Alright, folks, gather ’round, let me tell you about this little project I got myself into. So, I’ve been eyeing this Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse 5738R for a while now. It’s a real beauty, but you know, the price tag is a bit, well, hefty. So, I thought, why not try to remake it myself? A bit ambitious, maybe, but hey, I was feeling adventurous.
First things first, I started digging into what makes this watch tick. I found out that the design is based on something called the “golden section,” some fancy ratio from ancient Greek mathematicians, 1 / 1.6181 or something. Apparently, it’s supposed to be this “divine” proportion. Sounds cool, right?
Next, I took a closer look at the watch itself. I saw it has this polished 18kt rose gold case that just shines. The dial is this ebony black color with a sunburst finish that’s pretty mesmerizing. And the hands, they’re rose gold too, matching the case. Classy stuff.
- Diving into the Movement
- I learned that the watch has this ultra-slim self-winding movement, the calibre 240. It beats at 21,600 vibrations per hour and has 27 jewels. Sounds complicated, but I was determined to figure it out.
- Gathering Materials
- Now, I couldn’t get my hands on real 18kt rose gold, obviously, so I had to find some alternatives. I ended up using a rose gold-plated material for the case and hands. It’s not the real deal, but it still looks pretty darn good.
- Crafting the Dial
- For the dial, I found a black material that I could give a sunburst finish to. It took some trial and error, but I finally got it to look similar to the original. Not perfect, but hey, I’m no watchmaker.
Putting it all together was the real challenge. I had to be super careful and precise. It took me a while, and there were definitely some frustrating moments, but I kept at it. And you know what? I actually did it. I managed to put together a watch that looks a lot like the Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse 5738R.
Now, it’s not an exact replica, of course. It doesn’t have that fancy calibre 240 movement, and the materials aren’t exactly the same. But, it captures the essence of the watch, that “golden section” design and the overall elegant look. The whole process felt like making a miniature piece of art. It wasn’t just about copying a design, but understanding the why behind each element. Plus, figuring out how to achieve that sunburst effect on the dial was a fun little puzzle. Honestly, it turned out better than I expected. I even showed it to a friend who knows a bit about watches, and he was pretty impressed! It’s not something I’d wear every day, but it’s a cool project I can look back on.
Final Thoughts
All in all, it was a fun and rewarding experience. I learned a lot about watches, and I got to create something with my own two hands. It’s not perfect, but I’m proud of it. And hey, it’s a lot cheaper than the $27,069 the real thing costs! Would I do it again? Maybe. It was a lot of work, but seeing the final product made it all worth it. If you’re ever thinking about a crazy project like this, I say go for it. You might surprise yourself with what you can achieve. Just be prepared for a lot of tinkering and a few headaches along the way! But hey, that’s all part of the fun, right?
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