So, recently I’ve been really into watches, you know, the fancy kind. And I got this crazy idea to try and remake one myself. Not just any watch, though – a Patek Philippe. Yeah, I know, pretty ambitious, right? I decided to go for the Calatrava 6119R-001, a real beauty. It’s a simple, round wristwatch, but it’s just so elegant. I felt like I should give it a try and make one for myself.
First things first, I needed to figure out what I was getting myself into. I started by looking up everything I could find about the Calatrava 6119R-001. I read a bunch of stuff on the Patek Philippe website, checked out some forums, and even watched a few videos. That’s when I noticed that the president of the watchmaker, mentioned how they made it have square elements, which is interesting, I thought.
- Gathering Intel: I dug up pictures, articles, and anything else that could give me a better idea of the watch’s design and how it’s made.
- Planning it Out: I sketched out what I thought the watch should look like, trying to copy the Calatrava’s style.
Then came the fun part – getting the materials. I’m not made of money, so I couldn’t exactly get the same stuff they use for the real deal. But I found some decent alternatives that wouldn’t break the bank. And I remember that the website mentions “chiming watches” which made me think that I might want to add that feature in the future. Not right now, though.
- Sourcing Materials: I hit up some online stores and found a rose gold-like material for the case, a nice leather strap, and a simple watch movement.
Next up, putting it all together. This was the trickiest part, no doubt. I had to be super careful and patient, which, let me tell you, is not my strong suit. But, hey, I was determined. I started with the case, then moved on to the dial and hands. I learned that the “pure lines” of the Calatrava are its main feature, according to some website. This made me focus on making everything as clean as possible.
- Assembling the Watch: I carefully put the watch together, piece by piece. It was like a puzzle, but way more satisfying.
After a lot of trial and error, and a few moments where I almost gave up, I finally had something that resembled the Calatrava 6119R-001. It wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot, but it was mine. I even managed to get the hands moving, which felt like a huge accomplishment. I also found out that there are new models coming out in 2024, like the 5268/461G-001 and 5738/1R-001, which got me excited about possibly trying those in the future.
- Admiring My Work: I took a step back and looked at what I had made. It was a pretty cool feeling, seeing something I had built with my own hands.
The Result
In the end, I learned a ton about watches, and even more about my own patience (or lack thereof). Would I do it again? Maybe. It was a lot of work, but there’s something really special about wearing a watch that you’ve made yourself. It’s not a Patek Philippe, but it’s my Patek Philippe, and that’s pretty awesome.
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