Alright, let’s talk about that time I tried to remake the Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse, reference 5738R. That’s a real classic, you know? The kind of watch that just screams good taste. But let me tell you, it wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. I mean, it’s just hours and minutes, how hard could it be?
I started by staring at a bunch of pictures online, trying to get a feel for the thing. It’s all about that “golden section” ratio, 1 to 1.6181, something those old Greek math guys came up with. Supposed to be the most pleasing proportion to the human eye, the “divine” proportion. So, I knew I had to get that right.
I pulled out my calipers and started measuring my screen, you know, trying to scale things up. I sketched it out a few times, trying to capture that elegant oval shape. It’s not a circle, it’s not an oval, it’s a golden ellipse! Getting the curves just right was a real pain.
The Dial
- Designing the dial: I spent a good chunk of time just getting the dial right. I went with a simple, sunburst-style blue because that’s what the real 5738R has. I tried to replicate the little details as best as I could.
- Making the hands: The hands were surprisingly tricky. They’re so thin and delicate on the real watch, I experimented with different shapes and sizes, it was quite hard to replicate that.
The Case and Bracelet
- Shaping the case: The case was another challenge. I chose rose gold, and crafted it. I had to make sure it curved in all the right places, you know, to match that classic Golden Ellipse look.
- Assembling the bracelet: Now, the original has this amazing integrated bracelet. I don’t have the skills or tools, but I did what I could with the bracelet I crafted. I attached it to the case, step by step, link by link. It was a bit fiddly, but I managed to get it all together.
After all that, I finally had something that resembled a Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse. It wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot, but I was pretty proud of it. I mean, it tells the time, and it looks kinda like the real deal, right?
This whole experience really gave me a new appreciation for watchmakers. It’s not just about putting a bunch of parts together, it’s about design, precision, and a whole lot of patience. I might try this again sometime, maybe try to get it even closer to the original. But for now, I’m happy with my little homage to the Golden Ellipse.
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