Okay, so I’ve been wanting to try my hand at remaking a luxury watch for a while now. And not just any watch – I went straight for the big leagues with the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5713/1. Yeah, the one with the white gold and the diamonds. It is not just a timepiece; it’s a statement of luxury. I mean, why start small, right?
First off, I started digging around for info on this beauty. The Nautilus, especially the 5711 and now the 5811, seems like everyone’s favorite. And apparently, the 5711 is discontinued, which made me even more curious about the whole line. So, I’m scrolling through forums and blogs, and what do I see? People can hardly tell the difference between the 5811 and the 5711. That’s when I knew, I had to see this thing up close, or at least, a version of it.
Gathering Intel
- Research: I spent hours, and I mean hours, reading about the Nautilus. Found out the 5713/1G-010 is the full name of what I’m after. It’s got a 40 mm white gold case, a blue dial with a date, and a matching bracelet. Fancy, huh?
- Materials: Now, I obviously wasn’t going to use real white gold or diamonds. I’m not made of money! So, I had to find alternatives that looked the part without costing a fortune.
The Project Begins
I started by sketching out the design. I wanted it to be as close to the original as possible, at least in looks. Getting the right materials was a real pain. I ended up going to all sorts of stores, looking for metal pieces that I could shape into a watch case. After a few failed attempts, and let me tell you, there were many, I finally found a combination that kinda worked. It wasn’t perfect, but it was close enough for a first try.
Assembly Line
- Case: Shaping the watch case was the hardest part. I used a mix of metal sheets and a lot of patience. Bending, cutting, polishing – you name it, I did it.
- Dial: The dial was a bit easier. I found a dark blue material that, when cut and polished, looked pretty similar to the original. The date window was tricky, but I managed to make it work.
- Bracelet: The bracelet was made from linked metal pieces. Each link had to be individually shaped and connected. This took forever, but the end result was satisfying.
Putting it all together was like solving a puzzle. Every piece had to fit just right. And after countless hours, a few cuts, and maybe a swear word or two, it was done. Did it look exactly like a Patek Philippe Nautilus 5713/1? Well, not quite. But it was my version of it, and I was pretty darn proud.
The Final Product
I wore it around a few times, just to see how it felt. It wasn’t just a project; it was something I made with my own hands. And yeah, it sparked a few conversations. Some people thought I was nuts for even attempting it, others were actually impressed. But for me, it was more about the journey than the destination. Would I do it again? Maybe. But next time, I might pick something a little less… complicated.
This whole thing taught me a lot about watches, about craftsmanship, and about patience. It’s not easy to remake something as detailed as a luxury watch. But it’s definitely rewarding. And who knows, maybe this is just the beginning. Maybe I’ll start a whole collection of remakes. Or maybe I’ll just stick to admiring the real deals from a distance. We’ll see.
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