Alright, so I’ve been messing around with watches for a while now, and I gotta say, this latest project was a doozy. I decided to try my hand at remaking the Patek Philippe Gondolo 4962/200R-001, you know, the one you see in those fancy official stores. It looked complicated, but, hey, I like a good challenge.
First off, I spent hours just staring at pictures of this thing online. It’s a real beauty, all curves and gold, with these shiny stones around the edge. They call it “Art Deco” style, whatever that means. It just looked classy and old-timey to me.
Then, I started digging around for parts. This was a pain, let me tell you. Finding stuff that looked even remotely close to the original was tough. And don’t even get me started on the price of some of these bits! But I’m stubborn, so I kept at it. This took weeks, by the way, lots of back and forth with different sellers.
- I found a watch body that was kind of the right shape, but it wasn’t gold. Had to get that plated, which was another whole ordeal.
- The little sparkly stones, called “spessartine gemstones,” those were another headache. I ended up getting some that were similar but definitely not the real deal. Close enough, I figured.
- Putting it all together, that was the “fun” part. I felt like a real watchmaker, even though I was mostly just winging it. Lots of tiny screws and delicate parts. My hands were cramping by the end of it, I swear.
- Then I got the watchband. I opted for a decent leather one, since a gold one would have cost me an arm and a leg.
The actual assembly, now that was something. Each little piece had to be handled so carefully. One slip, and bam, there goes a tiny screw flying across the room. I lost a couple, if I’m honest. Had to order replacements, wait for them to arrive, the whole nine yards. But, I persevered.
After weeks of work, and lots of sweat , I finally finished it. Does it look exactly like the real Patek Philippe Gondolo 4962/200R-001 from the flagship store? Probably not. But it’s got the same vibe, you know? It’s shiny, it’s got that curvy, Art Deco look, and it tells the time. That’s good enough for me. I learned a lot doing it. Patek Philippe, they’ve been around since forever, like the 1930s, and they’re still family-owned. Real old-school. And yeah, their watches are super expensive. No wonder I tried to make my own. Those watches from auctions with extremely rare and make you not-so-small fortunes, I think.
What a Ride!
I slapped it on my wrist, and you know what? It felt pretty good. Like I’d actually accomplished something. Plus, it looks pretty darn nice, if I do say so myself. Would I do it again? Maybe. It was definitely a learning experience. But for now, I’m just gonna enjoy wearing my homemade “Gondolo” and maybe show it off a little. Don’t judge me!
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