Okay, so I was scrolling through some watch forums the other day, just killing time, and I stumbled upon this thread about the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711. You know, the one that’s, like, stupidly expensive and impossible to get at retail? Yeah, that one. It got me thinking, “What if I could just… make my own?”
So, that’s how this whole crazy project started. I’m not a watchmaker, not even close. But I’m pretty handy, and I figured, how hard could it be? Turns out, pretty damn hard. But I was already hooked on the idea.
First, I spent hours, days even, just looking at pictures of the 5711. I studied every angle, every detail. I downloaded every high-resolution image I could find. I even found some blueprints online, though I’m not sure how legit they were. But hey, it was a start.
Next, I had to figure out the materials. The real 5711 is made of stainless steel, but not just any stainless steel. It’s some fancy alloy that’s super hard and corrosion-resistant. I did a bunch of research and settled on 316L stainless steel. It’s not the exact same, but it’s close enough, and it’s what a lot of decent watches are made of.
Then came the movement. This was the trickiest part. I’m not about to make my own watch movement from scratch. I’m not that crazy. So, I decided to source a pre-made movement. I found a decent automatic movement online. It’s not a Patek movement, obviously, but it’s reliable, and it keeps good time.
Now, the fun part: making the case. I started by creating a 3D model on my computer. I used the blueprints I found, and the images I studied as a reference. Once I was happy with the model, I sent it off to a CNC machining shop. They milled the case out of a block of 316L stainless steel. The process of waiting was just a torture for me. I called them several times a day to make sure they were making my case.
While I was waiting for the case, I started working on the dial. I wanted it to look as close to the original as possible, so I spent a lot of time experimenting with different techniques. Finally, I found a solution to make it. Then I printed it and applied it to a thin sheet of brass. The same way goes to the hands, too. I ordered some hands that looked similar to the 5711 hands, and I modified them slightly to fit the movement.
Finally, the case arrived. It was beautiful. I assembled everything and installed it into the case. It was a tight fit, but it worked. It worked! I couldn’t believe it. I actually made a watch! At that moment, all the hard work was worth it.
Result
It’s not perfect, of course. It’s not a real Patek Philippe. But it’s my Patek Philippe. And I made it myself. And that’s pretty damn cool, if I do say so myself. And I’m really proud of what I’ve accomplished. It’s not just a watch; it’s a testament to what you can achieve with a little bit of determination, a lot of patience, and a healthy dose of stubbornness.
- First try: Failed, the dial was totally wrong.
- Second try: Failed, the case was not polished well.
- Third try: Almost, the hands were too long.
- Fourth try: It’s alive!
So, that’s my story. Hope you enjoyed it. Maybe it’ll inspire you to try something crazy yourself. Who knows what you might create?
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