So, I’ve been messing around with watches lately, and let me tell you, it’s been a wild ride. I decided to try my hand at making a copy of that fancy Rolex GMT-Master II, the left-handed version. You know, the one with the crown on the other side? Yeah, that one. I thought, “How hard could it be?” Turns out, it’s a bit more involved than I expected.
First off, I had to find some good pictures and plans of the real deal. That was a whole adventure in itself, let me tell you. Scouring the internet, looking at all sorts of forums and websites. But hey, I managed to get my hands on some decent references.
Next up, I started looking at what parts I could get my hands on. There are places that sell watch parts, who knew? It’s like a whole secret world of watchmaking out there. I found some parts that looked pretty close to the real thing, so I ordered them. The waiting was the hardest part, I swear.
Once the parts arrived, that’s when the real fun began. I started putting the watch together, bit by bit. I had to buy some tools, too. Tiny screwdrivers, tweezers, all that stuff. It’s like being a surgeon, but for watches. And let me tell you, these parts are SMALL. I nearly lost a few screws on the floor. Thank goodness for that big magnet I used to find them.
It took me a while, but I finally managed to get the thing assembled. I put on the strap, wound it up, and waited. And guess what? It started ticking! I couldn’t believe it. I actually made a working watch. It’s not perfect, of course. There are a few details that aren’t quite right, and it’s definitely not as fancy as the real Rolex. But it’s mine, and I made it.
- Finding the right references: This took some time, had to check out a lot of different sources.
- Getting the parts: Ordered them online, had to wait for them to arrive. That was not fun.
- Buying the tools: Who knew watchmaking needed so many tiny tools? It is expensive!
- Assembling the watch: This was the trickiest part, but also the most rewarding. The parts were so small!
- Seeing it work: I wound it up and it actually worked! Best feeling ever.
It’s not going to fool anyone into thinking it’s a real Rolex, but it’s a pretty good copy if I do say so myself. And it was a fun project to work on. I learned a lot about watches and how they’re made. Maybe I’ll try making another one someday, who knows? But for now, I’m pretty happy with my little homemade Rolex.
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