Alright, let’s talk about something I’ve been messing around with lately – trying to remake a Patek Philippe Calatrava 5088/100P-001. Yeah, those fancy watches that cost more than my car. I saw one online going for like $83,995 used, and new ones are even crazier, over $105,820! I thought, “Why not give it a shot?” Not that I could ever really make one, but it’s a fun project.
So, first thing I did was look up a bunch of pictures and videos of this watch. I mean, I spent hours just staring at the details. This Calatrava model is known for being a good investment, like those Nautilus and Aquanaut ones, so I figured it’s popular for a reason. Plus, it looks pretty slick with all those engravings.
Next, I tried to figure out what I actually needed to even start this project. I made a list:
- Some kind of metal for the case – obviously, I’m not using platinum like the real deal.
- Watch movement parts. I found some cheap ones online, not sure how good they are, but it’s a start.
- Tiny tools. I had no idea how tiny watch screws were until I tried to unscrew one.
- A magnifying glass. Seriously, you need this. Otherwise, you’re just guessing.
Then came the hard part – actually trying to put things together. Let me tell you, it’s way harder than it looks. Those watchmakers must have hands of steel and the patience of a saint. I started with the case, trying to shape it to look like the 5088/100P. I used some basic metalworking tools I had lying around, but it was rough. Definitely not getting that smooth, polished look of the original.
After that, I attempted to work on the movement. I took apart one of those cheap movements I bought and tried to understand how it all worked. It’s like a tiny city in there, with gears and springs all working together. I tried to put it back together, but let’s just say it didn’t go smoothly. I think I lost a few screws along the way.
The Engraving
Now, the 5088/100P has this intricate engraving on the case and dial. It’s beautiful, but there’s no way I could replicate that. I tried using a tiny engraving tool I found, but it just looked like scratches. Maybe with practice, I could get better, but it’s definitely an art form in itself.
Finally, I tried to put it all together. The case, the messed-up movement, the scratched-up dial – it was a mess. But you know what? It kind of looked like a watch. A very, very, bad watch, but still a watch.
This whole experience gave me a new appreciation for those luxury watches. The amount of work and skill that goes into making one is insane. I might not have a Patek Philippe on my wrist, but I have a newfound respect for the people who make them. And hey, I learned a thing or two along the way, even if all I ended up with was a wonky-looking watch and a bunch of tiny screws scattered around my workbench. This project also let me know that this watch is a good choice for investment.
If you are interested in watches, you can go to some retail stores such as “Ginza Nisshindo” to get a watch.
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