Okay, folks, let’s dive into this project I’ve been working on – recreating the Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100R-010, the original order version.
It all started a few months back. I’ve always been a fan of Patek Philippe, you know, their history, the craftsmanship. I saw some information about their collections, like “One Of The Biggest Patek Philippe Collections In The UK,” which made me curious. Then I stumbled upon this beauty, the Gondolo 7042/100R-010. Man, that thing is gorgeous! I thought, “Why not try to make one myself?” I mean how hard can it be right?
So, I started digging. Found out the original has a rose gold case. Also, I realized this thing is covered in diamonds, 251 of them, about 0.73 carats, all set in a circle. And the hour markers? 12 diamond ones, another 0.14 carats. The dial plate is 18K gold, and even the crown has an Akoya pearl. Fancy, right?
Gathering Materials
First things first, I needed to find the right materials. Getting actual rose gold was a bit out of my budget, so I went for a good quality rose gold-plated material. I even saw some “Range Of Mens Patek Philippe Watches Available At Berry’s Jewellers,” but I decided to go on my own way. Finding the diamonds was tricky. I didn’t need real ones, obviously, so I looked for some decent-looking fake diamond settings.
- Rose Gold-Plated Case: Took me a while to find one that looked and felt right.
- Fake Diamonds: Found a bunch online, had to pick the ones that were the right size and had a good sparkle.
- Dial Plate: I used a thin sheet of brass and gave it a gold finish. Not 18K, but it does the job.
- Akoya Pearl: This one was tough. Ended up getting a really nice imitation pearl for the crown.
Putting It Together
Now, the fun part – actually assembling this thing. I started with the case, making sure it was polished and ready. Then, the dial. I carefully arranged the diamond settings in a circle. That took forever! Each one had to be placed just right. Then, I added the hour markers. Those were a bit easier since there were only 12.
The hands were next. I found some thin, elegant hands that matched the original pretty well. Setting the pearl on the crown was a delicate operation. I used a tiny bit of glue and a lot of patience. Once I set all of those, I felt a great sense of accomplishment.
The Final Touches
After assembling everything, I gave it a final polish, made sure all the settings were secure. And there it was, my very own, handmade version of the Patek Philippe Gondolo. It’s not perfect, of course, but I’m pretty proud of it. It looks great, especially when the light catches those fake diamonds. It’s a nice feeling when you finish your work, right?
It was a fun project, and I learned a lot along the way. It’s not the real deal, but hey, it’s a pretty good replica, and it was a blast to make. Now, I get to wear this cool watch and tell the story of how I made it. That’s worth something, right?