So, today I messed around with remaking the Patek Philippe Calatrava 5088/100P-001. This watch is a real beauty, you know? It’s not like your usual Calatrava, it’s got this cool hand-engraved dial with black enamel that really stands out.
First off, I got to say, finding info on this watch wasn’t a walk in the park. I mean, this is a pretty rare piece. But I dug around and found some interesting stuff. It seems like these watches go for a lot of money, like, we’re talking tens of thousands of dollars. I saw some prices on that website, Chrono-something, and let me tell you, they were up there.
I started by trying to replicate that unique dial. The original is 38mm and made of platinum, which, of course, I didn’t have lying around. I used some basic metal to get the size right, and then I focused on the engraving. It’s all these fancy Volutes and Arabesques patterns, which was a real pain to try and copy. I don’t have the proper tools for engraving, so I did my best with what I had, but it was tough. I spent hours just trying to get the swirls and designs to look somewhat like the original.
- Sourcing the Materials: I couldn’t get platinum, so I settled for a cheaper metal for practice.
- Creating the Dial: The real challenge. I tried to mimic the engraving but ended up with something that looks more like a doodle.
- Movement: The original has this ultra-thin self-winding movement, Caliber 240. I just focused on the exterior for now.
After working on the dial, I moved on to the case. The real one is 8.3 mm thick, made of platinum, and has a sapphire-crystal back. I tried to shape my metal to roughly match these dimensions. It’s not perfect, but it gives the general idea of the watch’s size and shape. It’s way harder than it looks, trying to get those curves just right.
The Real Deal vs. My Attempt
Okay, so, the original Patek Philippe Calatrava 5088/100P is a masterpiece. It’s got a 48-hour power reserve, and the craftsmanship is just out of this world. My version? Let’s just say it’s a “tribute.” It doesn’t have any of the fancy internal mechanisms, and the engraving is, well, let’s be generous and call it “abstract.”
I also tried to make a strap, since the original comes with a black alligator strap. I didn’t have any alligator leather, so I used some regular black leather I had. It’s not the same, but it gives the watch a finished look, I guess.
In the end, I wouldn’t say I “remade” the Patek Philippe Calatrava 5088/100P-001. It was more like I made a rough model inspired by it. This project really made me appreciate the skill and precision that goes into making these high-end watches. It’s not something you can just whip up in an afternoon, that’s for sure.
But it was a fun experiment, and I learned a lot. Maybe one day, I’ll have the skills and tools to make something closer to the real deal. For now, I’m just happy I didn’t completely mess it up. I tried my best, and I guess that is all you can do, right?
Click to consult