Okay, so, I got this itch to mess around with watches, right? I’ve always been into them, but never really did anything about it. So, I decided to jump in and try to remake a Patek Philippe Calatrava 5227G-010, the original order. Sounds fancy, huh? It kinda is, but trust me, it was a wild ride.
Getting Started
First, I started digging around online. Found out this watch is a big deal – white gold, automatic, has a date thing, the whole nine yards. It’s like, 28 grand or something crazy like that. I saw some mentions of this watch being sold at Sotheby’s and JOMASHOP. And I was like,”no way I can do this!” But I kept reading, and seeing those prices, I knew I had to at least try to see how close I could get, you know?
Gathering Intel
So, I kept digging. I found some stuff about the Nautilus 5811/1G, which is like, the Calatrava’s cooler cousin, I guess. Apparently, a version of that went for like 6.5 million dollars! I found out about the watch diameter is 39mm and thickness is 3.3mm. I was reading about all these different Calatrava watches, and how people collect them. It was all pretty overwhelming, but I was getting the hang of it, slowly but surely.
The Real Work Begins
I started by trying to find parts. I was looking for anything that looked like it belonged in a fancy watch. I hit up some online stores, maybe some less-than-official ones, looking for white gold cases, gears, you name it. I even tried to understand how that date thing works. Man, it was tough. I spent hours just staring at pictures of the watch, trying to figure out how it all fit together. And let me tell you, it’s a lot more complicated than it looks.
Trial and Error
Then came the fun part – putting it all together. I had my little tools, my magnifying glass (yeah, I went full watchmaker mode), and a whole lot of patience. I started with the case, trying to get the movement, which is like the heart of the watch, to fit just right. It was a lot of trial and error. I messed up a bunch of times, got frustrated, almost threw the whole thing out the window. But I kept at it.
Tiny Victories
Slowly, I started making progress. I got the movement in, managed to attach the hands without bending them (which is harder than it sounds), and even got that little date window working. Every little victory felt huge. It was like, “Yeah, I’m actually doing this!”
The Final Stretch
The last part was the strap. I found a decent leather one that looked pretty close to the original. Putting it on was a bit tricky, but I managed. And then, there it was – my very own, somewhat janky, version of the Patek Philippe Calatrava 5227G-010.
The Result
Does it look exactly like the real thing? Nope. Is it perfect? Definitely not. But did I have a blast making it? Absolutely. It’s not about the end result, it’s about the journey, right? Plus, I learned a ton about watches, and I have a cool, one-of-a-kind piece to show for it. And hey, maybe I saved myself like, 28 grand in the process. Not bad for a first try, if I do say so myself.
- Would I do it again? Maybe.
- Would I recommend it? If you’re patient and don’t mind a challenge, sure.
- But be warned, it’s not as easy as those fancy watchmakers make it look!
Anyway, that’s my little watch adventure. Hope you enjoyed the ride. Maybe I’ll try another one soon. Who knows?
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