Okay, so, I gotta tell you about this little project I did. I tried to remake a Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100G-010, you know, the kind you see in those super fancy official stores. This was not simple, but I gave it a shot.
First off, I started by gathering all the stuff I needed. This watch, it’s not just any watch. It’s got an 18k white gold case, which is about 31mm by 34.8mm. And diamonds, oh boy, the bezel and lugs are just covered in them. It’s pretty insane. I used 316 stainless steel for the body. I know, it’s not gold, but it’s pretty darn close in looks, and way more friendly on the wallet.
- Gathering Materials: Got myself some good quality 316 stainless steel. Needed something to mimic that white gold look, you see.
- Shaping the Case: This was tough. I had to get those dimensions right, 31mm by 34.8mm. Used some tools to cut and shape the steel. It was a slow process, but I think I nailed it.
- The Bezel: Oh man, the bezel. I got this fluted, bidirectional rotatable ring. It looks pretty close to the real deal, and it’s a nice touch.
Then came the tricky part, the diamonds. I obviously couldn’t use real diamonds, so I found these really shiny, small crystals. They are not diamonds, but they give a similar sparkle. I spent hours, and I mean hours, setting them into the bezel and the lugs. It was delicate work. I used a magnifying glass and some really tiny tools. My back hurt, my eyes were tired, but I kept going.
The dial was another challenge. I went for a bright black dial. It looks good and contrasts nicely with the shiny steel and those crystals. It was tricky to get it perfectly centered and clean, but I managed.
Putting it all together, I used a manually winding mechanical movement. It’s not the same as the original, but it keeps time, and that’s what matters, right? Assembling everything was like putting together a very complicated puzzle. But when I finally saw the finished watch, it was all worth it.
The final product? It’s pretty amazing, if I do say so myself. It looks like a million bucks, well, maybe not a million, but definitely expensive. It’s got that classy Patek Philippe vibe, with the rectangular case and all those sparkly bits.
The End Result
It’s not perfect, but it’s my little creation. I wore it out once, and people were looking. Some even asked where I got it. I just smiled and said it was a special piece. Inside, I was pretty proud. I made this! It’s a bit rough around the edges, but it’s mine. And honestly, it was a ton of fun to make. I learned a lot, and that’s what really matters, right?
So, there you have it. My adventure in trying to recreate a super fancy watch. It’s not something I’d do every day, but it was a cool experience. If you ever get a chance to try something like this, I say go for it. Just be prepared for a lot of work and a few headaches along the way. But in the end, you might just surprise yourself with what you can achieve.
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