So, I set out to remake the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119G-001. This is a pretty fancy watch, known for its detailed craftsmanship and all that. It’s not something you see every day, and I wanted to see if I could recreate it.
First, I got myself some pictures and details of the watch. I needed to know exactly what it looked like, inside and out. This particular model, the 6119G-001, has this unique Clous de Paris bezel and 3D hands, which gives it a bold look. It’s different from its predecessor, the 5196, in that it feels more like an everyday watch rather than just a super dressy piece.
I started by gathering the materials. I needed white gold for the case, since that’s what the original is made of. The case size is 39mm, so I made sure to get that right. The bezel was tricky because of that Clous de Paris pattern, it’s really detailed and ornate. I spent a lot of time getting that pattern just right.
Here’s what I did step-by-step:
- Creating the Case: I started with the white gold, shaping it into a 39mm case. This was the foundation of the whole watch, so it had to be perfect.
- Working on the Bezel: This was the hardest part. I carefully etched the Clous de Paris pattern onto the bezel. It took a lot of tries to get it to look like the original.
- Making the Hands: The 3D hands were another challenge. I had to make them look just right, with the right thickness and shape, to match the original.
- Assembling the Watch: Once I had all the parts, I put them together. This was exciting, seeing all the pieces come together to form the watch.
After all the hard work, I finally had my own version of the Calatrava 6119G-001. It was tough, but seeing the finished product was super rewarding. It looks pretty darn close to the real thing, which is around $24,000 by the way. Mine didn’t cost that much, but it took a ton of time and effort. I think I spent around 27,000 on this version, it’s quite expensive.
This whole project was a big learning experience. It showed me how much work goes into making these luxury watches. I mean, if I had to wait to get my hands on a real Patek Philippe, I heard it could take up to 8 years for some models. The Calatrava might be a shorter wait, like 12 months, but still, that’s a long time!
In the end, I’m really proud of what I made. It’s not just a watch; it’s a piece of art that I built from scratch. I doubt you could find a brand new one on the market easily, maybe you could find a used one. Would I do it again? Maybe. It was a lot of fun, but also a lot of work. For now, I’m just going to enjoy wearing my handmade Calatrava.
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