Hey everyone, it’s your boy back again with another project. This time, I got it into my head to try and remake a Patek Philippe watch. Yeah, you heard that right, those super fancy, super expensive watches. Specifically, I went for the Gondolo 7042/100R-010. I saw it on their official flagship store online and thought, “Why not give it a shot?”
So, first things first, I needed to figure out what I was dealing with. This wasn’t just any watch; it’s a Patek Philippe Gondolo Haute Joaillerie 31mm, which sounds as fancy as it is. It’s got a diamond dial, which means it’s all sparkly and stuff. I found out it’s made of 18K white gold, rose gold bezel, and is manual winding and no numerals Dial.
Gathering Materials
Next up, I had to gather my materials. Now, I didn’t have any 18K white gold lying around, so I had to get creative. I found some materials that looked pretty close to the real deal. As for the diamonds, I opted for some high-quality cubic zirconia. They sparkle just like diamonds but are way more in my budget.
- Watch Movement: I managed to find a decent manual-winding watch movement. It’s not a Patek Philippe movement, but it gets the job done.
- Watch Case: I got a case that looked similar in shape and size to the Gondolo. It was a bit of a challenge to modify it, but I got there.
- Dial: This was the hardest part. I carefully placed the cubic zirconia onto the dial to mimic the diamond-paved look. It took forever, but the result was pretty good.
- Strap: I picked up a nice leather strap that looked classy. Nothing too fancy, but it complemented the watch well.
Putting It All Together
With all my materials ready, it was time to assemble the watch. I started by setting the movement into the case. This was a bit tricky, but with some patience, I managed to get it in there securely. Then came the dial. I had already prepared it with the cubic zirconia, so I just had to place it on top of the movement. I made sure everything was aligned properly before securing it.
Next, I attached the hands to the movement. This was also a delicate process, as I didn’t want to damage the hands or the dial. After what felt like hours, I finally got them on. The last step was attaching the strap to the case. This was the easiest part, and it didn’t take long at all.
The Final Product
And there it was, my very own remade Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100R-010. It’s not perfect, but I’m pretty proud of how it turned out. It looks surprisingly close to the original, especially with the sparkly “diamonds” on the dial. It’s definitely a conversation starter, and I’ve already gotten a few compliments on it.
This project was a lot of fun, and it taught me a lot about watches and how they’re made. It’s not easy to replicate a high-end watch like this, but with some creativity and a lot of patience, it’s definitely possible. I hope you guys enjoyed this little adventure of mine. Stay tuned for more projects!
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