Okay, so I’ve been wanting to get a nice watch for a while, but man, those things are expensive! I was looking at the Patek Philippe Gondolo 7041R-001, and it’s a beauty, but way out of my price range. Then I thought, “Why not try to make my own?” Yeah, I know, it sounds crazy, but I was up for the challenge.
First things first, I needed to gather all the parts. This was a pain, let me tell you. I spent hours online, browsing through tons of websites. I ended up ordering a bunch of stuff. I got some tools from here and there. You would not believe how many different types of tiny screwdrivers there are! I ordered a few of those.
Once I had all the pieces, it was time to start assembling. I cleared off my workbench, laid everything out, and took a deep breath. Now, I’m no watchmaker, but I’m pretty handy. I figured I could follow some online guides and figure it out as I went. I started with the movement, which is like the heart of the watch. Getting all those tiny gears and springs in the right place was tricky, to say the least. There were a couple of times I almost threw the whole thing across the room, but I managed to keep it together.
Next up was the case. This was a bit easier, but still required a lot of patience. I carefully placed the movement inside, making sure everything was aligned perfectly. Then came the dial and hands, which was like trying to thread a needle while wearing boxing gloves. I may have dropped a few screws along the way, but I eventually got it all sorted.
- Started with the movement.
- Put the movement in the case.
- Attached the dial and hands.
- Added the crystal and bezel.
The final step was attaching the strap. This part I wanted to be high quality, so I splurged a little on the strap. Once the strap was on, I finally had a (somewhat) working watch! It wasn’t perfect, and it definitely didn’t look exactly like the real Patek Philippe, but it was mine, and I made it. I wound it up, set the time, and put it on my wrist. It felt pretty darn good, I have to admit.
It actually keeps time!
It’s been a few days now, and it’s still ticking. I wouldn’t take it swimming or anything, but it’s holding up pretty well for a homemade watch. It’s a fun little project, and I learned a lot along the way. Maybe I’ll try to make another one someday, who knows? But for now, I’m just enjoying my very own “Patek Philippe” Gondolo.
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