Man, I’ve been itching to get my hands on a Patek Philippe Gondolo 4962/200R-001 for the longest time. That watch is a real beauty. But the price tag? Forget about it! So, I decided to take matters into my own hands and remake it myself.
First, I spent hours online, just staring at pictures of the original. I needed to get every little detail right. The curved 18k rose gold case, that brown floral dial with Arabic numerals, the elegant brown strap – I wanted my remake to be spot on. Then I searched many words such as Patek Philippe Gondolo 4962/200R – Gondolo Brown Dial 18K Rose Gold 28.6 x 40.85 mm, Brand:Patek Philippe Model Gondolo Reference # 4962/200R-001 Case Size and Material 28mm / Rose Gold Bracelet Style and Material Brown Strap Dial Brown Floral Dial w/ Arabic Hour, 4962/200R-001 – Quartz 35,730.00 The Gondolo Serata and so on.
Next up was finding the materials. I managed to find a rose gold-plated case that was pretty close to the original’s shape and size. It wasn’t solid gold, but hey, I’m not made of money! For the dial, I found a similar brown one with a floral pattern. It wasn’t an exact match, but it had the same vibe, you know?
Now for the tricky part – the movement. I’m no watchmaker, so I opted for a simple quartz movement. I found one online that fit the case and got to work. Putting it all together was a real challenge. I had to be super careful not to scratch the case or mess up the dial. There were a few close calls, but I managed to pull it off. And I found a nice brown leather strap that looked pretty similar to the original.
Putting the watch together was like a puzzle. I started with the case, carefully placing the quartz movement inside. Then came the dial, which I had to align perfectly. Attaching the hands was the most nerve-wracking part – one wrong move and I could have ruined the whole thing. I have to be super careful not to scratch the case or mess up the dial. Finally, I attached the brown leather strap, and it was done!
The Result
- The case is rose gold-plated, not solid gold like the original.
- The dial is a similar brown with a floral pattern, but not an exact replica.
- I used a quartz movement instead of a fancy mechanical one.
- The strap is a regular brown leather one, not the special Patek Philippe one.
Finally, after all that work, my Patek Philippe Gondolo 4962/200R-001 remake was complete! It’s not perfect, but I’m really proud of it. It looks pretty darn close to the real deal, and it didn’t cost me a fortune. Plus, I learned a lot about watches in the process. Now I can wear my “Patek Philippe” with pride, knowing I made it myself. It’s a reminder that sometimes, you just gotta take things into your own hands and make your dreams a reality. Even if it’s just a dream about a fancy watch!
Oh, and about the serial numbers. The original Patek Philippe watches have these unique codes engraved on them, which tell you all sorts of things about the watch. I obviously couldn’t replicate that, but I did add a little “serial number” of my own on the back, just for fun. It’s a nice touch, I think. I engraved a made-up serial number on the back, just for show. It’s not a real Patek Philippe serial number, but it adds a bit of authenticity to the remake.
So, that’s the story of my Patek Philippe Gondolo 4962/200R-001 remake. It was a fun project, and I’m really happy with how it turned out. Maybe one day I’ll be able to afford the real thing, but for now, I’m more than happy with my homemade version.
Click to consult