lying around. It’s a bit nerve-wracking, you know, taking apart something so delicate, but I managed. The Patek case number, I figured, would be on the inside of the caseback, and the movement number, right on the movement itself. I took notes of every little detail.
Next, I tried to gather all the parts I needed. Finding similar parts wasn’t easy, but I searched through my collection of watch parts and even did some online hunting. I found some pieces that could work, though they weren’t the real deal. The goal was to capture the essence of the Calatrava, its elegance and those beautiful patterns on the dial.
Then I started working on the dial. This was the most challenging part. I used some enamel paint and the tiniest brushes I could find to recreate those volutes and arabesques patterns. I won’t lie, my hands were shaking, and I messed up a few times. But, after a couple of tries, I got something that looked somewhat decent. It wasn’t perfect, but it had that sophisticated vibe.
After the dial, I put everything back together. I carefully placed the movement, the hands, and the dial into the case. It was like assembling a tiny, intricate puzzle. The moment of truth was when I wound it up and… it ticked! It was such a relief to see it working.
- Disassembled a watch: Got to see where the case and movement numbers usually are.
- Gathered parts: Found similar, but not exact, pieces to use.
- Worked on the dial: Used enamel paint and tiny brushes for the design.
- Reassembled the watch: Put all the parts back together carefully.
- Tested it: Wound it up and saw it tick.
Steps I Took:
I wore the watch around the house, and it felt pretty good on my wrist. It looked similar to the pictures I found, especially the dial’s design. I was thinking about the price of the real Patek Philippe Calatrava 5088/100P, which is around $105,820. My version didn’t cost nearly that much, but it was cool to make something inspired by such a high-end piece. If you are looking for a real one, be prepared to pay a lot, especially from those secondary market dealers.
It was a fun and challenging project. I learned a lot about watchmaking and the details that go into luxury watches like the Patek Philippe Calatrava. This model is still in production, so maybe one day I’ll get to see the real thing in person. For now, I’m pretty happy with my little creation.
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