Alright, so I’ve been fiddling around with watches for a while now, and let me tell you, it’s quite the rabbit hole. Anyway, I got this wild idea to try and remake a Patek Philippe Gondolo, the 7042/100G-010 model to be exact. Yeah, I know, it sounds nuts, but where’s the fun in easy, right?
First things first, I spent hours just staring at pictures of this watch. The real deal is made of white gold and has this classy, rectangular shape that just screams “I’m expensive!” So, I started gathering materials. Getting actual white gold was way out of my budget, so I opted for a good quality stainless steel that I could maybe get coated later. Finding the right shape was a pain, let me tell you. I ended up using a Dremel tool to carefully grind and shape the case. It was a slow and messy process, and I may have messed up a few times, but eventually, I got something that looked kind of like the real thing.
- Sourcing materials: Opted for stainless steel instead of white gold.
- Shaping the case: Used a Dremel to grind and shape. It was a long process!
Next up was the dial. This watch has a pretty simple yet elegant dial. I tried a few things, like printing out a design on special paper, but it looked cheap. Finally, I decided to just paint it by hand. I used tiny brushes and a magnifying glass, which made me feel like a real watchmaker, even though I was probably making a mess. It took a bunch of tries, but I finally got a dial that I wasn’t totally embarrassed to put in the case.
Now, for the movement. This is where things got really tricky. Those little gears and springs are no joke. I bought a cheap quartz movement online because, let’s be honest, making a mechanical movement from scratch is next-level stuff that I’m not ready for. Fitting the movement into the case was another headache. I had to make sure everything lined up perfectly, or the watch hands would be all wonky. It took some filing and a lot of patience, but I managed to squeeze it in there.
Putting it all together
After what felt like forever, I finally had all the pieces ready. Putting the watch together was both exciting and nerve-wracking. I used special watchmaker’s tools I got just for this project, which made me feel somewhat legit. Once I got the case back on and the strap attached, I wound it up and held my breath. And guess what? It ticked! Sure, it wasn’t a genuine Patek Philippe, but it was my Patek Philippe, and I made it. It’s definitely not perfect, and the timekeeping is probably off, but I learned a ton, and it’s a pretty cool feeling to wear something you made with your own two hands. It’s rough around the edges, but it’s mine. I think I did okay for a first-timer, if I do say so myself.
So, yeah, that’s my little adventure in watchmaking. It was tough, frustrating, and I probably inhaled a bunch of metal dust, but it was also super rewarding. Maybe I’ll try making another one someday, but for now, I’m just gonna enjoy wearing my homemade Gondolo and pretending I’m fancier than I really am.
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