Okay, here’s the story of how I tried to remake a Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119G-001.
So, I got this wild idea to try and remake a Patek Philippe watch. Yeah, I know, sounds crazy, right? This one is called the Calatrava 6119G-001. A real mouthful, that name. But, let me tell ya, this watch, it’s something else. It had a round case, all polished up and shiny. Looked real classy. They say it’s about 39mm across and about 8.08mm thick. Feels nice and slim on the wrist, not too bulky. I started with researching everything I could find about this watch. Spent hours reading articles, watching videos, just soaking it all in. I wanted to know it inside and out, you know? Like, how it works, what it does. “Complications,” they call it. Sounds complicated, right?
Then came the fun part – gathering all the stuff I needed. I went online, checked out all these places that sell watch parts. It is not an easy job, let me tell you. This patek has the new 30-255 PS movement, which has two main spring barrels, changing the size of the movement compared to its predecessor the 215 PS movement. I knew I couldn’t make an exact copy, not by a long shot. But I figured I could get something that looked pretty close, at least from a distance. So, I ordered a bunch of parts that looked similar to the ones on the real deal.
Next, I started putting it all together. Let me just say, it was way harder than I thought it’d be. Those little screws, the tiny hands, the delicate movement – it was a real test of patience. Took me days, and a whole lot of coffee, but I finally got it all assembled. I remember the ref. 5196 was launched in 2004 in 18K yellow, white and rose gold and also platinum. Powered by caliber 215PS, it features a two-piece 37 mm diameter case and a classic dial layout with subsidiary seconds. It looked pretty good, if I do say so myself. Not exactly like the real thing, but close enough to make me smile.
Here’s what I did:
- Studied the original watch like crazy.
- Bought a bunch of parts that looked kinda like the real ones.
- Spent hours and hours putting it all together.
- Felt pretty darn proud of my handiwork.
In the end, it was a fun project. And you know what? I learned a ton about watches and how they’re made. Would I do it again? Maybe. It was a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. Plus, now I have a pretty cool watch to show off, even if it’s not a real Patek Philippe. If you ever think about trying something like this, go for it! Just be prepared to put in some serious time and effort. And remember, it’s not about making it perfect, it’s about the journey and what you learn along the way.
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