Man, you wouldn’t believe what I did. I went and tried to make a high-quality fake Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Platinum, just like the ones from the official store. Here’s how it all went down.
First, I started digging around for info on the real deal. I found out that since 2013, Rolex has put out four different versions of this platinum beauty. And the latest model, the 126506, which came out at Watches & Wonders in March 2023, is something else. It’s got some special features that even Rolex hasn’t done before. I guess you could say it’s a pretty big deal in the watch world.
So, I got myself all the tools I thought I’d need and a bunch of materials that looked the part. I knew this wasn’t going to be easy. The real Rolex Daytonas are known for their top-notch quality, especially with the lettering, the font, and the stamps on the dial. Even the smallest details are perfect on those things.
I started with the case. I tried to shape it just like the real ones I saw in pictures. It was tough, let me tell you. Getting the curves and the finish just right took a lot of tries. Then came the dial. Oh boy, the dial. I tried to copy the ice blue color with the chestnut brown counter rings that I saw on the TIVOL website. I mixed paints for hours, trying to get that exact shade of blue. And those counter rings? They were a whole other beast. I had to be super precise with those.
My Attempt at the Movement
- Tried to put together a movement that looked like the real one.
- Spent hours figuring out how to make it tick.
- Failed miserably, but it was a good try.
Then there was the movement. I knew from the guides I read that the movement is a dead giveaway when it comes to spotting fakes. I tried my best to put together something that at least looked like the real deal from the outside. I spent hours tinkering with tiny parts, trying to get them to work together. Did it work? Not really, but hey, it was a good effort.
After many days of work I managed to pull together a pretty decent looking copy, or that’s what I thought when I was finished and held it in my hands. I even tried it on for a whole day, felt like the real deal, but something was off. It felt too light and cheap, the shine, the color… something was not quite like the authentic ones that I remembered.
Finally, I put the whole thing together. Did it look like a real Rolex Daytona Platinum? Kind of. Could it fool someone who knows their watches? Probably not. But it was a fun project. I learned a lot about what goes into making these luxury watches. It’s not just about putting parts together. It’s about the craftsmanship, the precision, and the attention to detail.
Would I do it again? Maybe. It was a heck of a challenge, and I’m not one to back down from those. Plus, there’s always room for improvement, right? Who knows, maybe one day I’ll make a fake that’s so good, even a Rolex expert would have a hard time telling it apart. But for now, I’m just happy I gave it a shot.