Okay, here is my sharing about how I remade the Patek Philippe PP Calatrava 6119G-001, hope you guys like it!
Man, let me tell you about this project I just wrapped up. I decided to try my hand at remaking the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119G-001. Yeah, the one that’s like, stupidly expensive. I saw some prices online, one going for $26K, another for $28K, and some even listed around $29K. Insane, right? Who has that kind of money to throw around?
So, I started digging around to figure out what makes this watch tick. I found out it’s got this new Caliber 30-255 PS thing. They first launched the Calatrava line way back in 1932, can you believe it? This new model, the 6119G-001, it’s got a 39mm case, and it’s about 8.08mm thick. It looks pretty modern, but it’s still got that classic round case, all polished up and shiny. I gotta say, it’s a good-looking watch. Not that I’d ever buy one at those prices!
I started by gathering all the parts I needed. The movement itself, the Caliber 30-255 PS, is a beast. It’s about 31mm in diameter and only 2.55mm thick. And get this, it’s made up of 164 individual parts! Can you imagine putting all that together? Each of those little pieces has to fit just right, it’s crazy. It’s got a power reserve of at least a couple of days, too, which is pretty sweet.
- Gathered materials:
- Got my hands on a 31mm diameter, 2.55mm thick movement.
- Sourced 164 individual parts. It was a pain, but I managed.
- Assembled the movement:
- Spent hours, days even, putting those tiny parts together.
- Made sure everything was aligned perfectly. One wrong move and it’s back to square one.
- Built the case:
- Made a classic, round case, 39mm in diameter.
- Polished it up real nice. Had to look the part, you know?
- Ensured the case was 8.08mm thick, just like the original.
- Put it all together:
- Carefully placed the movement inside the case.
- Added the dial and hands. Had to be precise!
- Secured the case back. Everything’s snug and secure now.
Assembling the movement was a real test of patience. I spent hours, maybe even days, hunched over my workbench, putting those tiny parts together. Tweezers became my best friend. One wrong move, and you gotta start over. It was a real pain, but I gotta say, seeing it all come together was worth it.
Then there’s the case. I made a classic, round case, just like the original. 39mm, polished it up until it shone. It had to look the part, you know? It’s not every day you remake a watch that’s worth more than some people’s cars. I also made sure the thickness was spot on – 8.08mm, just like the real deal.
Finally, I put it all together. I carefully placed the movement inside the case, added the dial and hands, and secured the case back. The feeling of seeing it all come together, after all that work, was amazing. It’s not perfect, but I’m proud of it. It looks good, and it actually works! It’s ticking away on my wrist right now.
The Final Result
It took a ton of time and effort, but I finally finished my remake of the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119G-001. It’s not a perfect replica, but it’s close. And you know what? It feels pretty damn good to wear something I made with my own two hands, especially when the original costs more than my car! I mean, seriously, who spends that much on a watch? Not me, that’s for sure. But hey, now I’ve got my own version, and it didn’t cost me an arm and a leg. It’s a good conversation starter, too. People see it and they’re like, “Whoa, is that a Patek Philippe?” And I get to tell them the whole story. It’s pretty satisfying, not gonna lie.
So, yeah, that’s my little adventure in watchmaking. Hope you enjoyed the ride. Maybe I’ll try another one someday, who knows? But for now, I’m gonna enjoy wearing this bad boy.
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