Okay, so today, I really got into trying to remake this Patek Philippe Calatrava 5088/100P-001, you know, the “original order” one. Let me tell you, it was quite the experience.
First off, I spent a good chunk of the morning just staring at pictures of this beauty online. I mean, this watch, it’s not just a watch, it’s like a piece of art. The details on it are insane. After I soaked in all the visuals, I grabbed my tools. I’ve got this little workbench in my garage, it’s nothing fancy, but it’s where all the magic happens.
I started by trying to sketch out the design. Let me tell you, drawing is not my strong suit, but I managed to get a rough idea down on paper. Then came the tricky part. I had to pick out the materials. Now, I’m not using real platinum like the original, that’s way out of my league. I opted for some stainless steel that I had lying around. It’s got a nice shine to it, and it’s pretty sturdy.
- Looked at photos of the watch
- Sketched the design on paper
- Chose stainless steel for the material
Next, I started working on the watch face. This is where things got really interesting. The original has this incredible hand-engraved design. I don’t have the skills for that, so I tried a different approach. I found some thin metal sheets and started cutting and shaping them to match the design as best as I could. It was slow going, and I definitely messed up a few times, but eventually, I got something that looked somewhat decent.
After that, it was time to put it all together. I used some tiny screws and a whole lot of patience to assemble the watch. It was like a puzzle, but way more delicate. I was so focused I probably didn’t blink for an hour. And guess what? I actually got it to work! Well, sort of. It’s not exactly keeping perfect time, but it’s ticking, and that’s a win in my book.
What I did step-by-step
- Drew a sketch
- Picked out materials (stainless steel instead of platinum)
- Cut and shaped metal sheets for the watch face design
- Assembled the watch with screws and patience
All in all, it was a fun little project. It’s not a perfect replica by any means, but it’s got its own charm. And hey, it’s a pretty good conversation starter. I’ve already worn it out a couple of times, and people are always asking about it.
I know it’s not the same as owning the real deal, which, from what I saw online, goes for around $83,000 to $105,820. But for a DIY project, I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. Maybe one day I’ll try to make another one, but for now, I’m just going to enjoy wearing this little guy.
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