Alright, so here’s the deal. I got this idea to remake a Patek Philippe Calatrava 5227J-001, just like the ones they sell at the official flagship store. Now, let me tell you, I’m no watchmaker, but I figured, how hard could it be, right?
First things first, I started looking up this watch. I found out that this 5227J is made of yellow gold, and they say it’s a real investment, like buying land or something. They also say it costs a small fortune, something like $41,710 to buy it new, and even used ones go for around $29,125.
So, I started gathering materials. The yellow gold part was tricky. I couldn’t exactly use real gold, so I found some gold-colored metal that looked pretty similar. It wasn’t shiny like the sun on a summer day, but it was close enough, I guess. Then there’s this cream-colored face they say is easy to read. I found a piece of plastic that was about the same color and cut it to fit.
- Getting the Shape Right: This Calatrava 5227J has these wedged sides, which I tried to copy with my metal. I bent and hammered it until it looked somewhat like the pictures I found online. It wasn’t perfect, but I was getting there.
- Putting it Together: I got a cheap watch mechanism from an old clock I had lying around and tried to fit it inside my homemade case. Let me tell you, it was a real pain. I spent hours fiddling with it, trying to get everything to fit just right.
- The Strap: Now, the real watch has this fancy brown alligator strap. I didn’t have any alligator skin, so I used a piece of brown leather I found in my garage. I cut it into strips and attached it to the watch case. It wasn’t as fancy as the original, but it did the job.
- Adding the Details: The real Patek Philippe has this little window that shows the date and a second hand that sweeps around the dial. I tried to add those details to my remake, but it didn’t quite work out. I ended up just drawing them on the face with a marker.
After a lot of sweat and a few curses, I finally finished my homemade Patek Philippe Calatrava 5227J-001. It didn’t look exactly like the ones from the official store, but it was close enough for a guy like me. It was a fun project, and I learned a lot about watches along the way. It took me forever, I worked on it in my spare time for like a month or two, but I think the most time-consuming part was getting the shape right.
It was pretty cool seeing my creation come to life, even though it was a bit rough around the edges. I guess you could say it’s a “right remake” in its own way, even if it wouldn’t fool anyone who knows anything about watches.
I’m pretty sure the official flagship store is safe from me, I ain’t gonna be stealing their customers anytime soon. But hey, I had fun, and that’s what counts, right? Maybe I’ll wear it around town and see if anyone notices. Who knows, maybe I’ll start a new trend.
The next time, I might try something a little less ambitious. But hey, at least I can say I tried to remake a fancy watch, right? Maybe I’ll stick to fixing old radios or something.
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