Alright, folks, gather ’round, gather ’round! Today, I’m gonna share my little adventure trying to remake that fancy Patek Philippe Calatrava 5088/100P-001, the “original order” one. Yeah, that’s the one.
Got my tools ready, my workspace all set, and a whole lotta patience. First things first, I studied that watch like it was the back of my hand. Every curve, every detail, I soaked it all in. You gotta know your stuff before you even think about touching a screwdriver, you know?
Then, I started with the case. Finding the right material was a bit of a headache, not gonna lie. I went through a few options, trying to match that, I don’t know, that “expensive” feel of the original, you get me? Finally settled on something that felt pretty darn close.
- Polished it up real nice.
- Felt it.
- Compared it.
Next up was the dial. Oh boy, the dial. That intricate design, it’s a real piece of work. I tried a few different techniques, printing, engraving, you name it. It was tough, not gonna sugarcoat it. A lot of trial and error, a lot of scrapped pieces. But hey, that’s part of the fun, right? Eventually, I managed to get something that looked halfway decent, something I was kinda proud of.
Movement Time
Now, the movement. That’s the heart of the watch, the thing that makes it tick. I knew I couldn’t replicate the original, not exactly anyway. But I found a movement that was similar enough, and I started tinkering. Taking it apart, putting it back together, oiling it up, you know, the whole nine yards.
Putting it all together was like solving a puzzle, a really, really complicated puzzle. Each piece had to fit just right, or the whole thing would be off. I spent hours, days even, just making sure everything was aligned, everything was working like it should.
And finally, after all that work, after all that sweat and maybe a few tears, I had something that resembled that fancy Patek Philippe Calatrava. It wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot. But it was mine, something I made with my own two hands. And you know what? That’s something special, something you can’t buy in a store.
So, there you have it. My little journey into the world of watchmaking. It was a challenge, it was frustrating at times, but it was also a whole lot of fun. And who knows, maybe I’ll try my hand at another one someday. But for now, I’m gonna enjoy this one, flaws and all.
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