Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to remake a Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001 for a while now. You know, the one they call “fancy” with that “Clous de Paris” thing on it. It’s shiny, it’s polished, and yeah, it’s way more expensive than my house.
First off, I started by looking at a bunch of pictures of this watch. I mean, a whole lot. I zoomed in on every detail, trying to get a feel for how it’s put together. The real one, it’s like a piece of art. It’s a high-end luxury watch known for exceptional craftsmanship and a sought-after status symbol. So, I knew this wasn’t going to be a walk in the park.
Finding the Materials
Next, I had to find materials. This was tough. I couldn’t just use any old stuff. I wanted it to at least look somewhat decent. I ended up getting some stainless steel for the case, ’cause it’s shiny and looks kinda like the real deal. For the “Clous de Paris” pattern, that was a real headache. I tried a few different things, but let me tell you, it’s not easy to replicate that by hand.
The Assembly Process
- I started with the case. I shaped the steel, polished it up, and tried to get it as close to the pictures as I could. It’s not perfect, but hey, I’m not a machine.
- Then came the dial. I painted it white, just like the original. The hour markers, those were tricky. I used some thin metal pieces and glued them on. They’re not as refined as the real thing, but they do the job.
- The hands, oh boy, the hands. Those were super fiddly. I cut them out of some thin metal sheets and painted them black. They’re a bit rough around the edges, but from a distance, they look alright.
The “Clous de Paris” Pattern
This part was the hardest. I tried using a small hammer and a punch to create the pattern, but it didn’t turn out quite right. It’s more like “Clous de Garage” than “Clous de Paris,” if you know what I mean. But, I did my best, and it adds a bit of texture to the bezel, which is something.
Putting It All Together
Finally, I put everything together. I used a cheap quartz movement I found online ’cause, let’s be real, I’m not making a mechanical masterpiece here. It doesn’t tell time perfectly, and it’s definitely not as fancy as the real thing. Screwed the back on, attached a leather strap I had lying around, and boom, there it was. My very own, not-so-perfect, remake of the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001. It’s big, it’s a bit clunky, but it’s mine. And you know what? I’m pretty proud of it. It’s not a golden egg. But you know, not every chicken lays golden eggs. But it’s not too bad for something I whipped up in my * you’re thinkin’ about buyin’ one of these Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001, you need to have a lot of money first. I don’t know what is the waitlist time for a Calatrava.
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