Okay, so I wanted to share my latest project – trying to remake the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711. I know, I know, it’s a pretty ambitious goal, but I was up for the challenge. This watch is a legend, and getting my hands on a real one? Forget about it, there’s like an eight-year waiting list, and the price? Through the roof!
I started by doing a ton of research. I mean, I was going through forums like RepTime where I find that people were saying “no” to the possibility of it being replicated due to the thickness, and I was looking at pictures, videos, anything I could find to get a good sense of the watch. The design of this thing is iconic, so I wanted to make sure I had all the details right.
Here’s what I did:
- Gathering References: I spent hours, maybe even days, just looking at pictures and videos of the 5711. I wanted to see every angle, every detail. I even found some discussions online about people trying to replicate it, which was super helpful.
- Sourcing Parts: This was tricky. I knew I couldn’t get the exact same parts as the real thing, but I wanted to find stuff that was as close as possible. I ended up ordering parts from all over the place.
- The Dial: The blue dial on the 5711 is a big part of what makes it special. I found a dial that was a pretty close match, and I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. I even have a 5811 and a blue dial 5711 to compare it to, and it holds up pretty well.
- Assembly: Putting it all together was the most challenging part. I had to be super careful, and there were definitely some moments where I thought I was going to mess it up. But I took my time, and eventually, it all came together.
Did I succeed?
Well, it’s not perfect. It’s definitely thicker than the real 5711, like the online forum people said it will be. But for a homemade remake, I’m pretty proud of it. It’s got the look and feel of the Nautilus, and it’s definitely a conversation starter. Plus, I learned a ton about watches and how they’re put together, which was cool.
It is a collector’s dream after all, and I’m one of them.
So, yeah, that’s my story of trying to remake the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711. It was a fun project, and I’m glad I gave it a shot. If anyone else out there is thinking about trying something like this, I’d say go for it! Just be prepared to put in some time and effort, and don’t expect it to be easy. The feeling of accomplishment when you see your watch come together is unbeatable.
I’ve noticed that in 2021, Patek Philippe discontinued the 5711/1A-010. Crazy, right? The watch with an eight-year waiting list! I guess that makes my little project even more special.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed reading about my experience. Let me know if you have any questions!
Click to consult