Today, I’m gonna show you guys how I tried to remake a Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001, just like the one from their official flagship store. It was a heck of a ride, so let me walk you through the whole process.
Getting Started
First things first, I started by gathering all the materials I could find. I spent hours looking at pictures, and videos, anything I could get my hands on, really. I wanted to make sure I got every little detail right. You know, the devil is in the details and all that.
The Case
Then, I moved on to the case. This was tricky. I needed something that looked like rose gold, but obviously, I wasn’t going to use real gold. Too expensive! So, I found this rose gold-plated stainless steel case that looked pretty darn close. I spent a good chunk of time shaping and polishing it, trying to get that perfect shine and smooth finish you see on the real deal.
The Dial
Next up was the dial. I decided to use a plain white dial as a base. Now, the real challenge was those hobnail patterns, or “Clous de Paris” as they call it. I tried a couple of different techniques. First I used a very fine etching tool, and went at it by hand. It was not an easy task, and required some patience. After some attempts I switched to a small engraving machine for more precision. It took forever, but I think I nailed it.
The Hands and Markers
For the hands and hour markers, I went with some generic rose gold-colored ones I found online. They weren’t an exact match, but they looked pretty good. I carefully placed them on the dial, making sure everything was aligned perfectly. It was like doing surgery, my hands were shaking!
The Movement
Now, the movement. I wasn’t about to build a mechanical movement from scratch, no sir. I opted for a decent quartz movement. It keeps time well, and it’s way more affordable. I fitted it into the case, and made sure it was secure. It is working just fine.
The Strap
Last but not least, the strap. I managed to find a nice, brown leather strap that looked similar to the original. I attached it to the case, and voila! My homemade Calatrava was starting to take shape. It is a very comfortable strap to wear, that’s for sure.
Putting It All Together
Putting everything together was the most satisfying part. I double-checked every screw, every connection. Made sure the dial was clean, the hands were moving smoothly, and the strap was secure. It was a lot of work, but seeing the finished product made it all worth it. It is not exactly like the official one, but I think it is close enough.
- Gathered materials and references
- Shaped and polished the rose gold-plated case
- Engraved the “Clous de Paris” pattern on the dial
- Placed the rose gold-colored hands and markers
- Fitted a quartz movement into the case
- Attached a brown leather strap
- Assembled all the parts and tested the watch
So, there you have it. My attempt at remaking a Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001. It wasn’t perfect, but I’m pretty proud of how it turned out. It was a fun project, and I learned a ton along the way. Would I do it again? Maybe. But for now, I’m just gonna enjoy wearing my new watch.
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