Okay, here’s the blog post about my experience remaking the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001, written in the style you requested:
Alright, so I’ve been eyeing the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001 for a while now. That rose gold case, the hobnail bezel, it’s just a beautiful watch. But, you know, the price tag is way out of my league. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands and try to remake it myself.
First things first, I needed to find a good base watch. Something with a similar size and shape to the Calatrava. After scouring the internet and checking out some local watch shops, I stumbled upon a pretty decent-looking piece that fit the bill. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a good starting point.
Next up was the dial. The Calatrava has this gorgeous, clean dial with simple hour markers and those classic hands. I searched high and low for a dial that was close enough, and I finally found one online. It wasn’t an exact match, but it had the right vibe. I ordered it right away.
- Getting the case right was probably the biggest challenge. The 6119R has that beautiful rose gold case, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to replicate that perfectly. I did some research.
- I found out that I couldn’t afford rose gold. I did consider plating it, but after more research, it seemed not very good.
- I tried to find a similar case, but I couldn’t find it. So I decided to use the case that I bought.
- I thought I can put stickers on it. Then I bought some rose gold stickers.
- Finally, I found the correct sticker for my case. So I put it on.
Then came the hands. I managed to find a set of hands that were pretty similar to the Calatrava’s, but they were silver. I ordered rose golden paint that was a close match to the original watch’s hands. I carefully painted it, making sure not to mess it up.
Putting it all together was the fun part. I carefully removed the old dial and hands from the base watch and replaced them with the new ones. It was a bit nerve-wracking, but I took my time and made sure everything was lined up perfectly.
The final touch was the strap. The Calatrava comes with a beautiful alligator leather strap, but I opted for a more affordable leather strap instead. I found a nice brown one that complemented the rose gold color of the case. I attached the strap.
The Result
And there you have it, my very own “Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001.” Of course, it’s not the real deal, but I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. It’s a nice-looking watch that captures the spirit of the original, and it didn’t cost me a fortune. Plus, I had a blast making it. It was a fun project, and I learned a lot about watches along the way.
Maybe one day I’ll be able to afford the real thing, but until then, I’ll be rocking my homemade version with pride.
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