Okay, here is my sharing about how I remade the Patek Philippe PP Calatrava 6119G-001 for specialty stores:
It all started when I saw that Patek Philippe brought back the famous Calatrava with the “Clous de Paris” thing on the bezel. I was like, “Man, I gotta get my hands on that.” But, you know, these watches are not exactly cheap. So, I thought, why not try to make one myself? Challenge accepted!
First things first, I needed to study the watch. I found some info online about the Calatrava 6119G-001. It’s an 18k white gold case with a manual wind Patek Philippe caliber 30-255 PS movement. The latest model in 2024 has a charcoal gray dial, and it’s 39mm. Pretty slick, huh?
Then, I started gathering materials. I couldn’t afford real 18k white gold, obviously, so I opted for a more budget-friendly alternative. I found a decent white gold-plated case that looked pretty similar. For the movement, I had to get creative. I took apart an old watch I had lying around and started tinkering with the parts. It was like a puzzle, trying to figure out how to make it work like the Patek Philippe movement. I knew it is a manual wind one so it was simpler than automatic ones.
The dial was a bit tricky. I wanted to get that charcoal gray look, so I experimented with different shades of paint until I got it just right. I even tried to mimic the “Clous de Paris” pattern on the bezel. Let me tell you, it was not easy. I used some tools to carefully create the pattern on a thin piece of metal and then glued it onto the bezel. It didn’t turn out perfect, but hey, it was close enough.
- Sourcing the case: Found a white gold-plated one online.
- Tackling the movement: Used parts from an old watch and made it manual wind.
- Creating the dial: Mixed paints for the charcoal gray and hand-crafted the “Clous de Paris” pattern for the bezel.
After a lot of trial and error, I finally put everything together. The case, the movement, the dial, the hands – it all came together like a charm. I even managed to find a strap that looked similar to the original. When I finally finished, I was pretty proud of myself. It wasn’t an exact replica, of course, but it was my own version of the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119G-001, and that’s what mattered.
The Final Result
So, there you have it. My journey of remaking the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119G-001. It was a fun and challenging project, and I learned a lot along the way. Maybe one day I’ll actually own the real deal, but for now, I’m happy with my homemade version. It’s a reminder that with a little bit of creativity and a lot of patience, anything is possible. And every time I check the time, I just smile by myself. Not many people own a watch like this one!
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