So, I’ve been wanting to try my hand at making a replica watch for a while now, and I finally decided to go for it. I picked the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119G-001 as my target. It’s a real beauty, classic and elegant, but man, is it expensive in real life! That’s why I decided to make my own version of the famous watch.
First things first, I started by gathering all the info I could find about this watch. I looked at a bunch of pictures online, read some articles, and even found some specs. It’s a 39mm white gold case, 8.08mm thick, and it’s water-resistant up to 30 meters. The real one has this manual winding, ultra-thin mechanical Caliber 30-255 PS, but I was planning to use a cheaper automatic movement for my version.
Next, I needed to find the parts. I ordered a white gold-plated case that looked pretty close to the original. For the dial, I found a charcoal gray one with a similar guilloched hobnail pattern, also known as Clous de Paris, which is a real standout feature of this model. Getting the hands and intarsures right was tricky, but I managed to find some that looked decent enough.
- Case: 39mm white gold-plated case
- Dial: Charcoal gray with Clous de Paris pattern
- Hands: Simple, elegant design
- Movement: Automatic movement (not the original Caliber 30-255 PS)
- Strap: Black leather strap
Then came the assembly. I carefully put the movement into the case, attached the dial, and set the hands. This was the most nerve-wracking part because one wrong move and you could mess up the whole thing. I also added a sapphire crystal case back, just like the original, so you can see the movement inside. Although the original one is not an automatic movement, which I chose for my version.
Finally, I attached a black leather strap, and there it was! My very own Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119G-001 look-alike. It’s not perfect, of course, but I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. It looks great on the wrist, and it’s a fun conversation starter. Plus, I saved a ton of money by making it myself!
What I Learned
This whole project was a great learning experience. I learned a lot about watchmaking, and I gained a new appreciation for the craftsmanship that goes into these luxury timepieces. It’s not easy to make a watch, even a replica one, and it takes a lot of patience and attention to detail. Would I do it again? Maybe! It was a lot of work, but it was also a lot of fun. And hey, now I have a pretty cool watch to show for it!
Click to consult