Okay, so I’ve been wanting to get my hands on a Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001 for a while now. It’s a really classy watch, but man, it’s expensive! I figured, why not try to make one myself? It seemed like a fun challenge, and I’m always up for learning something new.
First things first, I needed to gather all the parts. This was probably the trickiest part of the whole thing. I spent hours searching online, trying to find the right components. You wouldn’t believe how many tiny screws and gears are in one of these things! I managed to find most of the stuff I needed from different suppliers. It felt like putting together a really complicated puzzle.
Gathering All The Parts
- Spent a lot of time searching online for parts.
- Found most of the parts from different suppliers.
- Felt like putting together a complex puzzle.
Once I had all the parts, I started to assemble the movement. This is the heart of the watch, the part that makes it tick. I carefully followed some guides I found online, making sure every piece was in the right place. It was a slow process, and I had to be super patient. One wrong move and I could mess up the whole thing. I used a lot of tweezers and a magnifying glass to make sure I was doing everything correctly.
Assembling The Movement
- Followed online guides carefully.
- Used tweezers and a magnifying glass.
- Worked slowly and patiently.
After I got the movement working, I moved on to the case. I found a rose gold case that looked pretty similar to the original. I carefully fitted the movement inside, making sure it was secure. Then, I attached the dial and the hands. This part was a bit easier than the movement, but it still required a steady hand.
Putting It All Together
- Fitted the movement into a rose gold case.
- Attached the dial and hands.
- Required a steady hand but was easier than the movement.
Finally, I added the strap. I found a nice leather strap that matched the rose gold case. Once I put it on, the watch was complete! I have to say, I was pretty proud of myself. It wasn’t perfect, but it looked pretty darn close to the real thing. And the best part? It actually worked! It wasn’t as precise as a real Patek Philippe, but it kept time well enough for me. I also tried to polish it to make it look shiny.
The Finishing Touches
- Added a leather strap.
- Polished the watch to make it shiny.
- The watch was complete and functional.
This whole project took me a few weeks to finish, working on it in my spare time. It was definitely a challenging experience, but I learned a lot about watches and how they work. Plus, now I have a cool, unique watch that I made myself! It’s not a real Patek Philippe, but it’s my own little version, and that’s pretty special to me. I even wore it to a party, and some folks asked me where I bought it!
I would say this is a pretty successful try!