Okay, so, I’ve been messing around with watches for a while now, and I’ve always had this thing for Patek Philippe. I mean, they’re like the top dogs in the watch world, right? Anyway, I finally decided to try my hand at remaking one of their classic models, the Calatrava 6119G-001. Let me tell you, it was a ride.
First off, I spent like a ton of hours just staring at pictures and videos of this watch online. I checked out a bunch of forums, auction sites like, and even some shady-looking online stores. I even found it is about 33K dollars. The Ref: 6119G-001 is pretty popular, so there was a decent amount of info out there. I soaked it all in like a sponge, trying to figure out what makes this watch tick, literally.
- Gathering the Materials:
Next up, I started hunting down parts. Now, I’m not made of money, so I couldn’t exactly go out and buy genuine Patek parts. That would defeat the whole purpose, and that’s not my style. Instead, I hit up all the usual spots for watch parts, and did find a complete set. It took some time, and I definitely had to get creative with some of the smaller pieces. I even found some decent fakes that I could modify to fit my needs.
- Assembling the Movement:
This was the trickiest part. This Patek Philippe caliber 30-255 PS movement is a beauty, but it’s also a manual wind, super complicated. I took it slow, followed some diagrams I found online, and used a whole lot of patience. I’m not gonna lie; there were a few moments where I almost threw the whole thing across the room. But, I powered through, and eventually, I got that little sucker ticking.
- Crafting the Case and Dial:
The 18k white gold case was another challenge. I ended up using a combination of a similar case and some custom-made parts. It’s not perfect, but it definitely captures the vibe of the original. The dial was a bit easier, since I found a pretty close replica online. I just had to make a few tweaks to get it looking right.
- Putting It All Together:
Once I had all the pieces, it was time to assemble the watch. I used a strap with an 18k white gold tang buckle. This part was surprisingly smooth, probably because I had a lot of practice with the movement. I carefully put everything together, making sure each part was in its proper place. Seeing it all come together was such a satisfying feeling.
Final Result
So, how did it turn out? Well, it’s definitely not a perfect replica of the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119G-001. But, it’s my own take on it, and I’m pretty proud of how it looks. It’s got that classic 39mm White Gold style, and it actually keeps time pretty well. Plus, I learned a ton about watchmaking along the way. It’s not something I’d wear every day, but it’s a cool piece to have in my collection. And who knows, maybe it’ll even fool a few people from a distance!
This whole project was a blast. It was challenging, frustrating at times, but ultimately super rewarding. If you’re into watches and you’re looking for a fun project, I definitely recommend trying to remake a classic like this. Just be prepared to put in some serious time and effort, and don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty!
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