Okay, folks, gather ’round. Today, I’m gonna walk you through my little adventure of remaking a Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001, the one they sell at specialty stores. It’s been a ride, let me tell you.
Getting Started
First things first, I got my hands on some decent pictures of the watch. You know, the usual stuff – front, back, sides, the whole nine yards. I spent a good chunk of time just staring at these images, trying to memorize every little detail. The curve of the case, the font on the dial, the way the hands catch the light… it’s all important, right?
The Design
Then came the fun part – designing the thing. Now, I’m no watchmaker, but I’m pretty handy with some 3D modeling software. I started with the case, getting the basic shape down. It’s that classic Calatrava roundness, but with these subtle, elegant lines. Took me a while to get it just right, lots of tweaking and adjusting.
The dial was next. I measured everything out, making sure the hour markers were spaced perfectly. The little details, like the texture of the dial and the way the numbers are printed, I tried my best to replicate those. It wasn’t easy, let me tell you. Lots of trial and error, lots of zooming in and squinting at the screen.
- Modeling the hands was a bit of a pain. They’re so thin and delicate.
- I spent hours just getting the shape of the hour and minute hands right.
- And that tiny seconds hand? Don’t even get me started.
Printing and Assembling
Once I was happy with the 3D model, it was time to print it. I used my trusty 3D printer for this. I printed each part separately – the case, the dial, the hands, the back cover. Seeing the parts come to life, layer by layer, was pretty darn cool.
Putting it all together was like building a tiny, intricate puzzle. I carefully assembled all the pieces, using tweezers and a magnifying glass. I glued some parts, snapped others into place. It was a slow, painstaking process, but seeing the watch take shape was incredibly satisfying.
The Final Touches
Finally, I painted the watch. I mixed up some paints to match that rose gold color of the original. I applied the paint carefully, layer by layer, making sure to get an even coat. I even added a clear coat on top to give it that nice, glossy finish.
And there you have it – my homemade Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001. It’s not perfect, of course. It doesn’t tell time, for one thing. But it’s a pretty good replica, if I do say so myself. It was a fun project, and I learned a lot along the way. Maybe I’ll try making another watch sometime. Who knows?
Hope you enjoyed this little behind-the-scenes look at my project. Let me know what you think!
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