Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to get my hands on a Patek Philippe Calatrava for a while now. The design, the craftsmanship, it’s just… chef’s kiss. But, let’s be real, the price tag is a little out of my league right now. So, I figured, why not try to make one myself? I mean, how hard could it be, right? (Spoiler alert: it was pretty hard.)
I started this whole project by just staring at pictures of the 6119G-001. Lots of pictures. I wanted to really get a feel for the watch, you know? The way the light hits the dial, the shape of the hands, the little details on the bezel. I studied it a long time. I spent a lot of time just looking at it on my computer screen.
Next, I needed parts. I found some on the internet. It took a few days to find what I needed. And it wasn’t easy to find. I had to use different search words to find what I needed. I finally got them all and after a long wait they finally showed up at my door.
Getting Down to Business
First, I laid out all the tools. Screwdrivers, tweezers, a loupe, the whole nine yards. It’s kind of like preparing for surgery, but for a watch. I spent a lot of time at the table and put everything in place.
Then came the hard part – putting it all together. I took my time, making sure everything was aligned perfectly. There were a couple of moments where I thought I’d messed it up completely, like when I almost lost a tiny screw. But I kept at it, following the pictures and some guides I found online.
I really wanted that classic look, so I went with a simple white dial and those beautiful Clous de Paris hobnail pattern on the bezel. It is not easy to make it. I had to try several times and wasted some materials before I got it right. I wanted to recreate the hands as closely as possible, but man, those things are delicate. I had to make some adjustments to make them fit properly. And I messed up a lot at first. Then I tried it again and again.
Assembling the movement was a whole other beast. So many tiny parts! It took me two days to put it together. I was so happy when I finally got it ticking. It felt like a real accomplishment.
The Final Touches
Once the movement was in, I carefully placed the dial and hands. This part was super nerve-wracking. One wrong move and you could scratch the dial or bend a hand. Then I carefully put everything together. It took all afternoon just for this part. Finally, I put the finished dial and hands together.
Finally, I attached the strap. I chose a nice, simple black leather one. I think it complements the watch perfectly. I attached it to the watch, and then I was done!
The whole process took me about a week, working on it a few hours each day. And you know what? It was totally worth it. Sure, it’s not a real Patek Philippe, but it’s mine. I made it with my own two hands. And that’s pretty cool, if you ask me. It looks really good! I am very happy about this.
- Started: Gathered images and studied the design of the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119G-001.
- Sourced: Looked for and bought the parts I needed.
- Prepped: Assembled tools and organized the workspace.
- Assembled: Put together the watch movement.
- Detailed: Worked on the dial and hands, focusing on the classic look.
- Finished: Attached the strap to complete the watch.
I wear it around sometimes, and I always get compliments on it. People are surprised when I tell them I made it myself. It’s a great conversation starter! I might try making other watches in the future. This was a lot of fun, even though it was challenging.
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