Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to share this for a while now, and today’s the day. It’s about how I went about remaking the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711, that super iconic watch everyone’s drooling over. Let me tell you, it was a journey!
It all started with an obsession, really. I mean, who doesn’t love the Nautilus 5711? That blue dial, the sleek design… it’s a masterpiece. But, let’s be real, getting your hands on a real one? Close to impossible, and even if you could, the price tag is just insane. That’s when the idea hit me: Why not try to remake it myself? I’m no watchmaker, but I’m pretty handy and I love a good challenge.
First things first, I needed to understand the watch inside and out. I spent hours, days even, just looking at pictures, reading articles, anything I could find about the 5711. I focused a lot on the movement, the Calibre 324 SC. It’s an automatic movement, which means it winds itself with the movement of your wrist. Pretty cool, right? I also studied the case, the bracelet, every little detail. The goal was to replicate it as closely as possible, at least in terms of looks.
Then came the hard part: actually making the thing. I started with the case. I found some decent stainless steel and got to work, shaping it to match the Nautilus’s unique octagonal bezel. It wasn’t easy, and I messed up a few times, but I kept at it. The bracelet was another beast altogether. Each link had to be carefully crafted and polished. I used some basic tools for this process, I could buy from the hardware shop.
- The first step is shaping the case.
- I found some decent stainless steel and shaped it to match the Nautilus’s unique octagonal bezel.
- And then, making the bracelet.
- Each link had to be carefully crafted and polished.
The dial was probably the most challenging part. I wanted to get that signature blue color just right. After a lot of experimenting, I finally found a paint that was a pretty close match. I carefully painted the dial, added the hour markers, and the Patek Philippe logo. It was tedious work, but seeing it all come together was so satisfying.
For the movement, I knew I couldn’t replicate the Calibre 324 SC. That’s some serious watchmaking magic right there. Instead, I opted for a readily available automatic movement. It’s not a Patek movement, but it gets the job done and keeps the watch ticking.
Final
After months of work, I finally had my own version of the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711. It’s not perfect, of course. There are imperfections here and there, and it’s definitely not a genuine Patek. But, it’s something I made with my own two hands, and that’s pretty special to me. Plus, it looks damn good on my wrist, if I do say so myself. And it only cost me around $1500 from start to finish. I felt very happy and satisfied with what I achieved! This whole experience taught me a lot about watches, about craftsmanship, and about the value of perseverance. And who knows, maybe one day I’ll actually get my hands on a real 5711. But until then, I’m more than happy with my homemade version.
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