Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to try my hand at remaking a watch for a while now, and I finally took the plunge. I decided to go for a classic – the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001. This thing is a beauty, but let me tell you, it wasn’t a walk in the park. I wanted to make this watch from scratch and not by ordering parts online.
First, I did a ton of research. I looked at tons of pictures, watched videos, and read whatever I could find about this watch. The Patek Philippe website has some good info, and there are a bunch of forums and watch enthusiast sites with pictures and discussions. I started by making notes about the dimensions, materials, and the details of the “Clous de Paris” bezel.
Next, I made detailed drawings of each part. This watch has a really classic round case with long, sloping lugs, so getting those proportions right was important. I used a ruler and some grid paper to sketch out the case, bezel, dial, hands, and even the little details like the crown. I went through a lot of erasers getting it just right.
Then came the fun part – picking the materials. The original is in rose gold, but I decided to use stainless steel for the case to keep things a bit more budget-friendly, but still keeping it classy. I got a block of stainless steel and started shaping it. I used a small saw and a file to rough out the basic shape of the case. It was tough work, and my arms were definitely sore after a few hours of sawing and filing, It reminded me of the old days when everything was handcrafted.
The “Clous de Paris” bezel was the most challenging part. This thing has a really intricate hobnail pattern that’s super detailed. I ended up making a simple tool by modifying a small screwdriver to help me create the pattern. I marked out the pattern on the bezel and carefully started engraving. It took forever, and I had to take breaks so I wouldn’t mess it up. I think this step alone took me a few days, but the end result was satisfying.
For the dial, I used a thin sheet of brass. I cut it to the right size and then painted it with a nice, creamy white color. The hour markers on the original are applied, so I cut out tiny pieces of metal and polished them before attaching them to the dial. It was really fiddly work, and I used tweezers and a magnifying glass to get it right. Man, those tiny pieces were a pain, but I was determined to get it right.
The hands were another challenge. I wanted them to look like the original three-dimensional hands, so I shaped them from thin pieces of steel. I used a small hammer and some shaping tools to give them the right curves and angles. Once they were shaped, I polished them to a high shine. I was pretty proud of how they turned out. They looked almost as good as the ones on the real watch, if I do say so myself. Then I worked day and night, often sacrificing sleep, to assemble the movement and ensure it was functioning perfectly.
After that, it was time to assemble everything. I carefully put the dial, hands, and movement inside the case. Then, I attached the bezel and the case back. The final touch was the strap. I found a nice leather strap that I thought looked good with the watch. I spent a lot of time just looking at it and feeling it, making sure it was perfect.
When I finally finished, I was pretty stoked. The watch looked great, and it actually kept time pretty well. It’s not perfect, of course. There are a few small imperfections, but I think they add to the charm. It’s a handmade watch, after all, and It felt really rewarding to wear something I made with my own hands.
- Patience is key: Making a watch from scratch takes a lot of time and patience. There were times when I wanted to rush things, but I learned that it’s better to take your time and do it right. Slow and steady wins the race, as they say.
- Details matter: Even small details can make a big difference in the overall look of the watch. I used to think those tiny details weren’t important, but boy was I wrong.
- It’s okay to make mistakes: I made a lot of mistakes along the way, but I learned from them and kept going. It’s all part of the learning process, I guess.
- Practice makes perfect: I used to suck at engraving, but after all this, I’d say I’m pretty decent now.
Here are some of the things I learned from this project:
All in all, it was a really fun and rewarding experience. I’m already thinking about my next project. Maybe I’ll try something even more complicated next time, who knows. If you’re thinking about trying something like this, I say go for it. Just be prepared to put in the time and effort. It’s definitely worth it in the end.
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