Alright, so, I have been tinkering around with this watch remake project. The watch in question? A Patek Philippe Gondolo 4962/200R-001, one of those fancy pieces they only sell at specialty stores. Let me tell you, getting this project off the ground was no small feat.
I started by scouring the internet for any information I could find about this watch. I found some stuff on Chrono24, comparing deals and what not. They call it the “Gondolo Serata,” some jewelry watch that’s supposed to be all elegant and timeless. It’s got this Art Deco style case, which I thought was pretty neat.
Then, I found out this model is making a comeback in Patek Philippe’s current collection. I got the dimensions – 28.6 x 40.85 mm, and 7.36 mm thick. It’s water-resistant up to 30 meters, which is good to know, I guess.
Next, I had to figure out the materials. It seems the original is made of 18k rose gold. And the dial? Brown. Classy, but where do I get 18k rose gold? I had to dive deep into some local workshops that specialize in jewelry and custom pieces. After some back and forth, I managed to source some rose gold. Not cheap, but hey, it’s a Patek Philippe, even if it’s just my version of it.
Crafting the case was the most challenging part. The original’s got these smooth, curved lines. I spent hours, maybe days, just trying to get the shape right. I used some basic tools, nothing too fancy. I worked slowly, carefully shaping the gold, trying to mimic that Art Deco style the best I could.
For the dial, I got a piece of brown material that looked similar to the original. I had to cut it precisely to fit within the case. That took some patience, let me tell you. One slip and you’ve got to start all over.
Then there’s the movement. I decided not to go crazy trying to make my own. Instead, I sourced a decent quality movement that would fit the case. It’s not a Patek Philippe movement, obviously, but it does the job. Getting it to fit right within the case and aligned with the dial was another headache.
Here’s the breakdown of what I did:
- Sourced Materials: Found some 18k rose gold from a local workshop. Got some brown material for the dial.
- Shaped the Case: Carefully crafted the rose gold into that distinct Gondolo shape. Lots of trial and error.
- Cut the Dial: Measured and cut the brown material to fit perfectly within the case.
- Installed the Movement: Got a compatible movement and fit it into the case.
After weeks of work, I finally had something that resembled the Patek Philippe Gondolo 4962/200R-001. It’s not perfect, of course. There are some imperfections here and there. But considering I’m just a regular guy with a passion for watches, I’m pretty proud of what I accomplished. It looks good on my wrist, and honestly, that’s what matters most to me. This project was a real test of patience and craftsmanship. I learned a lot along the way. Would I do it again? Maybe, but I’d probably need a good long break before tackling another watch like this!
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