Okay, here’s my go at remaking the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001. I’m no watchmaker, but I love a good challenge, and this watch is a real beauty.
First, I started by gathering all the info I could find. I spent hours just looking at pictures of this thing online. It’s a classic, with that “Clous de Paris” pattern on the bezel, and it’s super shiny and polished. I also found out it’s 39mm in diameter and 8.08mm thick, with a sapphire crystal case back. Oh, and it’s water-resistant to 30 meters, not that I’d ever take it swimming.
Breaking It Down
Then, I started breaking down the watch into its parts. I’m not going to lie; it was a bit overwhelming. But I took it step by step. I drew some rough sketches, nothing fancy, just to get a feel for the proportions and how everything fits together. I figured I’d start with the case, since that’s the most visible part.
- Case: I needed something round, 39mm across, and not too thick. I ended up using some scrap metal I had lying around. I cut it roughly to size and then started shaping it with a file. It was slow going, but I wanted to get it right.
- Bezel: This was the tricky part, that “Clous de Paris” pattern. I tried a few different methods, but I ended up using a small hammer and a nail to create the tiny pyramid shapes. It wasn’t perfect, but it gave it a similar textured look. I had to sand the entire surface to make it look like the polished surface in the picture.
- Dial: I printed out a picture of the dial and glued it to a thin piece of metal. Then I cut out the tiny markers and hands. It was fiddly work, but I managed to get it looking pretty close to the original.
- Movement: This is where I had to cheat a bit. I didn’t have the skills or tools to make a working movement, so I just used a cheap quartz movement from an old watch. It’s not the same, but it keeps the time.
- Strap: I had some leftover leather, so I cut it into strips and stitched it together. I even managed to add a little buckle.
Putting It All Together
Finally, I put it all together. It wasn’t easy, and there were a few mishaps along the way. But in the end, I had something that looked kind of like the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001. It’s not perfect, not by a long shot. It doesn’t have the same weight or feel, and the details are definitely rough around the edges. But I made it myself, and I’m pretty proud of it.
It took me a few weeks, working on and off, but I finally finished my homemade Calatrava. It’s not going to fool anyone, but it’s a fun project, and I learned a lot along the way. Maybe one day I’ll try to make a working movement, but for now, I’m happy with my little imitation. I swear I saw someone wearing the watch in the mall the other day and had to do a double take. It’s crazy to think that little thing costs more than a car. I guess it’s all about the craftsmanship and the brand name, but still, it’s a bit much, don’t you think?
Would I do it again? Probably not. But it was a fun experiment, and now I have a unique watch that I can wear and say I made it myself. And you know what? That’s pretty cool, too. I think I might try remaking other watches in the future. It’s a fun hobby, and it’s a great way to learn about how things are made. Plus, it’s way cheaper than buying the real thing!
So, what do you guys think? Any other watches you think I should try to remake? Let me know in the comments!
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