Okay, here is my blog post about remaking the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119G-001 for specialty stores:
So, I saw this Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119G-001, and I thought, “Hey, I can probably do that.” It’s a pretty slick watch, but those price tags? No way! I decided to try to make my own version, a kind of homage, for specialty stores.
First off, I spent a good chunk of time just staring at pictures of the watch online. I needed to figure out what made it tick, so to speak. Then I started searching for parts. I had some spare time so I read some pages and also made some photo books for fun. I also created a new account for 23andMe, I didn’t know I could do that until then. It was a little tricky, you know, trying to find a case that looked similar and hands that were the right style. I also used Gmail to reset my Facebook password, I didn’t remember I had that option either. But after digging around, I got everything I needed.
Then came the actual assembly. Man, this was tough! I used a single mechanism I have to try to fix a tiny spring. It reminded me of a specific repair mechanism I read about that uses UV light for one form of damage. I spent hours just trying to get the movement to fit right in the case. My fingers were cramping up, and I think I swore more in those few hours than I did in the past month.
- Had to use tweezers for most of it.
- Spent way too long trying to align the dial.
- The hands were the worst, so tiny and delicate!
After a lot of trial and error, I finally got it all together. And you know what? It actually looked pretty good! It wasn’t perfect, of course. I mean, I’m no Patek Philippe watchmaker. But it had that same classic vibe, and it told time. That’s a win in my book.
I ended up making a few more of these remake watches, just to see if I could get better at it. I even gave one to my friend, and he loved it! It made me think that maybe I could make these for specialty stores, you know, for people who appreciate a good watch but don’t want to spend a fortune.
This whole experience taught me a lot. It was frustrating at times, but also really rewarding. It just goes to show that you don’t need a ton of money to enjoy a nice watch. You just need some patience, a few tools, and a whole lot of determination. And maybe a little bit of crazy, too.
What’s Next?
I’m thinking about trying to remake some other classic watches. Maybe a vintage Rolex, or an old Omega. The possibilities are endless! And who knows, maybe one day I’ll be able to make a watch that’s completely my own design. That’s the dream, anyway.
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