Okay, so, I got this idea in my head to try and remake a really fancy watch. Yeah, I’m talking about the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001. Sounds pretty high-end, right?
First off, I started digging around for info on this watch. Found out it’s a newer model, came out in 2021. It’s got this rose gold case, which looks pretty slick, and a silver dial. I spent hours looking at pictures online, trying to get every detail right in my head.
Then, I began gathering all the bits and pieces I thought I’d need. I bought some cheap watch movements to practice on, and I ordered a bunch of tools and parts online. It was a bit of a gamble, not knowing exactly what I’d need, but hey, you gotta start somewhere, right?
- Started looking for similar-looking watch cases and dials.
- Found a rose gold-colored case that was kind of close to the real thing.
- Ordered a silver dial that had a similar vibe, though not an exact match.
The real work started when all the stuff arrived. I cleared off my workbench, laid out all my tools, and got to work. I spent days just taking apart and putting back together those practice movements, getting a feel for how they worked. Then came the scary part – working on the actual parts I planned to use for the remake.
Assembly
I carefully assembled the movement, piece by piece. It was slow going, and I definitely messed up a few times. But I learned from each mistake and kept at it. Once the movement was sorted, I moved on to the dial and hands. I had to be extra careful with those – they’re so delicate. I used tweezers and a magnifying glass to get them in place. Finally, I put the whole thing into the case. I held my breath as I snapped the case back on, hoping I hadn’t messed anything up.
After weeks of messing around, I finally had something that looked a bit like the Calatrava 6119R-001. It’s not perfect, not the real deal, obviously, but it’s not half bad for a homemade job. And you know what? It actually keeps time pretty well!
This whole thing was a real learning experience. I’m not saying I’m some expert watchmaker now, but I definitely picked up a few skills. And it’s kind of cool to have a watch that I put together myself, even if it’s just a knock-off of a fancy one.
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