Alright, so I’ve been itching to get my hands on this Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001 for a while now. I mean, I heard all the buzz, saw those shiny pictures online, and thought, “I gotta try remaking that.” It’s not every day you see a watch that just screams class like this one, right?
First things first, I did a bit of digging. This ain’t your average watch; it’s a Patek Philippe. And this specific model, the Calatrava 6119R-001, apparently it’s a big deal. Found out it’s got a 39mm diameter and is about 8.08mm thick. Not too shabby. And get this, it’s water-resistant up to 30 meters. Not that I’d go swimming with it, but it’s good to know, I guess. Also, it’s got a sapphire crystal case back, which sounds pretty fancy.
Now, I tried to find one of these beauties in person. Went down to some fancy watch stores, and let me tell you, the price tag on these things is insane! We’re talking about $35,000, $37,000, and even more for this specific model. I mean, who has that kind of cash just lying around? It’s like they say, the average Patek Philippe watch goes for around $24,000 on the secondary market, but this one is way above average.
So, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I started by gathering all the materials I could find that looked similar to the ones used in the original. The rose gold, the leather strap, the works. It wasn’t easy, and it definitely wasn’t cheap. But hey, I was committed.
The Process
- Started with the case. I found a decent rose gold-plated case that was about the right size. It wasn’t the real deal, but it had the look.
- Then came the dial. This was tricky. I had to get the color and the texture just right. Took a few tries, but I think I nailed it.
- The hands and the hour markers were a real pain. So small and delicate. But with a steady hand and a lot of patience, I managed to make them look pretty close to the original.
- Assembling everything was like putting together a tiny, intricate puzzle. One wrong move and you could mess up the whole thing. But I took my time, followed the steps I mapped out, and slowly but surely, it all came together.
After hours of work, a few failed attempts, and a lot of coffee, I finally had my own version of the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001. It’s not perfect, and it’s definitely not a real Patek Philippe, but it’s mine. And you know what? It looks pretty darn good. I’ve been wearing it around, and people actually ask me about it. They think it’s the real deal!
This whole project was a wild ride. It taught me a lot about watches, about craftsmanship, and about patience. Would I do it again? Maybe. Would I recommend it? Only if you’re as crazy as I am. But hey, if you’re up for a challenge and want a taste of the luxury watch life without breaking the bank, this might just be the project for you.
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