Okay, so I’ve been itching to remake a Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001 for a while now. This watch is a real beauty, you know? Classic look. So, I started by doing some digging around. Man, this thing is expensive, way more than my house! But hey, it’s a Patek, right?
I got all kinds of information about this Calatrava 6119R-001. How it works, what it does, the whole shebang. They call these features “complications”. This one’s got that “Clous de Paris” thing on the bezel. Sounds fancy, huh? It’s all shiny and polished. Real nice. And it’s 39mm, bigger than the old ones. They say it’s a hand-wound movement, you have to wind it up yourself.
Then came the hard part – actually trying to remake this thing. Now, I knew I couldn’t make an exact copy. I don’t have the tools or the skills for that. But I wanted to capture the essence of it, you know? That classic, elegant vibe. So I started with the basics. I found a similar style watch case and got a movement that was also hand-wound. Of course, it was not a real one.
- I spent hours just looking at pictures of the 6119R-001. I studied that Clous de Paris bezel, trying to figure out how I could mimic it.
- I practiced on some scrap metal, trying to get that pattern down. It’s tough!
- I tried different tools, different techniques. It was a lot of trial and error. A lot.
Finally, I got something that I was happy with. It’s not perfect, but it’s got that same kind of look. I put the whole thing together, and man, it was satisfying. Seeing it on my wrist, it felt good. Like I’d accomplished something, you know?
Now, should you buy this Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001? I don’t know. That’s up to you. It is not cheap. But if you’re into watches, and you appreciate the craftsmanship, it might be worth considering. Just know that if you see one that’s not crazy expensive, it ain’t the real deal. Some folks might not like that. This remake is based on an old watch, the Reference 96. They say there are 164 little parts inside. That’s a lot of tiny bits!
But this one I made? It’s special to me. It’s a reminder that you can create something beautiful with your own two hands, even if it’s not the real thing. The waiting time for a real one? I heard it can be 9 months up to a year. This one took me a while, but it was worth it. If you like it, maybe I’ll make you one. Maybe not. We’ll see. It was a fun project, though. Real fun.
This Patek 6119r-001 is big.
Compared to the other watches I have, it is quite large. This size is quite fashionable now, many people like big watches, but I still prefer smaller ones. If you want to ask me, is this watch worth buying? I think it depends on your budget and whether you like big watches. Anyway, I have finished my own remake.
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