Okay, so, I’ve been messing around with watches for a while now, and let me tell you, the Patek Philippe Nautilus, it’s like the holy grail for us watch nerds. I mean, the 5722, that white gold and diamond-set beauty with the date, moon phases, and power reserve indicator—it’s just chef’s kiss. But, you know, it’s way out of my league, price-wise. So, I thought, “Why not try to make my own version?”
First things first, I started digging around for info. I spent hours online, just soaking up everything I could find about the Nautilus 5722. I looked at pictures, read articles, and even tried to find some blueprints, which was a real pain, by the way. There are some Bamford remakes of the 5711, but I really wanted to do the 5722. Anyway, after a while, I felt like I had a pretty good handle on the design and what I was getting myself into.
Next, I had to figure out what I was going to use to actually make this thing. I knew I wanted it to look legit, so I started looking for a base watch that had a similar shape and size to the 5722. I ended up finding a decent-looking watch online that I thought I could work with. Then came the fun part: diamonds. Well, not real ones, obviously. I got some good-quality cubic zirconia that would give me that bling without breaking the bank.
- Sourcing the base watch: This took a while, comparing sizes, shapes, and movements until I found one that felt right.
- Finding the “diamonds”: I went through a few different online stores before settling on some cubic zirconia that looked like they could pass for the real deal, at least from a distance.
- Gathering tools: I already had some basic watchmaking tools, but I needed a few specialized ones for setting the stones and working with the smaller parts. A trip to the local hobby store fixed that.
Now, for the actual work. I started by taking apart the base watch, which was pretty nerve-wracking. I was so scared of breaking something, but I took it slow and managed to get it all apart without any major disasters. I then started to sketch out where the diamonds would go. Getting this right was crucial because the 5722 has a very specific pattern. After a few tries, I was pretty happy with my layout.
Setting the stones was probably the hardest part. It took forever, and my eyes were definitely hurting by the end of it. But, after a lot of patience and a few choice words, I managed to get them all in. I also replaced the original dial with a custom one I had made, trying to mimic that iconic Nautilus look. Let me tell you, getting the font and color just right was a real challenge.
Finally, I put everything back together, which was just as stressful as taking it apart. I held my breath as I placed the movement back in and closed up the case. And… it worked! The hands moved, the date changed, it was actually ticking away. I couldn’t believe it.
The Final Result
After weeks of work, I finally had my own “Patek Philippe Nautilus 5722”. It wasn’t perfect, and it definitely wasn’t the real thing, but I was pretty proud of it. It looked surprisingly good, if I do say so myself. Of course, any watch expert would be able to tell it’s a fake in a second, but to the untrained eye, it was pretty convincing. I even wore it out a few times, and no one seemed to notice anything unusual. This whole project was a real learning experience, and it gave me a whole new appreciation for the craftsmanship that goes into these high-end watches.
In the end, I had a blast with this project. I got to use my hands and create something pretty cool. Plus, I learned a lot about watches and myself along the way. Would I do it again? Maybe. It was a lot of work, but it was also a lot of fun. If you’re thinking about trying something like this, I say go for it. Just be prepared to get your hands dirty and maybe curse a little. But, hey, that’s all part of the fun, right?
Click to consult