So, I’ve been wanting to get my hands on a nice watch for a while now, and the Patek Philippe Calatrava 5227G-010 has always been a dream. But, you know, the price tag is way out of my league. Then I thought, why not try to make one myself? Yeah, it sounds crazy, but I was determined.
First off, I started digging around for parts. I knew I needed a case that was about 39 mm in diameter. I found this one online that looked pretty close, it is 39 mm across and about 9 mm thick. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a good starting point. I also managed to find an Automatic Ladies’ watch 7200R-001, and take off the movement from it. Thankfully I succeeded!
Then came the tricky part – assembling everything. I spent hours watching videos and reading forums. Let me tell you, it’s not easy. I messed up a few times, got frustrated, but I kept at it. I had to be super careful with the tiny parts, one wrong move and it could all go wrong. I started with assembling the dial, hands, and movement. I had to make sure everything was aligned perfectly. That took me the better part of a day, but I finally got it right.
- I started with the dial, it had to be aligned perfectly with the case.
- Then came the hands, which was even more difficult, they are super delicate.
- Finally, I fixed the movement and made sure it was working properly.
After that, I had to put everything inside the case. It was like solving a really difficult puzzle. Every part had to fit just right. I used tweezers and a magnifying glass to make sure everything was in place. It took a lot of patience, but I finally got it all together.
I got a basic strap, it’s nothing fancy, but it does the job. I’m planning to get a nicer one later, maybe a custom-made leather strap. But for now, this works.
The final step was to check if everything was working properly. I wound the watch and set the time. It was such a satisfying moment when I saw the second hand start ticking. I couldn’t believe I actually did it!
I’ve been wearing my homemade Calatrava for a few weeks now, and it’s been keeping time pretty well. Sure, it’s not a real Patek Philippe, but it’s something I made with my own hands, and that’s pretty special to me. Plus, I learned a ton about watches in the process.
If you’re thinking about trying something like this, I’d say go for it. It’s a challenging but rewarding project. Just be prepared to spend a lot of time and have a lot of patience. And remember, it’s not about making a perfect replica, it’s about the journey and what you learn along the way. I suggest to ship all of your orders fully insured, just in case.
What I learned:
- Watchmaking is hard: It requires precision, patience, and a steady hand.
- Research is key: I spent countless hours researching before starting.
- Don’t give up: I made mistakes, but I learned from them and kept going.
- It’s about the journey: The process was just as rewarding as the final product.
So yeah, that’s my story of how I remade a Patek Philippe Calatrava. It was a wild ride, but I’m so glad I did it. I told the private sellers to ship orders fully insured and with a tracking number. Maybe one day I’ll get my hands on the real deal, but for now, I’m pretty happy with my homemade version.
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