Okay, so I’ve been wanting to try my hand at remaking a fancy watch for a while now, and I finally decided to go for it. I picked the Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse 5738R ’cause, well, it’s a beauty, but also seemed like a doable challenge. It all started with a deep dive into what makes this watch tick. I spent hours looking at photos and reading descriptions of this “Golden Ellipse.” Apparently, it’s based on some fancy “golden section” ratio the ancient Greek dudes cooked up. Who knew?
First things first, I needed to get the materials. The real deal is made of rose gold, which is way out of my budget. I had to settle for some more wallet-friendly stuff that still had a decent look to it. I found some good stainless steel with a rose gold-colored coating. I also picked up some basic watchmaking tools online. Nothing fancy, just enough to get the job done. I’m not trying to become a pro watchmaker here, just wanted to see if I could pull this off.
Breaking it Down
Next up was figuring out the size and shape of the watch. The 5738R is a pretty big watch, so I measured it out based on the photos I could find, which all point out the size and dimensions. I made a rough template out of cardboard first to get a feel for it. Let me tell you, getting that elliptical shape right was a pain. It took a few tries to get something that looked decent.
Once I had the basic shape down, I started working on the case. I used my trusty old Dremel to cut out the shape from the metal. It wasn’t pretty, but it was a start. Then came the fun part – polishing! I spent hours sanding and polishing the case to get it as smooth as possible. This part actually felt pretty relaxing, like seeing something come to life bit by bit. It’s not perfect, but hey, it’s my first try.
Hands and Dial
The dial was another challenge. The real one has this beautiful sunburst finish, which I definitely couldn’t replicate. I ended up using a simple black dial and tried to make it look as clean as possible. The hands were tricky too. I bought some generic watch hands and tried to modify them to look like the ones on the Golden Ellipse. It involved a lot of careful filing and shaping. They’re not an exact match, but they get the job done. I also found out that the serial number is usually on the back of the watch, which is helpful to know.
Putting It All Together
Assembling the watch was like putting together a tiny, complicated puzzle. I had to be super careful not to scratch anything or mess up the movement. I used a basic quartz movement for this project, ’cause let’s be real, I’m not making a mechanical masterpiece here. Getting the hands to align properly was a bit of a struggle, but I managed to get it done eventually.
- Getting the right materials without breaking the bank
- Shaping that darn elliptical case.
- Sanding and polishing, my new favorite zen activity.
- Making the dial and hands look somewhat decent.
- Putting the whole thing together without messing it up.
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it. My homemade Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse 5738R. It’s far from perfect, but I’m pretty proud of it. It actually tells time, which is a bonus! This whole project was a fun little adventure. It taught me a lot about watches and made me appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into these luxury pieces. Would I do it again? Maybe. But for now, I’m happy to admire my wonky, but charming, creation.
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