Alright, so, I’ve been meaning to share this little project of mine for a while now. It’s about how I managed to remake a Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100G-010, the one they sell in their online store. Yeah, you heard that right. Let me tell you, it wasn’t a walk in the park, but it sure was an adventure.
First off, I started by gathering every bit of information I could find about this watch. I mean, we’re talking about a Patek Philippe here, not some cheap knock-off. This Gondolo model, the 7042/100G-010, it’s a beauty. It’s got this white gold body that’s just classy, you know? And it’s not just about looks, this thing is packed with some serious craftsmanship. I read somewhere that it’s 31mm by 34.8mm, which is a pretty neat size if you ask me.
I got my hands on some white gold. But let me tell you, working with white gold is no joke. I tried shaping it to match the case of the Gondolo. It took a lot of tries, a lot of sweat, and maybe a few curses here and there. I wanted it to be just right, you know? Not just the shape, but that whole 18k white gold vibe, the baguette diamonds along the bezel and lugs. There were diamonds, I mean, the original’s got ’em, so mine had to have ’em too. Getting those tiny stones set just right was probably one of the most nerve-wracking things I’ve ever done.
Then there was the dial. Oh boy, the dial. It’s paved with diamonds! Can you believe it? It’s like a tiny, sparkling universe on your wrist. I had to place each one of those tiny diamonds. It’s crazy. But seeing it all come together, it’s like magic.
Now, about the movement. The original is a manually-winding mechanical watch. I did try to recreate that. I spent days, nights, weekends, you name it, just trying to get it right. It’s all these tiny parts, gears, and springs, all working together. It’s like a tiny city inside a watch. And let me tell you, getting all those parts to work together, it’s something else.
Here’s a little breakdown of what I did:
- Sourced the materials: White gold, diamonds, and all the tiny parts for the movement.
- Shaped the case: This was tough. It had to be just like the original, 31mm by 34.8mm of 18k white gold.
- Set the diamonds: Both on the case and the dial. This was meticulous work.
- Assembled the movement: This was probably the hardest part. Trying to get a manually wound movement working is no small feat.
After what felt like forever, I finally put the finishing touches on it. Seeing it all come together, the white gold, the diamonds, the movement ticking away, it was a pretty proud moment, not gonna lie. It’s not every day you get to remake a Patek Philippe, even if it’s just your own version of it.
Was it worth it?
Heck yeah! It was a challenge, a learning experience, and a test of patience all rolled into one. Plus, now I’ve got this awesome watch that’s pretty much one of a kind. Would I do it again? Maybe. But for now, I’m just gonna enjoy this little piece of art that I brought to life.
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