Alright, gather ’round, folks. Let me tell you about this little project I recently finished. It all started when I saw this fancy watch, a Patek Philippe Calatrava 5088/100P-001. Man, that thing is a beauty, but the price tag? Over a hundred grand! No way I could ever afford that. But it got me thinking, could I make something similar? A remake, you know? Just for the fun of it, and to have a cool-looking watch on my wrist.
So, I started doing some digging. Found out all the specs of the original, the materials, the whole shebang. Then, I began sourcing parts. It wasn’t easy, let me tell you. I scoured the internet, looking for the right kind of movement, a case that looked similar, and hands that matched the style. I ordered parts from all over the place, some from online marketplaces, others from small watch part suppliers.
The Build
Once I had everything, I got to work. First, I carefully disassembled the movement I got. Cleaned every little gear and spring, made sure everything was in tip-top shape. Then came the tricky part, putting it all back together. I have to tell you. My hands were shaking like a leaf. Then assembled the movement into the new case. This was nerve-wracking, too. One wrong move and you could scratch the case or damage the movement.
- First, disassembled the movement.
- Cleaned and inspected every part.
- Reassembled the movement.
- Carefully installed the movement in the case.
- Attached the hands, one by one.
- Finally, added the strap.
Next up, attaching the hands. You need a steady hand for this, and I definitely was sweating bullets, but I got them on, one by one. And last but not least, I added a nice leather strap, similar to the original.
It took me a few weeks, working on it here and there in my spare time. And you know what? It turned out pretty darn good! Sure, it’s not a real Patek Philippe, and it’s not worth nearly as much, but it looks great. And the best part? I made it myself! It’s a great conversation starter, and I’m pretty proud of how it turned out. I also had many friends come to me, and want me to make this watch for them. I agreed to them one by one.
So, there you have it. My little adventure in watchmaking. It was a fun challenge, and I learned a lot along the way. Maybe I’ll try another remake someday. Who knows? This was a time of trial and error, of learning and creating. It wasn’t just about making a watch; it was about the journey, the satisfaction of building something with my own two hands. I had the determination. It was the joy of overcoming obstacles, the thrill of seeing my vision come to life.
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